Addictions IPS Employment Team Leader

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is looking for an Addictions IPS Employment Team Leader to oversee a team of Employment Specialists across Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes. The role includes managing services, supervising staff, and supporting clients in their employment journey. Candidates must have substantial experience working with those facing mental health challenges and demonstrate strong interpersonal and leadership skills.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience working with people with mental health problems.
• Proven record of helping individuals obtain or maintain employment.
• Experience in multi-agency work and staff supervision.

Responsibilities

• Manage a high-quality service meeting IPS best practice.
• Supervise Employment Specialists and monitor their performance.
• Develop relationships with local employers to access job opportunities.

Skills

Understanding of IPS Model

Communication skills

Time management skills

Basic counselling skills

Education

Degree level education or equivalent

Job description

Go back Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Addictions IPS Employment Team Leader

The closing date is 17 November 2025

The opportunity to change minds. The power to change lives.

As a Team Leader you will manage a team of Employment Specialists covering Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, by providing supervision, training, caseload management, and role modelling of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach, as part of the holistic recovery plan for mental health service users.

The Team Leader will provide a pivotal role in managing a high-quality service that meets fidelity standards and delivers positive outcomes for service users.

You will also work with clients (manage a small caseload) who have substance use support needs, who are unemployed, to assist them in securing sustainable paid employment in line with their preferences.

Main duties of the job

The Employment Team Leader will be responsible for the development of the employment services within Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, working within the principles and practice of evidence-based IPS supported employment practice.

The post holder will supervise a team of Employment Specialists and work with a small caseload, supporting people into competitive employment.

The role will also involve ensuring good working relationships are in place with internal stakeholders including clinical staff and external stakeholders as well as leading an employer engagement strategy building relationships with local employers to access the hidden labour market.

About us

You will be joining a well-established Employment Service, who are a National Centre of Excellence in delivering Individual Placement and Support. We provide training throughout the year to ensure we continue to deliver a high‑fidelity service. You will have the tools you need to provide expert support and advice to clients whilst also building positive relationships with employers, opening doors and changing perceptions around mental health.

Job responsibilities

Your responsibilities:

• Effectively manage a high-quality service that adheres to the principles of IPS best practice.
• Monitor and manage performance of the IPS Employment Specialists guide them individually on best practice and achieving individual and team job outcome targets.
• Create a culture of continuous improvement.
• Identify training needs of staff and arrange appropriate training to support with continuous professional development.
• Support the design and delivery of in‑house staff training and development (including facilitating peer learning and best practice).
• Involve IPS clients in co‑production of service developments where possible.
• Coordinate the work of Employment Specialists in a region in relation to building relationships with employers to effectively access the hidden labour market, external agencies and delivery of job seeking groups.
• Lead the team to ensure Employment Specialists spend enough time in face to face meetings with employers to find the right job match.
• Guide, mentor and coach the team to deliver on employment engagements/job development strategies.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent industry experience.

Previous Experience

• Extensive experience of working with people with drug and alcohol or mental health problems or a similar client group within health, social services or the voluntary sector.
• Well developed experience of helping people to obtain or keep work.
• Experience of joint working and working in multi‑agency partnerships.
• Experience of staff supervision and coaching.
• Experience of working within an IPS service.
• Experience of delivering training.
• Experience of managing a budget

Skills and knowledge

• An understanding of the principals and practices of the Individual Placement and Support Model.
• An ability to provide advice and support to care co‑ordinators in relation to the employment needs of service users.
• An understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems.
• Able to work in a complex environment and can demonstrate a high level of perseverance, being committed to seeing plans through to their conclusion with agreed time‑scales.
• Capacity to appreciate the strategic service context.
• An ability to negotiate diplomatically and effectively with staff at all levels and users of mental health services.
• Ability to support clients/managers at all levels when a clients job is at risk.
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Basic counselling skills.
• An ability to develop relationships with employers and other agencies whilst being astute to their needs.
• Ability to develop relationships with clients, staff and carers
• Time management and organisational skills.
• An understanding of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently.
• A preparedness to work flexible hours through prior arrangement as the needs of the job dictate.
• Ability to see solutions rather than problems

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Address

Various locations - Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a yearper annum (pro rata if P/T)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time,Compressed hours

Reference number

333-D-HJ-1920

Job locations

Various locations - Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes