IPS Employment Specialist

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust; Burton Stather; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting an IPS Employment Specialist to join Dorset Work Matters, supporting people with mental health needs into paid employment across Dorset. The role involves engaging with employers, building tailored opportunities, and delivering community-based support.

You will work within a collaborative IPS framework, assess goals, help with CVs and interviews, discuss disclosures, and provide welfare advice.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent training in a relevant field.
• Experience or knowledge of employability or the labour market.
• Team orientated and works collaboratively within a mixed-disciplinary team.
• Role specific experience of 2 years.
• Trained in / knowledge of IPS approach.
• Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services Sector Qualification.

Responsibilities

• Engage weekly with local employers to generate tailored job opportunities.
• Assist clients to set employment goals, develop CVs, and prepare for interviews.
• Support discussing mental health with employers if desired.
• Provide welfare benefits advice and calculations.
• Deliver ongoing in-work support for sustainability.
• Follow IPS Fidelity Model and KPIs; keep records up to date.
• Handle admin, reporting and data entry with accuracy.
• Note DBS check required and driving licence with own vehicle.

Skills

Degree-level education

Employability knowledge

Team orientation

IPS approach

2 years experience

Level 3 Diploma in Employability

Education

Degree level education

Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services Sector Qualification

Job description

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

IPS Employment Specialist

The closing date is 18 October 2026

Are you passionate about supporting people and understanding of mental health needs? If so, you could be the ideal candidate for our team.

We are recruiting band 5 employment specialists to join Dorset Work Matters (DWM), supporting clients across Dorset. These roles are made possible through expansion funding, reflecting commitment to extending specialist mental health employment support.

We currently have the following opportunities available: 1 full-time role covering West Dorset based within a Community Rehabilitation.

DWM is a well-established, high-performing partnership between Dorset Healthcare Trust and Dorset Mental Health Forum. Since 2019, the service has provided evidence-based support to individuals with mental health conditions, helping them secure paid employment through the nationally recognised individual placement and support (IPS) model.

We are seeking motivated specialists to support people with mental health conditions into sustainable employment, working closely with NHS teams, employers and partner organisations. You will build trusting relationships and provide practical, tailored support to help individuals achieve their employment goals, with much of the work being delivered in the community.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.

Main duties of the job

To undertake weekly face-to-face engagement with local employers to proactively generate tailored job opportunities, including job carving, in line with IPS principles.

Work collaboratively with clients to identify employment goals, develop CVs and application forms, and prepare effectively for interviews.

Support clients in discussing their mental health condition with potential employers, should they choose to disclose.

Provide welfare benefits advice and calculations to help clients make informed employment decisions.

Deliver ongoing in-work support to both clients and employers, ensuring sustainable employment outcomes.

Adhere to the quality standards and compliance requirements of the IPS Fidelity Model, striving to meet or exceed the service's Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Maintain accurate, up-to-date records in line with Service and IPS Fidelity Model requirements.

Perform a high volume of administrative duties with attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in reporting, documentation, and data entry.

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of.

Driving is essential for this role. You will be required to have a full and valid UK driving licence and to travel using own vehicle on Trust business.

About us

At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

We understand that AI can be a useful tool when completing your application. However, we are seeing an increasing over-reliance of AI tools, which can negatively affect your application as it reduces a candidates individuality, and makes it difficult for us to gain a clear and authentic understanding of your experience, skills, and in turn your suitability for the role.

All submissions must be truthful and if you do use AI, it should only be used to enhance your application and not create your supporting statement in its entirety. Your supporting statement should be in your own words and must accurately reflect your personal experience and achievements. Where we have concerns that AI has been used to generate content that misrepresents your experience and suitability for the role, we may withdraw your application.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact [e-mail]

Please note visa sponsorship for this role is unfortunately not available. Please ensure you hold valid right to work in the UK and will not require sponsorship if successful.

Person Specification

Knowledge, skills and training

• Educated to degree level or equivalent training in a relevant field
• Experience or knowledge of employability or the labour market
• Team orientated and works collaboratively within a mixed-disciplinary team
• Role specific experience of 2 years
• Trained in / knowledge of IPS approach
• Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services Sector Qualification

Job specific experience

• Experience of working with people with mental health problems or a similar client group within health, social services or the voluntary sector
• Experience of partnership working, negotiation and liaison work with other stake holders and agencies
• Experience of working within mental health services
• Previous experience of delivering a service using the IPS model
• Excellent Organisational skills
• Ability to manage own time effectively and independently
• Natural ability to build close trusting and productive relationships with people
• Highly motivated with a genuine belief that employment will help the recovery of someone with a mental health condition
• Lived experience / experience of recovery from a mental health condition

Additional requirements

• Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English to a standard which enables the post holder to carry out the full range of duties and responsibilities of the role effectively.

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.

Employer name

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust