IPS Employment Specialist

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Chesterfield; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 27 days

Free parking

Annual appraisal

Maternity/paternity benefits

Staff discounts

Employee assistance

LGBT+ network

Health & wellbeing

Learning & development

Job summary

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in Derbyshire is seeking an Employment Specialist to work in Chesterfield & Killamarsh, delivering IPS-based employment support for adults with mental health needs.

You will carry a caseload, collaborate with CMHT colleagues, develop employer links, provide CV and interview coaching, and help clients plan and sustain paid work.

The role offers flexible working, supports professional development, and a commitment to inclusive, person-centered care.

Qualifications

• Experience working with people with mental health support needs.
• Experience in employment support services or related one-to-one work.
• Ability to engage employers using various methods.
• Strong communication and time management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Support and motivate individuals to access and sustain paid employment.
• Develop relationships with local employers and identify job opportunities.
• Provide CV production, interview coaching, and in-work support.
• Collaborate with CMHT to integrate employment support into care plans.
• Record data accurately and participate in service quality audits.

Skills

Empathy

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Data recording

Driver's licence

Relationship building

Time management

Job description

View our current vacancies by professional area below, or view all our vacancies at healthjobsuk.com

Want to make a real difference and have a truly rewarding career? Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of ‘making a positive difference in people's lives’.

We’ve been rated ‘good’ overall by the CQC, with some outstanding services. The CQC commented at our most recent inspection on how our colleagues “treated patients with compassion and kindness” and “felt positive and proud about working for the trust.

We are passionate about making equality, diversity and inclusion part of our DNA. We take pride in our “People First Culture” which creates a workplace where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging, difference is celebrated, and people are comfortable to bring their whole selves to work. We value the richness that comes from having colleagues that are fully representative of the local community. We welcome people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, protected characteristics, and with all backgrounds and experiences.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Employment Support Service as an Employment Specialist in Chesterfield & Killamarsh

This is a opportunity to support people receiving mental health services to achieve their employment goals through the Individual Placement and Support model.

As an Employment Specialist, you will be embedded within a CMHT and work alongside clinical colleagues to support individuals to identify, secure and retain employment that matches their aspirations, strengths and preferences.

A understanding of recovery-focused practice, vocational rehabilitation or employment support would be advantageous.

You will manage a caseload of clients and work directly with them to understand their strengths, skills and career goals. Using IPS principles, you will support individuals with every stage of their employment journey, from career planning and job searching through to interview preparation, in work support and career development.

You will work collaboratively with members of the CMHT, ensuring employment support is fully integrated into recovery planning and care provision.

A key part of the role involves developing relationships with local employers and understanding local labour market opportunities.

Main duties of the job

What is a Mental Health IPS Employment Specialist?

This is an exciting and dynamic role, where no one day is the same and you’ll be making a genuine difference to people’s lives. Using the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model you’ll be:

• Supporting and motivating individuals with mental health needs to access and sustain paid employment.
• Regularly meeting with clients to listen, help them identify their best job match, reflecting on their skills and aspirations, providing support including CV production, interview techniques
• Provide in-work support, assessing each client’s work-related needs, designing a return-to-work strategy, and ensuring job retention with ongoing contact.
• Advocating for your clients by educating and engaging with employers regarding the IPS service.
• Sourcing job opportunities for your clients through regular contact with local employers within the community.
• Work as part of the Derbyshire Healthcare mental health team to promote employment and raise expectations around the ability of service users to access paid employment, breaking down the barriers for them.

Working for our organisation

Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of ‘making a positive difference in people's lives’.

CQC rated us as 'GOOD’ overall, commenting on how our colleagues “treated patients with compassion and kindness” and “felt positive and proud about working for the trust.”

Benefits include:

• 27 days annual leave/year plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years & 33 days after 10 years’ service pro rata for part time
• Free car parking
• Yearly appraisal and commitment to ongoing training
• Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits
• Health service discounts and online benefits
• Incremental pay progression
• Free confidential employee assistance programme 24/7
• Access to our LGBT+ network, BAME Network and Christian Network
• Health and wellbeing opportunities
• Structured learning and development opportunities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for an individual who is passionate in joining us to develop the service and transform’s someone’s life. This role calls for empathy and the ability to initiate and develop relationships with a variety of individuals and be able to engage employers using a variety of methods such as via the telephone or face-to-face in the community. Alongside having strong and persuasive communication skills, excellent time management, and exceptional IT and administration skills.

It is essential, to have experience of working with people with mental health support needs or similar groups, OR experience working in employment support services or equivalent, including working with people on a one-to-one basis, offering motivation and support.

We are also actively interested in individuals with transferrable skills for this role such as experience in using a persuasive communication style, data collection, motivational interviewing or promoting a service to a variety of audiences, this can include, but not limited to, coaching, recruitment, sales, education, training, mentoring, or sales roles.

If you’ve got any questions about the role, feel free to email [e-mail] and we’ll be happy to discuss it with you.

• Understanding of the impact of work as a recovery tool
• Working knowledge of IPS
• Experience of working with people with mental health problems implementing individual programmes and interventions
• Experience of working with employers and DWP
• Able to work autonomously
• IPS training
• Mental health knowledge
• Employability experience
• Supporting disadvantaged people into employment
• Accurately recording data
• Excellent organisational skills
• Excellent presentation skills

Skills

• Enthusiasm & understanding towards supporting people with mental health problems find employment
• Engage service users towards vocational goals
• Strong administrator
• Ability to plan and prioritise
• People person who builds rapport
• Understands the importance of audits
• Full UK Driving Licence & Access to a vehicle
• Able to build rapport
• Record data in a timely manner
• Uses tools for organisation
• Understanding of MH services

Additional Information

Flexible Working

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for our service and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that's job share, part time or another flexible pattern.

Disability Confident Employer

The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you in the recruitment process please let us know.

If you require any support in completing the application form please do not hesitate to contact the Recruitment Team, 01332 564856, option 1, option 1 or email [e-mail] and we will be happy to provide assistance.

DBS Checks

The cost of undertaking a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) disclosure will be met by the individual. The Trust will meet the initial costs of the disclosure which will be deducted from your first month’s salary.

This job may close early if a large number of applications are received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid missing your chance to apply.

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 candidate’s 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.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order