IPS Employment Specialist - Band 5

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust; Huddersfield; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust is recruiting an IPS Employment Specialist (Band 5) to work with people in Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield to turn employment goals into achievable plans using the IPS model.

The role involves assessing needs, developing personalised employment plans, liaising with employers and clinical teams, and providing ongoing support to sustain employment. A degree level education and driving licence are expected, with IPS training available.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in a subject relevant to the role or able to demonstrate competencies working at degree level.
• Experience with health, social care or voluntary sector work is desirable for IPS roles.
• Proven ability to build relationships with employers to support employment opportunities.
• Willingness to undergo IPS training and coaching as part of onboarding.

Responsibilities

• Develop personalised employment plans based on each person's strengths, preferences and aspirations.
• Provide flexible support with job searching, CVs, applications, interviews, benefits, workplace adjustments and sustaining employment.
• Build relationships with local employers and collaborate with clinical teams to integrate employment into recovery.
• Undertake comprehensive assessments and vocational profiling to inform employment action plans.
• Assist service users with applications and job searching and review progress with care coordinators.

Skills

Communication skills

Employer engagement

IT skills

Driving licence

Education

Degree level education

Job description

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

IPS Employment Specialist - Band 5

The closing date is 23 October 2026

Could youhelp someone rediscover their confidence, achieve their employment goals andtake an important step forward in their recovery?

We arerecruiting full-time Band 5 Employment Specialists to join our established Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services across Calderdale, Kirklees andWakefield. Working within community mental health and primary care teams, youwill help people find and sustain employment that reflects their strengths,interests and ambitions.

Previous IPSexperience is not essential. We welcome transferable experience from employmentsupport, recruitment, health, social care or community services. Training,supervision and support are provided. We encourage applications from peoplewith disabilities or health conditions. Please select the relevant option inyour application so we can discuss any reasonable adjustments you may need. Ifyou share our belief in the value of employment and peoples potential, wewould love to hear from you.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged tohave their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.

Main duties of the job

This is avaried and highly rewarding role in which you will help people turn theiremployment ambitions into achievable plans. Using the evidence-based IPSapproach, you will build trusted relationships, understand each personsstrengths and goals, and provide practical support throughout their journeyinto work.

You will:

Developpersonalised employment plans based on each persons strengths, preferences andaspirations.

Provideflexible support with job searching, CVs, applications, interviews, benefits,workplace adjustments and sustaining employment.

Buildrelationships with local employers and work closely with clinical teams to makeemployment part of recovery.

Atthe time of advertising, this role does not meet the minimum requirements(salary threshold or occupational requirements) set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsorcandidates to work in the UK. For this reason, unfortunately we are unable tosponsor anyone on a visa for this role at this moment in time.

We are happy to accept applications from candidateswho can prove their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes. Such applications will be considered alongside all other applications.

About us

Weare a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental healthand learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale,Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and arethe lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission isto help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do thisby providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employstaff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make adifference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourageand welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we valuediversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Beinga foundation Trust means were accountable to ourmembers, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people(including staff) are members of our Trust.

Joinus and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improvingthe mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet andhelp each year.

Weare committedto safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people andvulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share thiscommitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

KEY RESULT AREAS:

The postholder will:

• Assess, provide guidance and person centred support to people who have experienced mental health problems in exploring their interest and capacity for employment under the supervision of the team leader.
• Have an individual caseload of people who have experienced mental health problems and wish to return to employment using the Individual Placement and Support approach
• Proactively engage work with employers to negotiate and secure employment opportunities for this client group.
• Work as part of a community mental health team, maintaining positive and integrated relationships, fostering a holistic approach to recovery through employment.

1.1Care/service/function provision:

• The IPS Employment Specialist undertakes comprehensive assessments formulating vocational profiles of the individuals employment needs and abilities, developing an employment action/support plan whilst liaising with the care coordinator.
• To assess individuals work related support needs.
• To offer guidance and support to people in exploring their interest and capacity in employment using the Individual Placement and Support approach.
• To prepare individuals for employment through vocational profiling under supervision of the team leader.
• To provide personalized ongoing support to individuals once they have secured employment and to assist then in sustaining their employment.
• If the service user consents, to review employment with both the service users and the employer.
• To provide education and support to the employer as agreed with the individual. This may include negotiating adjustments and maintaining ongoing contact with the employer
• To develop relationships with both service users, employers and other organisations that support people to achieve their employment goals whilst being mindful of their needs and priorities.
• Assess for, review and deliver a comprehensive range of HR services around employment needs and difficulties of people who have experienced mental health problems who want to access employment opportunities and want to return to work.
• To create documents/reports in a timely manner.
• To support service users complete application forms and to job search.

1.2 Working as part of a Team:

• The role of the IPS Employment Specialist is integrated into the clinical teams (as allocated) and works along side care coordinators, being responsible for those service users who want to gain employment.
• To meet regularly with care coordinators to coordinate and integrate IPS services into mental health services.
• To feedback information clearly and concisely within multidisclinary team meetings using excellent communication skills.

For full job description, please see attached supporting documents.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in a subject relevant to the role or able to demonstrate competencies working at degree level.

Personal Attributes

• An ability to initiate and develop relationships with employers while being aware of their needs.
• Ability to build and develop relationships with service users having awareness of their needs to access employment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Vocational assessment skills.
• IT Skills.
• Motivational skills.
• Use own initiative.
• A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).
• Willingness to work flexible hours according to the demands of the job.
• Good negotiation skills and persuasive style.

Training

• Coaching or motivational interviewing experience/qualification.
• Occupational Therapy or Occupational Psychology Training.
• IPS Training.
• Counselling or Careers Guidance/equivalent as evidenced by a relevant qualification.

Experience

• Experience with health or social services or the voluntary sector, working with people who have experienced mental health problems and related employment difficulties.
• Personal lived experience of mental health problems.

Special Knowledge & Skills

• An understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems and related barriers to employment.
• An understanding of the Principles and practice of Individual Placement and Support.
• An understanding of Employer Engagement and strategies.
• Understanding of Recovery principles.
• A working knowledge of Human Resources good practice and Employment legislation in relation to supporting people with mental health needs in the workplace.
• Understanding of Welfare Rights/ benefits system.
• An understanding of applied research methods.

Physical Attributes

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

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

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Laura Mitchell Health and Wellbeing Centre