IPS Employment Specialist | Connect to Work

IPS Grow; Spalding; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Volunteer leave

Enhanced pension

Life assurance

Health and wellbeing support

Learning and development opportunities

Job summary

Shaw Trust is expanding its Connect to Work services into Lincolnshire, recruiting an IPS Employment Specialist to help people with mental health needs move into sustainable paid employment.

Based in Spalding and surrounding areas, you’ll work peripathetically without home working, building relationships with clients, health professionals and local employers to deliver the IPS approach and achieve contractual targets.

Qualifications

• Knowledge or experience of the IPS model, with training provided.
• Experience delivering one-to-one support to individuals to achieve goals.
• Ability to manage a caseload and meet KPIs in a community setting.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the IPS approach in line with fidelity requirements.
• Support participants through all stages of their employment journey, including profiling and job search.
• Build positive relationships with local employers to create suitable job opportunities.
• Achieve contractual targets including starts, job outcomes and job retention.

Skills

IPS model knowledge

Coaching / mentoring

Relationship building

Communication skills

Job description

IPS Employment Specialist | Connect to Work

Spalding & South Holland, Lincolnshire | Shaw Trust

Permanent contract

Could you help people with mental health needs and other health barriers discover their strengths and move into meaningful employment? Join Shaw Trust as an IPS Employment Specialist and be part of a new Connect to Work service supporting people across Spalding and South Holland to achieve sustainable employment and positive futures.

Deadline: 18th September 2026

• East Midlands
• Full-time

Job overview

At Shaw Trust, you’ll have the opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives, while benefiting from a supportive workplace and a comprehensive rewards package, including:

• 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), increasing to 28 days after 3 years’ service, with option to purchase additional leave
• 2 days paid volunteering leave annually
• Enhanced pension scheme after 6 months
• Life assurance at 3x annual salary
• Health and wellbeing support including Employee Assistance Programme and health cash plan
• Access to a comprehensive perks and discounts platform, helping you save money on everyday spending while supporting your wellbeing
• Learning and development opportunities
• Access to employee networks (LGBTQ+, Racial Equality, Disability Equality, Women’s, Neurodiversity, Menopause, Young Professionals and more)

Join a Diverse and Inclusive Organisation

Shaw Trust is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.

• Certified to the National Equality Standard
• Disability Confident Leader (including guaranteed interview scheme)
• Menopause Friendly accredited organisation
• Dedicated to reflecting the diversity of UK society at every level

We welcome applications from all sections of the community, and particularly encourage candidates with lived experience of disability, health conditions or social exclusion to apply.

If you have accessibility requirements or would like further information, please contact:
[e-mail]

Shaw Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received.

Role

At Shaw trust we are delighted to announce that we are expanding our Connect to Work services into Lincolnshire, following a successful tender process. This marks an important milestone in our growth, and we’re looking for passionate, driven individuals to join us as we build and shape our presence in the local community.

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a new team from the ground up, helping to deliver impactful employment support services that make a real difference to people’s lives. You’ll play a key role in establishing and embedding high quality services in Lincolnshire, working closely with local partners, employers and communities.

At Shaw Trust, we believe everyone deserves access to good work. We support people who face barriers to employment, providing personalised services that bring together health, skills and employability support. Our work is impact driven, inclusive and innovative, focused on creating real change for individuals, employers and communities across the UK.

Responsibilities

As an IPS Employment Specialist you will support people with mental health needs and other health barriers to move into sustainable paid employment that matches their preferences and strengths.

Working with clients, health professionals, service providers and employers, you will manage a caseload and deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model (full training provided). You’ll provide person centred advice, engage local employers and support individuals through their employment journey from referral to job sustainment.

This is a target driven, community based (peripatetic) role, with all of your time spent meeting participants, stakeholders and employers face to face.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver the IPS approach in line with fidelity requirements
• Support participants through all stages of their employment journey, including vocational profiling, action planning, job search, job placement and in-work support
• Build positive relationships with local employers to create suitable job opportunities
• Achieve contractual targets including starts, job outcomes and job retention

The person

• Knowledge or experience of the IPS model, or the ability to learn (full training provided)
• Experience providing one to one support, coaching or guidance to individuals to help them achieve personal goals
• Experience managing a caseload or workload, with the ability to prioritise and meet performance targets or KPIs
• Experience supporting individuals to progress towards or into employment, training, education or other positive outcomes
• Effective communication skills with the ability to build relationships and influence a range of stakeholders, including employers

Location

This is a peripatetic role working in the community in and around Lincolnshire, with no home working.

The areas where we currently have vacancies are: Spalding & South Holland

A clean driving licence and access to a vehicle will be essential in this role.