IPS Employment Specialist - Connect to Work - Kent

Shaw Trust; England; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave (plus bank)

2 days volunteering leave

Enhanced pension

Life Assurance

Learning & development opportunities

Diversity networks access

Health and Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

Shaw Trust is seeking an IPS Employment Specialist to support clients, including those with mental health support needs, in securing sustainable paid employment using the IPS approach (training provided). You will manage a caseload and build relationships with local employers to create accessible pathways to work.

This positions across Kent & Medway (Canterbury, Ashford and Swale) involve community-based work with little home working, contributing to improved social inclusion and wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Experience working with people with health conditions, disabilities, or a similar client group.
• Experience working with someone on a one-to-one basis.
• Proven experience of meeting and exceeding outcomes and targets.
• Experience of managing multiple tasks at any one time.
• Previous experience of working assertively to influence decision makers.
• Experience of supporting people to obtain or keep work.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the IPS approach (training will be given) and provide person-centred guidance to clients.
• Manage a caseload of clients to help them secure sustainable paid employment.
• Build positive relationships with local employers to move clients into suitable roles.
• Work in partnership to meet contract obligations including Starts On Programme, Job Entries, Job Retention, and Fidelity delivery.

Skills

Health conditions / disabilities

One-to-one support

Outcomes delivery

Multi-tasking

Influencing decision makers

Help people obtain/keep work

Job description

“Shaw Trust promotes team spirit, inclusiveness and it is an organisation where everybody is somebody. I am proud to be part of this great organisation.”

At Shaw Trust we believe everyone has the right to live a decent and dignified life and an opportunity for rewarding work. We are a social purpose organisation challenging inequality and breaking down barriers to enable social mobility.

For us being part of the solution is about creating the conditions for this to happen, advocating and delivering services that make a real difference. Working in partnership not competition, we are part of an eco‑system of purpose‑led organisations, striving for a fairer, more equal society centred on opportunity for all.

Purpose

Working with clients in the community, health professionals, service providers and employers, as an IPS Employment Specialist you will be focused on making sure a person’s journey into employment, with associated improved social inclusion and wellbeing is as easy as possible. You will work with clients (managing a caseload) who have mental health support needs, to assist them in securing sustainable paid employment in line with their preferences. Your role will be to deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach (for which training will be given); providing person centred advice and guidance to clients, whilst building positive relationships with local employers to enable clients to move into suitable employment.

This is a target driven role. These targets are derived from contract obligations of: Starts On Programme, Job Entries, Job Retention, compliance to Fidelity delivery model (IPS).

Essential

You will have:

• Experience/understanding of working with people with health conditions / disabilities, substance misuse needs, or a similar client group within health, social services or the voluntary sector (E)
• Experience of working with someone on a one‑to‑one basis (E)
• Proven experience of meeting and exceeding outcomes and targets (E)
• Experience of managing multiple tasks at any one time (E)
• Previous experience of working assertively to influence decision makers (E)
• Experience of supporting people to obtain or keep work (E)

Job Description For Full Details.

Location

This is a peripheric role working in the community with no/minimal home working.

There will be a number of positions across Kent & Medway - delivery areas - Canterbury, Ashford and Swale.

Employee Benefits

As an employee of Shaw Trust as well as positively impacting people’s lives, you will have access to the following benefits:

• 25 days annual leave per year (plus bank holidays), with incremental increases post 3 years’ service up to 28 days, and the option to purchase additional holiday
• 2 days paid volunteering leave each year
• An enhanced pension scheme after 6 months
• Life Assurance at 3 times your annual salary rate
• Access to a suite of learning and development opportunities including paid for apprenticeship and masters’ levels qualifications, and management development programmes
• Opportunities to connect with our employee diversity networks (LGBTQ+ Support Network, Racial Equality Network, Disability Equality Network, Women’s Network, Neurodiversity Peer Support Network, Menopause Peer Support Group, The MANaging Network, The Young Professionals Network and Back to Work Support Group)
• Health and Wellbeing initiatives including internal support, employee assistance programme and health cash plan

Join a diverse and inclusive organisation

Shaw Trust is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment, where every employee, regardless of their background or lived experience, feels that they belong and can progress in their career.

In addition;

• We are proud to be certified as an employer who meets the National Equality Standard, the accepted standard for inclusiveness in business across the UK.
• We are Disability Confident Leaders, support the guaranteed interview scheme and use of the government’s Access to Work scheme.
• We are proud to hold the menopause friendly accreditation, hosting a regular Menopause Peer Support Groups providing a safe space for colleagues share experiences or ask questions.
• Living our values, we are keen to reflect the diversity of UK society at every level within our organisation.

We welcome applications from all sections of the community including from people with lived experience and/or knowledge of disability or social exclusion.

If you have accessibility requirements and/or would like further information about the role, please contact: [e-mail]

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