IPS Team Manager

Standguide Group; Preston; On-site; GBP 39,000; Full time

Job summary

A support services organization is seeking an IPS Team Manager in Preston. You will oversee a team of Employment Specialists, ensuring they adhere to the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model for clients with health needs. The ideal candidate will have a relevant degree and experience in managing teams and supporting individuals towards sustainable employment. Benefits include training programs and a generous pension scheme. This role requires travel within the region.

Benefits

CPD – Internal training programs

Generous pension scheme

Company health plan

25 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays

5–10 paid sick days per year

Qualifications

• Educated to a degree level or equivalent experience.
• Experience of working with health support needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Employment Specialists in delivering IPS.
• Manage performance and guide best practices.
• Build relationships with employers for job placements.

Skills

Relationship building

Team management

Knowledge of disability issues

Training and development

Co-production practice

Education

Degree level education or equivalent experience

Job description

Position Overview

Role: IPS Team Manager – Salary: £38,682 per annum – Contract type: Permanent – Working hours: Full Time (37.5 hrs per week) – Location: Preston

For over three decades, we have been dedicated to supporting individuals and employers across the UK. As a nationwide market leader, we have assisted over 13,000 people in the past year alone to retrain, embark on new career paths, or establish their own businesses.

As a Team Manager, you’ll lead a small team of Employment Specialists, ensuring they adhere to the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach for health service users. Responsibilities include supervision, training, and caseload management to maintain high‑quality service meeting Fidelity standards. You’ll assist clients with health support needs in securing sustainable paid employment aligned with their preferences.

What you’ll do

• Effectively manage a high‑quality service that adheres to the principles of IPS best practice
• Drive and monitor stakeholder engagement to ensure development of a robust referral pipeline
• Attend multidisciplinary team meetings, delivering presentations as needed to promote provision
• Monitor and manage performance of the IPS Employment Specialists – guide them individually on best practice and achieving individual and team job outcome targets
• Support the design and delivery of in‑house staff training and development (including facilitating peer learning and best practice)
• Coordinate the work of Employment Specialists in a region in relation to building relationships with employers to effectively access the hidden labour market, external agencies and delivery of job seeking groups
• Spend time getting to know local employers, in order to negotiate job opportunities that meet each individual’s strengths, needs, abilities and preferences
• Arrange/facilitate education and support to employers, as agreed with the individual, which may include negotiating adjustments, return to work strategy and ongoing contact with the employer to ensure job retention.

What you’ll need

• Educated to a degree level or equivalent experience
• Desirable – trained in IPS approach
• Knowledge of disability and special needs issues, policies, and legislation in relation to employment
• 3+ years’ experience of working with people with health support needs, or a similar group within health, social services, or the voluntary sector
• Natural ability to build close, trusting, and productive relationships with people
• Ability to model recovery focused practice including co‑production
• Clean driving licence and full‑time access to a car as this role requires travel.

Benefits

• CPD – Broad range of internal training to enhance your knowledge and skills
• Comprehensive Manager & Leader training programme – internal
• Generous pension scheme, with the option to opt out
• Company health plan subject to successful completion of probation period
• 25 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays
• 5–10 sick day per year paid.

Standguide is an Equal Opportunities Employer and a Disability Confident Leader. We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity and value the diversity of our staff and customers. We thrive on creating positive working relationships, free from discrimination.

Successful candidates will be subject to satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check.

For the full job description and person specification, please email Amy atrecruitment @standguide.co.uk.