NHS IPS Employment Specialist

IPS Grow; England; Remote; GBP 28.000 - 36.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Standguide is seeking an NHS IPS Employment Specialist to support people with severe mental health challenges in Cheshire, helping them secure and sustain meaningful work. You will work within an integrated service, delivering IPS with person-centred guidance and building relationships with local employers.

The role requires experience with caseload management and delivering IPS principles, with training provided.

Qualifikationen

• Educated to a degree level or equivalent experience.
• Desirable – trained in IPS approach.
• QCF Level 3 in Advice & Guidance.

Aufgaben

• Manage a small caseload of clients with mental health support needs.
• Deliver and embed the IPS approach across the team.
• Adhere to the 8 key IPS principles and 25-point Fidelity scale.
• Monitor IPS performance through mentoring and supervision.
• Set KPIs and targets for job outcomes and retention.
• Support staff training and development.
• Build relationships with clinical leaders and referral partners.
• Coordinate access to the hidden labour market and job seeking groups.

Kenntnisse

Caseload management

IPS understanding

IT literacy

Communication skills

Ausbildung

Degree level education or equivalent

Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services Sector Qualification

QCF in Advice & Guidance (Level 3)

Jobbeschreibung

Are you passionate about helping people experiencing mental health challenges find and sustain meaningful employment? Join Standguide as an NHS IPS Employment Specialist in Cheshire and support people on their journey towards recovery through work.

Deadline: 9th November 2026

• North West
• Full-time

Job overview

For more than three decades, Standguide has supported individuals and employers across the UK. We provide employment, skills and support services that help people overcome barriers, develop their potential and move towards sustainable employment.

As an employee-owned organisation, we’re committed to investing in our people, delivering high-quality services and creating positive outcomes for the communities we support.

Role

Make a difference through meaningful employment

Job Summary Employment Specialists work with clients (managing a caseload) who have severe mental health (SMI) diagnosis, to assist them in securing and retaining sustainable paid employment in line with their vocational preferences. Employment Specialists 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. Employment Specialists work as part of an integrated service with secondary Mental Health teams, Primary Care Networks (PCN) and voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) services to deliver a holistic approach in aiding recovery and increase wellbeing through employment support.

Responsibilities

As an NHS IPS Employment Specialist, you’ll:

• Manage a small caseload of clients diagnosed with mental health support needs who are motivated to start/return to work when required
• Deliver and embed the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach throughout the team
• Adhere to the 8 key IPS principles that underpin the 25-point Fidelity scale
• Effectively manage a high-quality service that adheres to the principles of IPS best practice
• Monitor and manage performance of the IPS Employment Specialists and Senior Employment Specialists through mentoring, observations, supervisions and as part of a vocational unit
• Set individual and team access KPI’s, job outcome and retention targets in line with contractual and fidelity requirements
• Create a culture of continuous improvement and sharing of best practice
• Identify training needs for staff and arrange appropriate training to support with continuous professional development
• Support the design and delivery of in-house staff training and development (including facilitating peer learning and best practice)
• Involve clients in co-production of service developments where possible, supported by the Line Manager
• Build strategic relationships with clinical/medical leaders and colleagues within secondary Mental Health, PCN and VCFSE teams to create and embed a referral process
• Support your team to create a collaborative working partnerships and integration with all referral partners promoting employment as a positive intervention in the recovery journey
• Promotion of service to ensure zero exclusion and self-referrals
• Coordinate the work of Employment Specialists to build relationships with employers to effectively access the hidden labour market, external agencies and delivery of job seeking groups

The person

We’re looking for someone who has:

• Educated to a degree level or equivalent experience
• Desirable – trained in IPS approach
• Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services Sector Qualification.
• QCF in Advice & Guidance (Level 3)
• An understanding of the employment needs, and challenges faced by people who experience mental health difficulties
• Developing a knowledge of a broad range of occupations and jobs Able to use IT and tools such as MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel
• Experience/understanding of working with people with mental health support needs, or a similar client group within health, social services or the voluntary sector
• Experience of working with someone on a one-to-one basis
• Experience of managing multiple tasks at any one time
• Experience of working assertively to influence decision makers.
• Knowledge of the benefits agency and all disability/ employment related benefits
• Experience of supporting people to obtain or keep work
• Experience of working within mental health services
• Own personal lived experience of recovery from mental health difficulties
• Previous experience of delivering a service using the IPS model is a bonus
• Proven experience of meeting and exceeding outcomes and targets.