NHS IPS Employment Specialist Wirral NHSIPSESWI161026

Standguide Group; Wirral; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days annual leave

Birthday day off

Health plan

Employee Assistance Programme

Will-planning support

Cycle to Work

Sick pay

Training and development

Employee-owner benefits

Job summary

Standguide Group invites applications for an NHS IPS Employment Specialist in Wirral. The permanent, full-time role supports clients with severe mental health needs to secure and sustain paid employment using the IPS approach, within an integrated mental health service network.

The post emphasizes keeping fidelity to IPS principles, delivering high-quality service, and building links with employers and clinical partners.

Responsibilities

• 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 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

Job description

NHS IPS Employment Specialist Wirral NHSIPSESWI161026

Role: NHS IPS Employment Specialist Wirral

Contract type: Permanent

Working hours: Full-time (37.5 hrs pw)

Location: Wirral

Standguide is an employee-owned organisation, which means our employees have a voice in the business and a shared interest in its long-term success.

Alongside a rewarding role where you can make a genuine difference, we offer:

• 33 days paid annual leave, including bank holidays, increasing to 38 days after five full years’ service
• An additional paid day off for your birthday
• Company health plan following successful completion of probation
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling and wellbeing support
• Will-planning support and access to a secure digital vault
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Company sick pay, subject to eligibility
• A broad range of internal training and continuing professional development opportunities
• Access to employee-owner benefits, subject to eligibility and qualifying service

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.

About Standguide

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.

What you’ll do

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

Overseas equivalent qualifications will be considered.

We welcome applications from people with relevant lived experience and recognise the valuable insight this can bring to the role.

Equality and accessibility

Standguide is an Equal Opportunities Employer and a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to equality of opportunity and value the diversity of our employees, applicants and customers.

We’ll consider reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. Please contact [e-mail] if you need the advert or application information in another format or require an adjustment at any stage.

All applicants will be assessed fairly against the published criteria for the role.

Pre-employment checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, confirmation of the applicant’s right to work in the UK and an Enhanced DBS check.

Having a criminal record will not necessarily prevent you from working with us. Any information disclosed will be considered fairly and individually, taking account of its relevance to the role and the circumstances involved.

For a copy of the full job description and person specification, please email [e-mail]

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Company: Standguide Group

Salary: from £31,767 a year

Hours: Full-time

Location: Wirral

Working pattern: Field-based

Job type: Permanent

Posting date: 16 Oct 2026

Closing date: 15 Nov 2026

About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.

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