IPS Employment Specialist

NHS; Pontefract; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job description

Job summary

37.5 hours per week

We are delighted to be seeking full-time Employment Specialists (Band 5) to join our IPS services across Kirklees and Wakefield. For people who need mental health support, getting back into work can play a pivotal part in their recovery journey.

You will be joining an established IPS service, which at present is fully integrated into existing community mental health teams and continuing to expand within the primary care setting. You will work alongside clinical colleagues, championing the employment agenda and instilling the belief that people with mental health needs want to work and with the right support can work.

We welcome applications with diverse backgrounds and experiences, especially in employment support, health, or social care. If needed, we'll train you in the IPS approach, equipping you to support clients and build positive relationships with employers whilst opening doors and changing perceptions around mental health.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.

Main duties of the job

This is an incredibly rewarding role - utilising the IPS model, you'll have the opportunity to transform the lives of your clients, to give them hope, direction and support their recovery journey. This is also a challenging role, requiring resilience, empathy, and dedication to secure suitable roles for clients. With a 'can do' attitude, you'll build rapport with clients, understand their skills and goals, and provide bespoke support to help realise their aspirations.

The role involves:

1. Using a strength-based approach to collaboratively create and review employment plans, considering barriers and work adjustments.
2. Providing flexible, individualised support, including benefits counselling, job brokerage, goal setting, CV building, job searching, and application assistance.
3. Managing your own time and working autonomously; responsible to the Team Leader via regular supervision and support with oversight from the Service Manager.

At the time of advertising, this role does not meet the minimum requirements (salary threshold or occupational requirements) set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. For this reason, unfortunately we are unable to sponsor anyone on a visa for this role at this moment in time.

We are happy to accept applications from candidates who can prove their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes. Such applications will be considered alongside all other applications.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means we're accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we're run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve the right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Date posted: 10 April 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 5

Salary: £29,970 to £36,483 a year

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number: C9378-W1265

Job locations: Baghill House Health and Wellbeing Centre, Walkergate, Pontefract, WF8 1QW

Job responsibilities

The postholder will:

1. Assess, provide guidance and person-centred support to people who have experienced mental health problems in exploring their interest and capacity for employment under the supervision of the team leader.
2. Have an individual caseload of people who have experienced mental health problems and wish to return to employment using the Individual Placement and Support approach.
3. Proactively engage with employers to negotiate and secure employment opportunities for this client group.
4. Work as part of a community mental health team, maintaining positive and integrated relationships, fostering a holistic approach to recovery through employment.
5. The IPS Employment Specialist undertakes comprehensive assessments, formulating vocational profiles of the individuals' employment needs and abilities, developing an employment action/support plan whilst liaising with the care coordinator.
6. To assess individuals' work-related support needs.
7. To offer guidance and support to people in exploring their interest and capacity in employment using the Individual Placement and Support approach.
8. To prepare individuals for employment through vocational profiling under supervision of the team leader.
9. To provide personalized ongoing support to individuals once they have secured employment and to assist them in sustaining their employment.
10. If the service user consents, to review employment with both the service users and the employer.
11. To provide education and support to the employer as agreed with the individual. This may include negotiating adjustments and maintaining ongoing contact with the employer.
12. To develop relationships with both service users, employers and other organisations that support people to achieve their employment goals whilst being mindful of their needs and priorities.
13. Assess for, review and deliver a comprehensive range of HR services around employment needs and difficulties of people who have experienced mental health problems who want to access employment opportunities and want to return to work.
14. To create documents/reports in a timely manner.
15. To support service users complete application forms and to job search.
16. The role of the IPS Employment Specialist is integrated into the clinical teams (as allocated) and works alongside care coordinators, being responsible for those service users who want to gain employment.
17. To meet regularly with care coordinators to coordinate and integrate IPS services into mental health services.
18. To feedback information clearly and concisely within multidisciplinary team meetings using excellent communication skills.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

Person Specification

Qualifications Essential

• Educated to degree level in a subject relevant to the role or able to demonstrate competencies working at degree level.

Experience Essential

• Experience with health or social services or the voluntary sector, working with people who have experienced mental health problems and related employment difficulties.

Desirable

• Personal lived experience of mental health problems.

Physical Attributes Essential

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Physical Attributes Essential

• An ability to initiate and develop relationships with employers while being aware of their needs.
• Ability to build and develop relationships with service users having awareness of their needs to access employment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Vocational assessment skills.
• IT Skills.
• Good administrative skills.
• Motivational skills.
• Use own initiative.
• A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).
• Willingness to work flexible hours according to the demands of the job.

Desirable

• Good marketing skills.
• Good negotiation skills and persuasive style.

Special Knowledge & Skills Essential

• An understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems and related barriers to employment.
• An understanding of the Principles and practice of Individual Placement and Support.
• An understanding of Employer Engagement and strategies.
• Understanding of Recovery principles.
• A working knowledge of Human Resources good practice and Employment legislation in relation to supporting people with mental health needs in the workplace.
• Understanding of Welfare Rights/ benefits system.

Desirable

• An understanding of applied research methods.
• Good presentation skills.

Training Essential

• Coaching or motivational interviewing experience/qualification.

Desirable

• Occupational Therapy or Occupational Psychology Training.
• IPS Training.
• Employer engagement Training.
• Counselling or Careers Guidance/equivalent as evidenced by a relevant qualification.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name: South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Address: Baghill House Health and Wellbeing Centre, Walkergate, Pontefract, WF8 1QW

Employer's website: https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk