IPS Employment Specialists
At a glance
- Band
- Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time, Part-time
- Posted
- 16/09/2026
- Closes
- 29/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This advert explicitly states that sponsorship is not offered.
The source advert contains explicit wording ruling out sponsorship for this specific role. Consider other live roles at the same band from sponsorship-friendly trusts.
Role summary
This role involves helping people with mental health conditions find and keep paid employment using the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach. You will support clients with job searching, CVs, applications, and interview preparation, while also developing networks with local employers and employment support services. The aim is to help service users gain or return to competitive employment and retain it for up to one year. This is a dynamic role requiring strong communication and a commitment to social inclusion.
Key responsibilities
- Support clients with job searching, completing CV's and application forms and interview preparation.
- Liaise and signpost clients to a range of employment and training programmes within the local area, including Job Centre Plus.
- Develop knowledge and networks of employment related support services and inclusive employers within the local area.
- Establish ongoing monitoring and support systems for clients once employment is secured.
- Offer support to employers and clients with any problems that may arise and promote disability awareness among employers.
Essential criteria
- Numeracy and Literacy level 2 (or above)
- Minimum of level 4 qualification related to IPS practice e.g. Level 4 - Certificate of higher education (CertHE), higher apprenticeship, higher national certificate (HNC), level 4 award, level 4 certificate, level 4 diploma, level 4 NVQ If level 4 award (or higher) is not a health or social care related subject will complete care certificate during first 6 months of employment.
- OR A minimum of 2 years of experience in e.g. o delivering employment support o delivering health/social care support o providing coaching/advice and guidance
- Ability to work collaboratively with members of the MDT to provide an effective service.
- Ability to deliver employment support interventions competently
- Ability to communicate information (verbal and written) effectively in a manner appropriate to the individual and situation
- Adherence to Trust record keeping standards.
- Ability to adapt intervention using own initiative within own scope of practice.
- Ability to plan and organise a given caseload and prioritise effectively.
- Fully compliant with statutory and mandatory training.
- Completed "Doing What Works" IPS
- Ability to lead a group session. training or equivalent.
- Ability to use employment related software packages/platforms.
- Demonstrate IPS and service specific competencies.
- Awareness of the needs of individuals from diverse social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds
- Ability to relate to the needs of the patient group
- Compassionate in meeting the needs of vulnerable people and their families and carers
- Ability to work on own in a variety of settings using initiative appropriately
- Ability to work under pressure in a rapidly changing environment
- Able to work flexibly and cooperatively as part of a team
- Committed to continual quality and service improvement
- Committed to promoting a positive image of people with mental health conditions and/or learning disabilities and autism
- Committed to promoting a positive image of IPS and the Trust
- Self-awareness and committed to continual personal development
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of additional qualifications relevant to role
- Ability to lead a group session
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 4 at £26,530 – £29,114 a year, across England.
This advert: £28,392 – £31,157 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 13d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
IPS Employment Specialists
The closing date is 29 September 2026
Job summary
IPS (Individual Placement and Support) is an evidence-based approach to helping people with mental health conditions find and keep a paid job.
Having a job can bring numerous benefits. We know having a job can help people with mental health conditions to recover.
At present, only around 8% of people receiving support from secondary mental health services are in paid employment, while studies suggest almost 90% of people with serious and enduring mental health conditions want to work.
Following further investment and expansion of the IPS service an exciting opportunity has arisen for a number of permanent IPS Employment Specialists in the following area:
York, Northallerton, Harrogate and Ripon, Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale.
The IPS worker will be working with people who have a mental illness and support them into employment and then enabling them to retain that employment. As an IPS worker you will be looking for paid employment opportunities for clients who are currently involved with secondary care adult mental health services. This will involve developing opportunities with local employers and supporting them as well as the client, to ensure the right person is in the right job.
**You must have the Right to Work in the UK in order
Join the community to read the full pack, responsibilities and person-specification in one place.
Your seat is reserved — activate it
CareerHive is included with your CareerHive Skool community membership. If you haven't claimed your account yet, join the community (or sign in with the same email you joined with) to unlock the full advert, the apply link, HiveMind AI interview & application suite, your private vault, and daily sponsorship alerts.