IPS Employment Specialist
At a glance
- Band
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time
- Posted
- 02/09/2026
- Closes
- 16/09/2026
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.
“Please note visa sponsorship for this role is unfortunately not available. Ensure you hold valid right to work in the UK and will not require sponsorship if successful.”Quoted verbatim from the source advert
Role summary
This role involves supporting young people with mental health needs to access and sustain employment using the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model. You will work collaboratively with clients, employers, and NHS teams to generate job opportunities, provide employment support, and ensure sustainable outcomes. The position requires working in a fast-paced, community-based environment and maintaining accurate records.
Essential criteria
- Educated to degree level or equivalent training in a relevant field
- Experience or knowledge of employability or the labour market
- Team orientated and works collaboratively within a mixed-disciplinary team
- Experience of supporting young people
Desirable criteria
- Role specific experience of 2 years
- Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services Sector Qualification
- Job specific experience
- Experience of working with young people with mental health problems or a similar client group within health, social services or the voluntary sector
- Experience of partnership working, negotiation and liaison work with other stake holders and agencies
- Experience of working within mental health services
- Previous experience of delivering a service using the IPS model
- Personal qualities/attributes
- Excellent Organisational skills
- Ability to manage own time effectively and independently
- Natural ability to build close trusting and productive relationships with people
- Highly motivated with a genuine belief that employment will help the recovery of someone with a mental health condition
- Lived experience / experience of recovery from a mental health condition
- Additional requirements
- Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English to a standard which enables the post holder to carry out the full range of duties and responsibilities of the role effectively.
- Knowledge, skills and training
- Educated to degree level or equivalent training in a relevant field
- Experience or knowledge of employability or the labour market
- Team orientated and works collaboratively within a mixed-disciplinary team
- Experience of supporting young people
- Role specific experience of 2 years
- Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services Sector Qualification
- Job specific experience
- Experience of working with young people with mental health problems or a similar client group within health, social services or the voluntary sector
- Experience of partnership working, negotiation and liaison work with other stake holders and agencies
- Experience of working within mental health services
- Previous experience of delivering a service using the IPS model
- Personal qualities/attributes
- Excellent Organisational skills
- Ability to manage own time effectively and independently
- Natural ability to build close trusting and productive relationships with people
- Highly motivated with a genuine belief that employment will help the recovery of someone with a mental health condition
- Lived experience / experience of recovery from a mental health condition
- Additional requirements
- Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English to a standard which enables the post holder to carry out the full range of duties and responsibilities of the role effectively.
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 5 at £29,970 – £36,483 a year, across England.
This advert: £32,073 – £39,043 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 5d ago · Closes in 10d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
IPS Employment Specialist
The closing date is 16 September 2026
Job summary
Passionate about supporting young people and understanding their mental health needs?
We are recruiting band 5 employment specialists to join Dorset Work Matters (DWM), supporting young people across Dorset. These roles are made possible through expansion funding, reflecting a commitment to extending specialist mental health employment support to young people.
We are particularly keen to attract applicants with the skills and experience to support young people with mental health needs to access and sustain employment and to work within our Young Persons Service in the West side of the county. This includes individuals who are confident working in a fast-paced, community-based environment, who can build strong, engaging relationships and deliver tailored, person-centred support.
DWM is a well-established, high-performing partnership between Dorset Healthcare Trust and Dorset Mental Health Forum. Since 2019, the service has provided evidence-based support to individuals with mental health conditions, helping them secure paid employment through the nationally recognised individual placement and support (IPS) model.
Working closely with NHS teams, employers and partner organisations, you will support individuals to achieve sustainable employ
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