Individual Placement and Support - Employment Specialist
At a glance
- Band
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time
- Posted
- 03/09/2026
- Closes
- 17/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
Candidates needing sponsorship are encouraged to apply.
HiveMind found a sponsorship-friendly statement in the source advert welcoming applicants who require a visa. Always confirm on the source before applying.
“Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.”Quoted verbatim from the source advert
Role summary
This role supports individuals with mental health conditions to achieve and maintain paid employment. It involves working within clinical teams, engaging with employers to secure job opportunities, and providing ongoing support to both employees and employers. The specialist will help service users with job searching, CV building, applications, and interviews, following the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.
Key responsibilities
- Completing initial assessments of service users vocational needs.
- Work collaboratively with service users to complete a Vocational Profile.
- Help to search for jobs quickly, build or rebuild CVs, make applications and prepare for interviews.
- Contact with local employers to seek fresh opportunities and support for the employer to help service users to return to work.
- Continued support once service users are in work for them and their employer.
- Actively and regularly engage with employers and employment services.
Essential criteria
- Educated to GCSE level
- Experience of helping people to obtain or keep work.
- An understanding of the principles and practices of supported employment.
- Excellent written communication skills for writing CVs, employer contacts and job applications
- Excellent internet use skills for job search, research and online applications
- An ability and confidence to initiate and develop face to face relationships with employers and other agencies
- Ability to travel easily between locations around Northamptonshire
Desirable criteria
- Qualification in delivering Employment or Vocational Activities
- Experience of supporting people with mental health conditions into vocational/employment activities
- An understanding of the principals and practices of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.
- Basic Counselling or Motivational Interviewing Skills
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 4d ago · Closes in 11d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Individual Placement and Support - Employment Specialist
The closing date is 17 September 2026
Job summary
The service has 8 principles that are followed based on the Individual Placement Support model (Centre for Mental Health, 2021):
1. It aims to get people into competitive employment
2. It is open to all those who want to work
3. It tries to find jobs consistent with people's preferences
4. It works quickly
5. It brings employment specialists into clinical teams
6. Employment specialists develop relationships with employers based upon a person's work preferences
7. It provides time unlimited, individualised support for the person and their employer
8. Benefits counselling is included
This role is designed to support individuals to recognise and better equip them to meet the challenges of achieving and maintaining paid employment as a fundamental and integral part of their desired recovery journey.
Main duties of the job
The service is individually tailored to the person's needs and requirements. The overall aim of the service is to get the person into paid employment that is of interest to them and that will aid their mental health recovery. Following evidenced-based Individual Placement and Support (IPS) principles, key duties will include:
Raising the profile of employment as an essential part of the recover
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