Advanced Lived Experience Employment Specialist
At a glance
- Band
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time
- Posted
- 22/09/2026
- 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 is for an experienced Employment Specialist with lived experience of mental health recovery, working within the IPS model. You will support the development, sustainability, and quality assurance of the Peer Employment Specialist (PES) workforce, including recruitment, supervision, and skills development. The role involves carrying a caseload to deliver IPS access targets and providing high-quality, recovery-oriented employment support. You will also utilise your lived experience to inspire hope and demonstrate that people with mental health difficulties can thrive in employment.
Key responsibilities
- Support access to the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model across the organisation.
- Contribute to the ongoing development, sustainability, and quality assurance of the Peer Employment Specialist (PES) workforce.
- Support, develop, and strengthen the Peer Employment Specialist workforce, including recruitment, professional peer supervision, and skills development.
- Undertake joint working and provide consultation in relation to best practice of the Peer IPS blended model.
- Carry a caseload to support the delivery of the IPS Access target whilst ensuring high-quality, recovery-oriented employment support.
- Utilise lived experience of employment's role in recovery to inspire hope and demonstrate that people with mental health difficulties can thrive in employment.
Essential criteria
- Educated to degree level or equivalent workplace experience.
- Completion of or willingness to attain Peer Support Training
- Own personal lived experience of maintaining (self-defined) recovery from mental health difficulties for a substantial period
- Own personal lived experience of accessing secondary mental health and/or addiction services
- Experience of working within the IPS model and considering how your own lived experience of recovery might be used in your work
- Significant experience of working with people with mental health difficulties or a similar client group within health, social services or the voluntary sector
- Experience of designing and delivering training
- Experience of relationship building and partnership working
- Experience of staff supervision and/or coaching
- Ability to demonstrate first person experiential knowledge of recovery at an expert level
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the concept of personal recovery as it may apply to others
- A strong commitment to Peer Working and role-modelling recovery
- A strong understanding of the principles and practices of supported employment and of the Individual Placement and Support Model (IPS)
- Ability to role-model excellent practice and standards, and motivate the PES workforce
- A strong understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health challenges
- Ability to assess the learning and development needs of others and give individual feedback to improve performance
Desirable criteria
- Completion of IPS Training
- Completion of Peer and Lived Experience specific training
- Paid or unpaid experience of working in a Peer role (e.g. Peer Support Worker, Peer Employment Specialist or Peer Trainer
- Experience and knowledge of the benefits agency and all disability/employment related benefits.
- Experience of contributing to the national development of IPS as a model
- An understanding of the Equality Act 2010.
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 6 at £37,338 – £44,962 a year, across England.
This advert: £45,953 – £54,254 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 7d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Advanced Lived Experience Employment Specialist
The closing date is 29 September 2026
Job summary
The role of the Advanced Lived Experience Employment Specialist (ALXES) has been developed specifically for people who are experienced in an Employment Specialist role within the IPS model and have lived experience of recovery from mental health difficulties.
Please note: This vacancy does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker sponsorship, unless you meet the criteria by temporary exemption from current changes to immigration rules put in force on 22/07/2025. "Separate provisions are applied to workers who have been sponsored and held continuously Skilled Worker visa since prior to 04/04/2024."
As such, if you don't meet the Transitional Provision (above) we are unable to consider your application unless you can provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the United Kingdom. If you believe you are eligible for sponsorship or already hold a valid right to work in the UK, please ensure you provide full details of your immigration status in the Pre-Screening Immigration section of your application form.
Please note role eligibility also depends on whether the role meets the salary threshold for the relevant occupational code (SOC CODE).
For further info please visit:**Skilled Worker visa: Over
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