Employment Specialist

Role:NHS IPS Employment Specialist

Salary:£28,407

Contract type:Fixed term

Working hours:Full Time (37.5 hrs pw)

Location:Cheshire

For over three decades, we have been dedicated to supporting individuals and employers across the UK. As a nationwide market leader, we have assisted over 13,000 people in the past year alone to retrain, embark on new career paths, or establish their own businesses.

Employment Specialists manage a caseload of clients with mental health support needs, helping them secure sustainable paid employment aligned with their preferences. They deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach (training provided), providing person centred advice and guidance to clients, whilst building positive relationships with local employers to enable clients to move into suitable employment.

As part of a community Mental Health team, Employment Specialists maintain integrated relationships and promote a holistic approach to recovery through employment.

What youll do

• Manage a caseload of around 20 clients who have mental health support needs who are motivated to start/return to work
• Deliver the IPS approach for which training will be given
• Meet and support clients to understand their key skills, aspirations, and goals through completing a Vocational Profile and produce an Action Plan to help them obtain and sustain competitive employment. This includes support with their job search, CV production, application forms, interview techniques and career development
• Source job opportunities for clients through tailored job search and regular contact with local employers to explore hidden as well as advertised employment opportunities
• Once employment has been secured, continue to provide quality service through conducting regular visits, effective monitoring and in-work support to clients and employers to help sustain employment
• Work with employers to promote the service, identify job opportunities and ensure appropriate strategies are in place to reduce barriers in the workplace this can include exploring job carving i.e., carving small slices of work from the duties other staff do not have time to do
• Develop effective working relationships with a range of external agencies who can help individuals to achieve their employment goals. This may include local colleges and training providers.

What youll need

• Educated to a degree level or equivalent experience
• Desirable trained in IPS approach
• An understanding of the employment needs, and challenges faced by people who experience health difficulties
• Experience/understanding of working with people with health support needs, or a similar client group within health, social services, or the voluntary sector
• Natural ability to build close, trusting, and productive relationships with people
• Ability to work independently and use initiative to develop and promote a service
• Clean driving licence and full-time access to car as this role requires travel.

Overseas equivalent qualifications will be accepted.

We welcome applicants with lived experience and encourage applications that reflect the relevance to the post.

Benefits

• CPD - Broad range of internal training to enhance your knowledge and skills
• Generous pension scheme, with the option to opt out
• Company health plan subject to successful completion of probation period
• 25 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays
• 5-10 sick day per year paid.

Join us at Standguide and be part of a team dedicated to making a meaningful impact on individuals' lives and businesses nationwide.

Standguide is an Equal Opportunities Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity and value the diversity of our staff and customers. We thrive on creating positive working relationships, free from discrimination.

Successful candidates will be subject to satisfactory references and enhanced DBS check.

For the full job description and person specification, please email Amy atrecruitment @standguide.co.uk.