IPS Employment Specialist

Role Overview

Working with clients, health professionals, service providers and employers, as an IPS Employment Specialist you will be focused on making sure a person's journey into employment, with associated improved social inclusion and wellbeing, is as easy as possible. You will work with clients (managing a caseload) who have mental health support needs to assist them in securing sustainable paid employment in line with their preferences.

Your role will be to deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach (training will be provided), provide person‑centred advice, build positive relationships with local employers, and enable clients to move into suitable employment.

This is a target‑driven role. Targets are derived from contract obligations of:
Starts On Programme, Job Entries, Job Retention, compliance to Fidelity delivery model (IPS). You will be a peripatetic professional, working primarily in the community, meeting participants, stakeholders and employers, with minimal home working as part of the role. You will support people from vocational profiling to the point where they no longer require face‑to‑face in‑work support.

• Outreach/referral
• Vocational profiling
• Action planning
• Job search activities (including one‑to‑one work with employers to match people with appropriate employment)
• Job placement and coordinating support whilst in employment
• Managing withdrawal of support as the in‑work support is no longer required

• Experience and/or knowledge of the IPS approach (E)
• Experience/understanding of working with people with health conditions/disabilities, substance misuse needs or similar client groups within health, social services or the voluntary sector (E)
• Experience of working with someone on a one‑to‑one basis (E)
• Proven experience of meeting and exceeding outcomes and targets (E)
• Experience of managing multiple tasks at any one time (E)
• Previous experience of working assertively to influence decision makers (E)
• Experience of supporting people to obtain or keep work (E)

"Shaw Trust promotes team spirit, inclusiveness and is an organisation where everybody is somebody. I am proud to be part of this great organisation."

At Shaw Trust we believe everyone has the right to live a decent and dignified life and an opportunity for rewarding work. We are a social purpose organisation challenging inequality and breaking down barriers to enable social mobility.

We are part of an ecosystem of purpose‑led organisations, striving for a fairer, more equal society centred on opportunity for all.

• 25 days annual leave per year (plus bank holidays), with incremental increases post 3 years’ service up to 28 days, and the option to purchase additional holiday
• 2 days paid volunteering leave each year
• Enhanced pension scheme after 6 months
• Life Assurance at 3 times your annual salary rate
• Access to a suite of learning and development opportunities, including paid for apprenticeship and masters’ level qualifications, and management development programmes
• Opportunities to connect with our employee diversity networks (LGBTQ+ Support Network, Racial Equality Network, Disability Equality Network, Women’s Network, Neurodiversity Peer Support Network, Menopause Peer Support Group, The Managing Network, The Young Professionals Network and Back to Work Support Group)
• Health and Wellbeing initiatives including internal support, employee assistance programme and health cash plan

Shaw Trust is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment where every employee, regardless of background or lived experience, feels they belong and can progress in their career.

We are certified as an employer who meets the National Equality Standard, a Disability Confident Leader, support the guaranteed interview scheme and use of the government’s Access to Work scheme. We hold the menopause friendly accreditation and host Menopause Peer Support Groups.

Living our values, we are keen to reflect the diversity of UK society at every level within the organisation.