Employment Specialist - Individual Placement and Support (IPS)

• One to one employment support of helping people to obtain or keep education/work
• An understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems
• Knowledge of range of resources for helping people to maintain employment when facing ill health difficulties
• Skills in vocational assessment and in assessing ill health obstacles to returning to work and working with employees to overcome these
• Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently
• Skills in vocational assessment and in assessing ill health obstacles to returning to work and working with employees to overcome these
• Employment support experience
• Knowledge of IPS
• Experience of working with people on a one-to-one basis, offering motivation and support
• The ability to build good relationships with a range of different people, from employers to clients
• The ability to manage multiple tasks at once
• Excellent administrative and organisational skills
• Data collection experience
• A passion for making a difference to peoples lives
• An ability to meet the travel requirements of the role, including areas not accessible by public transport

• 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service
• Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when you work unsocial hours
• Flexible and agile working opportunities
• Great maternity, paternity, and adoption support
• Wide range of supportive staff networks
• Health and wellbeing opportunities

Essential

• Minimum of 1 year's experience of working with people who have experienced mental health problems with health, social services, voluntary sector or mainstream educational or employment services.
• An understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems.
• Of helping people to obtain or keep education/work.
• Experience of supporting clients on a 1-1 basis.

Desirable

• Experience and knowledge of welfare benefits and all disability/employment related benefits.
• Personal experience of mental health recovery.
• Experience of carrying out person centre recovery plans.

Essential

• Working knowledge of a broad range of occupations and jobs.
• An understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental ill-health.
• Knowledge of range of resources for helping people to maintain employment when facing ill health difficulties.
• Understanding of Equality Act (2010) in relation to employment.
• Awareness and understanding of confidentiality.
• Basic counselling skills.
• Ability to initiate and develop relationships with employers whilst being astute to their needs.
• Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently.
• Vocational assessment and profiling.
• Partnership working to reach positive outcomes for clients.
• IT skills including Microsoft programmes.

Desirable

• Report writing skills.
• Solution focused therapy skills.
• An understanding of the principle and practice of supported employment. Equality Act. Disability and special needs issues in relation to employment and education.

Essential

• Ability to see solutions rather than problems.
• A preparedness to work flexible hours through prior arrangement as the needs of the job dictate (e.g. some evenings).
• Skills in vocational assessment and in assessing ill health obstacles to returning to work and working with employees to overcome these.
• This post involves a significant amount of travel, sometimes conveying clients from place to place across a wide area. Therefore, a driving licence and own car is essential to this post. NB If a health condition or disability prevents a candidate from driving, reasonable adjustments and alternative travel arrangements will be considered where appropriate to assess whether the travel requirements of the role can be fulfilled.