IPS Employment Specialist (EPC East)

IPS Employment Specialist (EPC East)

Job closing date: 16 July 2026

You will work as a member of the multi disciplinary Community Team. As an IPS Employment Specialist (ES), you will be responsible for providing Individual Placement Support (IPS) for all service users who are currently unemployed and wish to gain paid employment as part of their recovery goals.

All applicants will be considered; however, sponsorship will not be offered for this role.

Main duties of the job

You will work intensively with a defined caseload of service users who have a severe and enduring mental health condition that impacts their ability to gain work. You will assist them to obtain and sustain paid employment that is consistent with their goals, utilising the eight principles of Individual Placement Support (IPS).

Job responsibilities

• To carry a case load of service users with severe mental illness who are currently off work/unemployed, receiving specialist mental health services and who wish to return to work.
• Focus on rapid job search with the service user, while utilising local support networks to help them overcome barriers to employment.
• Source job opportunities for service users through tailored job search and regular contact with employers.
• When placing service users with employers, ensure that the quality of work environments is explored, including potential for workplace adjustments that will accommodate individual strengths, skills, symptoms and coping skills.
• To develop effective working relationships with a range of external agencies who might be better able to help individuals achieve their employment goals, such as local colleges, training providers and external supported employment services.
• To provide education and support to employers, as agreed with the individual, which may include negotiating adjustments, return-to-work strategy and ongoing contact with the employer to help with any new or recurring issues in relation to mental health and job sustainability.
• To provide individualised support to service users once they have returned to work to assist them in maintaining employment.
• Meet and exceed job outcome targets for service users.

For full details of the role and responsibilities please see attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Educated to a degree level or equivalent
• IPS trained
• Additional relevant training in areas of employment, mental health, coaching
• Job Retention Training

Experience

• Considerable experience of working with adults with mental health difficulties in a health or social care setting
• Significant experience working in a role delivering employment support
• Supervision of junior staff
• Experience of partnership working, negotiation and liaison with other agencies

Knowledge

• Knowledge of disability and special needs issues, policies and legislation in relation to employment
• Understanding of the principles and practice of IPS
• Knowledge of employment law
• Team orientated and work collaboratively within a mixed-disciplinary team
• Experience of partnership working, negotiation and liaison work with other agencies
• Experience of opening up job opportunities with a range of employers

Skills

• Ability to work with key IT tools such as MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint
• Ability to build rapport with a range of people
• Ability to provide and receive sensitive information regarding service users' care and social situation
• Ability to negotiate and persuade appropriately prospective employers of the benefits of offering work opportunities to service users
• Active listening skills, ability to ask perceptive questions that tease out important information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such will require a Disclosure and Barring Service submission to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ware, Cheshunt, Bishops Stortford

Oxford House, London Road, Bishop's Stortford

Salary

£33,677 to £40,996 per annum, pro rata (5% HCAS Included)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full time

Reference number

367-ACMS-101380

Job locations

Ware, Cheshunt, Bishops Stortford

Oxford House, London Road, Bishop's Stortford