IPS Vocational Specialist
Posted 3 hours 56 minutes ago by NHS
The closing date is 13 April 2026
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting 1 WTE Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Vocational Specialists to be based across our Secondary Care Mental Health Services. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a established team who provide specialist provision to our SMI service users. This role will support the national ambition of increasing access to IPS Employment Services as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.
The role will support service users in the Black Country and will form an integral part of individuals' recovery and care plans by working collaboratively with clinicians, service users, families and employers. The successful candidate will support a caseload of individuals who have experienced severe and enduring mental health problems who are unemployed.
Main duties of the jobMain Duties/Responsibilities -
- To manage a caseload of clients who have experienced severe and enduring mental health problems.
- To carry out vocational assessments and identify vocational needs and develop action plans in agreement with the individual.
- To maintain detailed and accurate case notes, action plans and client paperwork and upload these onto the management information system within the allocated timeframe.
- To provide information, advice, guidance and support to individuals about the pathways of opportunities available to them to gain and sustain work.
- To support individuals to gain accurate benefits advice, complete paid job applications, compile CVs and to practically prepare for interviews.
- To liaise and arrange meetings with health professionals, partner agencies (voluntary and statutory sectors) and/or employers concerning the individual's needs, including partner organisations that work with diverse groups to develop joint working that will enhance service delivery and increase opportunities for individuals.
- To deliver training and workshops (as required) to clients on job applications, CV writing and interview skills to increase their chances of moving into employment.
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist mental health, learning disability, and community healthcare services for the population of the Black Country.
Across the whole of the region we provide:
- Adult and older adult mental health services
- Specialist learning disability services
- CAMHS
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was formed on 1 April 2020, after NHS England and NHS Improvement approved the merger of Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.
Combining resources, strategies and talented workforce enables us to deliver a wider variety of outstanding services that are based on best practice and are continually improving.
We currently employ over 3,000 members of staff and just like the population we serve, we are made up of diverse cultures and backgrounds.
Job responsibilitiesJob Purpose - To manage a caseload of people with severe and enduring mental health problems who require employment support; using the Individual Placement and Support approach to gain benefits advice, overcome barriers to work, developing close relationships with clinical teams and completing rapid job search. The post holder will work to the IPS model and will adhere to the Fidelity Scale ensuring that the service operates as close to the 25 principles as possible.
Person Specification- Able to build and maintain strong working relationships
- Experience of supporting people with mental health problems into work and knowledge of the barriers faced
- Working knowledge of the IPS model and ability to evidence high Fidelity practice
- Good report writing skills
- Ability to evidence initiative and proactivity
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.