IPS Employment Specialist

Go back Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

IPS Employment Specialist

The closing date is 07 August 2026

Interested in a new challenge? Want to help people thrive? An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the CNTW Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Support Service.

We are excited to be recruiting for a new IPS Employment Specialist to work within the brilliant Secondary Care Mental Health pathways across Sunderland.The role requires building strong relationships with people using Community Treatment Team services, using our evidence-based tools to identify their ambitions and then use employer engagement techniques to gain or retain employment on their behalf.This is an exciting, varied and hugely gratifying role that rewards tenaciousness, creativity and excellent communication skills.

Main duties of the job

We help anyone with serious mental health problems pursue their employment ambitions in a highly person-centred way using an evidence-based approach that is proven to work.

We are recruiting for a new member of staff to join our service in Sunderland, based out of Monkwearmouth Hospital.

This job would be perfect for anyone who:

• Can build strong therapeutic relationships.
• Has a passion for overcoming obstacles for others.
• Truly values inclusivity and a rights-based approach to supporting others.
• Lives and breathes our Trust values.
• Has lived experience of mental health difficulties or employment challenges.We don't expect you:
• To know the IPS method inside out, as we will train you.
• Have specific qualifications, as we welcome equivalent experience.
• To have a specific employment support background - you will receive training and ongoing mentoring and tuition.If you have any queries or would like an informal chat, please get in touch as soon as possible.

About us

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

We've supported dozens and dozens of service users secure paid employment that has helped them thrive! We're fantastic to work for and can guarantee an exciting and varied role that rewards creativity and an action-orientated attitude.

Job responsibilities

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 24th July 2026

Closing date : 9th August 2026

We welcome your application.

Person Specification Education and Qualification

• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• Multi-disciplinary team work.
• Proven ability to develop therapeutic partnership with service users and carers.
• Proven ability to be able to communicate interventions to service users.
• Minimum 2 years' experience of working with people with mental health problems or a similar user group
• Further relevant post qualifying training Previous experience in a community setting.
• Experience of involving service users/ carers in evaluation/planning and monitoring of services
• Trained in IPS approach Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services Sector Qualification Mental First Aid Qualification
• Minimum 2 years experience of working in the supported employment services Lived experience

Knowledge and Experience

• Understanding of the statutory issues which impact on service users.
• Knowledge of disability and special needs issues, policies and legislation in relation to employment
• Good understanding of the principles and practice of supported employment
• Knowledge of employment law
• Knowledge of IPS principles of approach

Skills and Competencies

• Proven ability to use IT systems
• Adaptability, flexibility, good communication skills and a commitment to multi-agency team work
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to build rapport with a range of people
• Flexibility to working out of 'normal office' hours
• Natural ability to build close, trusting and productive relationships with people
• Compelling written and verbal communication skills, tailored to a variety of audiences
• Excellent coaching and active listening skills, ability to ask perceptive questions that tease out important information through mentoring and coaching

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

Employer name

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust