IPS Employment Specialist (Early Intervention in Psychosis)

IPS Employment Specialist (Early Intervention in Psychosis)

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Application closing date: 12 July 2026

Are you passionate about supporting people with mental health needs to find and sustain employment? If you work or have experience in health, social care, recruitment, employment, or education services, and you can help people achieve paid employment goals, this is an excellent opportunity to join our team of Employment Specialists.

Our service holds IPS status as a National Centre of Excellence (Centre for Mental Health). We need an empathetic and driven individual to work in Ipswich, Suffolk on a permanent contract. Your role will involve helping people with mental health needs realise their employment goals, supporting job searching, application writing, interview preparation, and post employment support. You will also help those already in work to maintain employment when mental health challenges arise. You will build strong relationships with local employers, champion IPS, and reduce stigma and discrimination associated with mental health.

Main duties of the job

• Build relationships with employers and other stakeholders (e.g. DWP, Job Centre +, employment law firms, voluntary organisations).
• Engage with local employers to create job opportunities and challenge stigma.
• Support recovery planning in the Early Intervention in Psychosis team by providing employment services to service users.
• Deliver evidence based IPS services, preparing individuals for employment by assessing needs, identifying strengths, and developing benefits, support networks and travel plans.
• Work within multidisciplinary mental health teams, championing the employment agenda.

About us

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Inclusive community with engagement events and champion networks.
• Wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• Recognition awards for staff hard work.
• 27 days holiday (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days after 10 years of service.
• Excellent pension up to 14.5% of pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts - Blue Light Card, NHS discounts, other benefits.
• £8,000 relocation package if you move to Essex.
• Interest free season ticket loans for tram, rail or bus.

• Flexible working available from day one for most roles.
• Job share applications are welcomed.

Job responsibilities

You will work to individual targets - the number of people supported into employment. You will manage your time autonomously, report regular supervision to the Team Leader and account to the Service Manager. You will promote best practice in mental health and employment throughout the Trust and the local area.

Please note this may close early if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Good standard of education; NVQ 3 or equivalent.
• Degree level education related to health and social care.

Knowledge

• Vocational assessment and profiling.
• Good practice in employment and supported employment principles.
• Knowledge of welfare benefits, benefits rules and the Equality Act 2010.

Experience

• Experience working in health, social care or voluntary sector with people with mental health problems.
• Experience helping people obtain or sustain employment or training.
• Understanding of employment needs and difficulties for people with mental health issues.
• Computer literacy.
• Experience working with stakeholders (including employers) to support people into employment.
• Knowledge of benefits agency and disability/employment related benefits.

Personal Qualities / Skills

• Assessment of employment skills and needs.
• Construction and review of person centred action plans.
• Flexibility, open and creative problem solving.
• Initiation of relationships with employers.
• Marketing and promotional skills.
• Independent, reliable and consistent work.
• Alignment with Trust's beliefs and values.
• Solution focused facilitation of difficult situations.
• Report writing skills.
• Data analysis and presentation of monitoring data.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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

Employer name

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Early Intervention for Psychosis, East Suffolk Service