IPS Job Retention Specialist (SW)

IPS Job Retention Specialist (SW)

The closing date is 09 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 who express a desire to gain paid employment as part of their recovery goals. You will carry a caseload of up to 25 service users, providing a high quality employment service to adults of all ages who have a mental health challenge.

Whilst we welcome all applications from all suitable candidates, unfortunately, we will not be offering sponsorship 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 which impacts on 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).

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of "Outstanding" from the Care Quality Commission.

Our family of over 4,000 staff members provides health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Job responsibilities

• Carry a caseload of Service Users with severe mental illness who are currently off work or 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.
• Develop effective working relationships with a range of external agencies that might better help individuals to achieve their employment goals (e.g., local colleges, training providers and external supported employment services).
• 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 address any new or recurring issues relating to mental health and job sustainability.
• Provide individualized 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 oriented 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 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

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

£33,677 to £40,996 a year, pro rata (5% HCAS Included)