Could you help people experiencing severe mental health challenges achieve their employment goals and make work part of their recovery journey? Join Standguide as an NHS IPS Employment Specialist and support people across Cheshire and Wirral to secure and sustain meaningful paid employment through the evidence-based Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach.
Deadline: 26th October 2026
- North West
- Full-time
Job overview
For more than three decades, Standguide has supported individuals and employers across the UK. We provide employment, skills and support services that help people overcome barriers, develop their potential and move towards sustainable employment.
As an employee-owned organisation, we’re committed to investing in our people, delivering high-quality services and creating positive outcomes for the communities we support.
Make a difference through meaningful employment
Job Summary Employment Specialists work with clients (managing a caseload) who have severe mental health (SMI) diagnosis, to assist them in securing and retaining sustainable paid employment in line with their vocational preferences. Employment Specialists deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach (for which training will be given); providing person centred advice and guidance to clients, whilst building positive relationships with local employers to enable clients to move into suitable employment. Employment Specialists work as part of an integrated service with secondary Mental Health teams, Primary Care Networks (PCN) and voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) services to deliver a holistic approach in aiding recovery and increase wellbeing through employment support.
Responsibilities
As an NHS IPS Employment Specialist, you’ll:
- Manage a small caseload of clients diagnosed with mental health support needs who are motivated to start/return to work when required
- Deliver and embed the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach throughout the team
- Adhere to the 8 key IPS principles that underpin the 25-point Fidelity scale
- Effectively manage a high-quality service that adheres to the principles of IPS best practice
- Monitor and manage performance of the IPS Employment Specialists and Senior Employment Specialists through mentoring, observations, supervisions and as part of a vocational unit
- Set individual and team access KPI’s, job outcome and retention targets in line with contractual and fidelity requirements
- Create a culture of continuous improvement and sharing of best practice
- Identify training needs for staff and arrange appropriate training to support with continuous professional development
- Support the design and delivery of in-house staff training and development (including facilitating peer learning and best practice)
- Involve clients in co-production of service developments where possible, supported by the Line Manager
- Build strategic relationships with clinical/medical leaders and colleagues within secondary Mental Health, PCN and VCFSE teams to create and embed a referral process
- Support your team to create a collaborative working partnerships and integration with all referral partners promoting employment as a positive intervention in the recovery journey
- Promotion of service to ensure zero exclusion and self-referrals
- Coordinate the work of Employment Specialists to build relationships with employers to effectively access the hidden labour market, external agencies and delivery of job seeking groups
The person
We’re looking for someone who has:
- Educated to a degree level or equivalent experience
- Desirable – trained in IPS approach
- Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services Sector Qualification.
- QCF in Advice & Guidance (Level 3)
- An understanding of the employment needs, and challenges faced by people who experience mental health difficulties
- Developing a knowledge of a broad range of occupations and jobs Able to use IT and tools such as MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel
- Experience/understanding of working with people with mental health support needs, or a similar client group within health, social services or the voluntary sector
- Experience of working with someone on a one-to-one basis
- Experience of managing multiple tasks at any one time
- Experience of working assertively to influence decision makers.
- Knowledge of the benefits agency and all disability/ employment related benefits
- Experience of supporting people to obtain or keep work
- Experience of working within mental health services
- Own personal lived experience of recovery from mental health difficulties
- Previous experience of delivering a service using the IPS model is a bonus
- Proven experience of meeting and exceeding outcomes and targets.
- Overseas equivalent qualifications will be considered.
We welcome applications from people with relevant lived experience and recognise the valuable insight this can bring to the role.
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