Individual Placement & Support (IPS) Specialist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Purpose:

The IPS Specialist will join the EIP IPS Team working under the direction of the Team Leader to deliver IPS as part of the holistic recovery plan for mental health service users.

Principal Accountabilities:

Manage a caseload and work directly with clients who have mental health support needs to assist them into securing sustainable paid employment, in line with their job goals

Complete a Vocational Profile for each client and tailor action plans that are aligned with their job goals and include specific steps that will be taken to meet these goals, such as support with their job search, CV, application forms and interview techniques

Utilise a solution focused approach when working with clients by recognising each persons unique skills/strengths, disclosure queries within the assessment & action plan

Assist with sourcing and accessing resources such as in work benefit calculations, transport routes, support needs etc.

Maintain a professional relationship with the service users of the programme and with key internal and external stakeholders, with particular attention to confidentiality and the maintenance of boundaries

Provide individualised support to service users once they have returned to work to assist them in sustaining employment

Create good employer engagement throughout the city; identify employers, develop, and maintain meaningful relationships with the recruitment leads in order to negotiate job opportunities that meet each client's strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences

Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the local labour market, and the types of jobs available through attending business expos, forums, local job fairs and employer contact. A substantial amount of the work will need to be done in the community

Develop effective working relationships with a range of external agencies who might be better able to help individuals to achieve their employment goals for example, local colleges, training providers and external supported employment services

Attend weekly clinical meetings with the Community Mental Health Teams to engage and generate referrals, and to create a collaborative working partnership with clinical staff

Adhere to administrative and data capture protocols which record the progress of individuals, and to keep accurate and complete records of casework

Regularly collect and promote service user employment recovery stories

General:

Adhere to the aims, values, policies, and procedures of Solent Mind, particularly safeguarding and health & safety

This list is non exhaustive and other duties may be required to meet the needs of Solent Mind.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Minimum standard of education and professional qualifications (RQF level) required to achieve the purpose of the job to a fully satisfactory level)
• Educated to NVQ Level 3 or equivalent or extensive experience.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with people with mental health needs, in a paid or voluntary capacity OR working in Supported Employment, Recruitment, Human Resources or role specialising in Relationship Management
• Experience of helping people identify their own goals and the ability to support people in pursuing these.
• An understanding of the key difficulties and challenges faced by people with severe mental illness in returning to/retaining mainstream employment

Desirable

• Experience of working in partnership multi agency working.
• An understanding of key concepts of recovery.

Knowledge Skills Competencies

Essential

• Knowledge/Skills/Competencies:
• Knowledge of disability and special needs issues, policies and legislation (e.g., the Equality Act 2010) in relation to employment
• Strong needs assessment and action planning skills
• Confidence speaking to employers, teams of health professionals and other community groups
• Knowledge and understanding of the Individual Placement and Support principles and approach
• Working knowledge of benefits and back to work calculations
• Able to use IT and tools such as MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel
• Able to use patient records systems and other customer relations management systems
• Good problem-solving skills
• Good organisational and prioritisation skills
• Ability to travel within Portsmouth

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 details

Employer name

Solent Mind

Address

15-16 The Avenue

Southampton

SO17 1XF

Employer's website

https://www.solentmind.org.uk/work-with-us/current-vacancies/ (Opens in a new tab)