IPS Employment Specialist

Job summary

Passionate about supporting young people and understanding their mental health needs?

We are recruiting band 5 employment specialists to join Dorset Work Matters (DWM), supporting young people across Dorset. These roles are made possible through expansion funding, reflecting a commitment to extending specialist mental health employment support to young people.

We are particularly keen to attract applicants with the skills and experience to support young people with mental health needs to access and sustain employment and to work within our Young Persons Service. This includes individuals who are confident working in a fast-paced, community-based environment, who can build strong, engaging relationships and deliver tailored, person-centred support.

DWM is a well-established, high-performing partnership between Dorset Healthcare Trust and Dorset Mental Health Forum. Since 2019, the service has provided evidence-based support to individuals with mental health conditions, helping them secure paid employment through the nationally recognised individual placement and support (IPS) model.

Working closely with NHS teams, employers and partner organisations, you will support individuals to achieve sustainable employment. Much of the role is community-based.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.

Main duties of the job

To undertake weekly face-to-face engagement with local employers to proactively generate tailored job opportunities, including job carving, in line with IPS principles.

Work collaboratively with clients to identify employment goals, develop CVs and application forms, and prepare effectively for interviews.

Support clients in discussing their mental health condition with potential employers, should they choose to disclose.

Provide welfare benefits advice and calculations to help clients make informed employment decisions.

Deliver ongoing in-work support to both clients and employers, ensuring sustainable employment outcomes.

Adhere to the quality standards and compliance requirements of the IPS Fidelity Model, striving to meet or exceed the service's Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Maintain accurate, up-to-date records in line with Service and IPS Fidelity Model requirements.

Perform a high volume of administrative duties with attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in reporting, documentation, and data entry.

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.

Driving is essential for this role. You will be required to have a full and valid UK driving licence and to travel using own vehicle on Trust business.

About us

At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.