Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

Employment Specialist IPS (Individual Placement and Support)

The closing date is 21 September 2025

Job summary

The opportunity to change minds. The power to change lives.

For people who need mental health support, getting back into work is a vital step on their recovery journey. Following an increase in funding we are seeking to recruit new Employment Specialists .

In this role you'll play a vital role in helping people with mental health support needs on their recovery journey.

This is an opportunity to offer hands-on support, to give people the tools they need to recover and ultimately, to transform lives.

The role will support clients to both gain and retain paid employment. Working within the principles of IPS you will have autonomy to manage your own caseload of clients, working proactively with clinical colleagues, local employers, and other partners to better the lives of others through sustainable employment. The role is very diverse offering a range of duties from the early stages of engagement with clients to the point of support needs being fulfilled, with everything in-between. The role will require a combination of empathy, resilience and compassion to aid people in achieving their potential, seek opportunities whilst removing barriers and preconceptions.

You will have an interest in working within the employment support sector and knowledge of employment rights and job retention would be an advantage.

We welcome people from a range of backgrounds and with a variety of experience. Ideally applicants will have experience in an employment and/or a mental health setting.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be community-based in the Worcester area working across County boundaries so ability to meet the travel demands of the role, including areas not accessible by public transport is essential. Appropriate mileage expenses will be provided.

Main duties of the role include-

Proactively manage a caseload of people who have experienced mental health problems to become established in the workplace.

Assess and record clients identified vocational needs and liaise with clinicians in the team if necessary. Agree and produce person centred action plans and support clients to achieve their goals.

Assist with activities such as producing a cv, interview techniques confidence building and any other identified actions.

Assist clients in gaining employment through job search skills as well as maintaining regular contact with local employers to build lasting and meaningful relationships, identify as well as creating suitable positions such as hidden vacancies for clients.

Liaise closely with DWP and providers where appropriate.

Supporting clients who have secured employment or have experienced difficulties in the workplace retain and sustain their employment status.

Enhance job sustainment through education, advice and guidance to employers on support needs and negotiating reasonable adjustments and considerations.

The post is full time post, but we would consider applicants looking for part time - minimum of 30 hours per week.

Interviews scheduled for 3rd October.

About us

At Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, we are working together to deliver outstanding care. We run community hospitals and community health services across Worcestershire and provide mental health and learning disability services across both Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Our people (all 4500+ of them) provide services for people of all ages, experiencing both physical and/or mental health conditions from over 100 sites.

We will support you to thrive; offer flexible working options for a great work-life balance, help you fulfil your ambitions, and empower you to make positive changes within your team or service. We value diversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities.

What we offer;

27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service
Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when you work unsocial hours
Flexible and agile working opportunities
Great maternity, paternity, and adoption support
Wide range of supportive staff networks
Health and wellbeing opportunities

If you would like to know more, please visit our website.

We encourage you to read the attached applicant guidance notes.

Sharing your data - As a data controller we may sometimes need to process your data to pursue our legitimate business interests, for example to request a survey from you (optional), to support the Trusts understanding of where you gained interest in working for the Trust.

Date posted

10 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year pro rata for part time

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9798-1647

Job locations

Studdert Kennedy House

Spring Gardens

Worcester

WR1 2AE

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details of the duties and criteria for the role please refer to the job description and person specification attached.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details of the duties and criteria for the role please refer to the job description and person specification attached.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Minimum of 1 years experience of working with people who have experienced mental health problems with health, social services, voluntary sector or mainstream educational or employment services.
An understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems.
Of helping people to obtain or keep education/work.
Experience of supporting clients on a 1-1 basis.

Desirable

Experience and knowledge of welfare benefits and all disability/employment related benefits.
Personal experience of mental health recovery.
Experience of carrying out person centre recovery plans.

Knowledge

Essential

Working knowledge of a broad range of occupations and jobs
An understanding of the employment needs and
difficulties of people who experience mental ill-health
Understanding of Equality Act (2010) in relation to employment
Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently

Desirable

Report writing skills
Solution focused therapy skills
An understanding of the principle and practice of supported employment
Equality Act
Disability and special needs issues in relation to employment and education

Skills & Abilities

Essential

Skills in vocational assessment and in assessing ill health obstacles to returning to work and working with employees to overcome these
Partnership working to reach positive outcomes for clients
IT skills including Microsoft programmes
Ability to initiate and develop relationships with employers whilst being astute to their needs

Qualifications

Essential

Education to degree level or equivalent relevant experience.
GCSE (Grade A-C) or equivalent in English Language.
Willingness to train in IPS.
I understand that I will be asked to provide original certificates to verify my qualifications at point of offer.

Desirable

Employment Law and welfare benefits training.
Mediation training.

Additional criteria

Essential

A preparedness to work flexible hours through prior arrangement as the needs of the job dictate (e.g some evenings)
Able to meet the travel requirements of the role, including rural areas and sites not accessible by public transport
Please note the Trust is unable to provide sponsorship to work for this role, to apply you must have current right to work in the UK status. You understand that we will not provide sponsorship to work for this role.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Minimum of 1 years experience of working with people who have experienced mental health problems with health, social services, voluntary sector or mainstream educational or employment services.
An understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems.
Of helping people to obtain or keep education/work.
Experience of supporting clients on a 1-1 basis.

Desirable

Experience and knowledge of welfare benefits and all disability/employment related benefits.
Personal experience of mental health recovery.
Experience of carrying out person centre recovery plans.

Knowledge

Essential

Working knowledge of a broad range of occupations and jobs
An understanding of the employment needs and
difficulties of people who experience mental ill-health
Understanding of Equality Act (2010) in relation to employment
Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently

Desirable

Report writing skills
Solution focused therapy skills
An understanding of the principle and practice of supported employment
Equality Act
Disability and special needs issues in relation to employment and education

Skills & Abilities

Essential

Skills in vocational assessment and in assessing ill health obstacles to returning to work and working with employees to overcome these
Partnership working to reach positive outcomes for clients
IT skills including Microsoft programmes
Ability to initiate and develop relationships with employers whilst being astute to their needs

Qualifications

Essential

Education to degree level or equivalent relevant experience.
GCSE (Grade A-C) or equivalent in English Language.
Willingness to train in IPS.
I understand that I will be asked to provide original certificates to verify my qualifications at point of offer.

Desirable

Employment Law and welfare benefits training.
Mediation training.

Additional criteria

Essential

A preparedness to work flexible hours through prior arrangement as the needs of the job dictate (e.g some evenings)
Able to meet the travel requirements of the role, including rural areas and sites not accessible by public transport
Please note the Trust is unable to provide sponsorship to work for this role, to apply you must have current right to work in the UK status. You understand that we will not provide sponsorship to work for this role.

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

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

Address

Studdert Kennedy House

Spring Gardens

Worcester

WR1 2AE

Employer's website

https://www.hacw.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

Address

Studdert Kennedy House

Spring Gardens

Worcester

WR1 2AE

Employer's website

https://www.hacw.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)