NHS IPS Employment Specialist

Are you passionate about helping people experiencing mental health challenges find and sustain meaningful employment? Join Standguide as an NHS IPS Employment Specialist in Cheshire and support people on their journey towards recovery through work.

Deadline: 9th November 2026

• North West
• Full-time

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.

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

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…