Employment Specialist - Band 5

You Don’t Have To Be A Doctor To Change Someone’s Life
- Join a Growing Service Transforming Lives Through Meaningful Employment Employment Specialist
- Band 5

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our established and expanding Employment Support Service (ESS) as an Employment Specialist within Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.

This is a rewarding opportunity to support people receiving mental health services to achieve their employment goals through the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model. IPS is an internationally recognised, evidence-based approach that helps people find and sustain paid employment as part of their recovery journey.

Since 2019, our Employment Support Service has continued to grow, supporting increasing numbers of people into sustainable employment and demonstrating the powerful connection between work, recovery and improved health outcomes.

As an Employment Specialist, you will be embedded within a Neighbourhood Mental Health Team and work alongside clinical colleagues to support individuals to identify, secure and retain employment that matches their aspirations, strengths and preferences.

No previous IPS experience is required as full training and ongoing support will be provided, although an understanding of recovery-focused practice, vocational rehabilitation or employment support would be advantageous.

Employment can be a powerful part of recovery. As an Employment Specialist, you will support individuals receiving secondary mental health services to achieve their employment ambitions through person-centred, tailored support.

You will manage a caseload of clients and work directly with them to understand their strengths, skills and career goals. Using IPS principles, you will support individuals with every stage of their employment journey, from career planning and job searching through to interview preparation, in work support and career development.

You will work collaboratively with members of the Neighbourhood Mental Health Team, ensuring employment support is fully integrated into recovery planning and care provision.

A key part of the role involves developing relationships with local employers and understanding local labour market opportunities. You will proactively engage employers, promote the benefits of inclusive recruitment, and identify opportunities within both the open and hidden job market to help people access meaningful employment. Employer engagement is a fundamental element of the IPS model and a key driver of successful outcomes.

The role offers the opportunity to work within a supportive multidisciplinary environment whilst making a genuine difference to people’s lives, recovery and wellbeing through employment.

Please note that although the base listed on the advert may be Trust Headquarters, Employment Specialists are embedded within Neighbourhood Mental Health Teams across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Every effort will be made to accommodate location preferences; however, this cannot be guaranteed.

We are looking for passionate, resilient and motivated individuals who believe that everyone has the right to work if they choose to do so.

• Experience of supporting people to achieve goals, overcome barriers or make positive changes in their lives.
• Experience of working directly with individuals on a one-to-one basis, providing encouragement, motivation and practical support.
• An understanding of mental health, recovery-focused practice or supporting vulnerable individuals.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and motivate others.
• The ability to build effective relationships with a wide range of people, including service users,…