IPS Employment Specialist

Sunderland | Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

Permanent contract

Could you help people experiencing serious mental health challenges achieve their employment ambitions? Join CNTW NHS Foundation Trust as an IPS Employment Specialist in Sunderland and support people to find and sustain meaningful employment through a person-centred, evidence-based approach.

Deadline: 9th August 2026

• North East
• Full-time

CNTW aims to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.
CNTW has supported dozens and dozens of service users secure paid employment that has helped them thrive! We’re fantastic to work for and can guarantee an exciting and varied role that rewards creativity and an action-orientated attitude.

Interested in a new challenge? Want to help people thrive? An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the CNTW Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Support Service.

We are excited to be recruiting for a new IPS Employment Specialist to work within the brilliant Secondary Care Mental Health pathways across Sunderland. The role requires building strong relationships with people using Community Treatment Team services, using our evidence-based tools to identify their ambitions and then use employer engagement techniques to gain or retain employment on their behalf. This is an exciting, varied and hugely gratifying role that rewards tenaciousness, creativity and excellent communication skills.

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 24th July 2026

Closing date : 9th August 2026

We help anyone with serious mental health problems pursue their employment ambitions in a highly person-centred way using an evidence-based approach that is proven to work. We are recruiting for a new member of staff to join our service in Sunderland, based out of Monkwearmouth Hospital. This job would be perfect for anyone who:

Can build strong therapeutic relationships.
Has a passion for overcoming obstacles for others.
Truly values inclusivity and a rights-based approach to supporting others.
Lives and breathes our Trust values.
Has lived experience of mental health difficulties or employment challenges. We don’t expect you:
To know the IPS method inside out, as we will train you.
Have specific qualifications, as we welcome equivalent experience.
To have a specific employment support background – you will receive training and ongoing mentoring and tuition.

We help anyone with serious mental health problems pursue their employment ambitions in a highly person-centred way using an evidence-based approach that is proven to work. We are recruiting for a new member of staff to join our service in Sunderland, based out of Monkwearmouth Hospital.
This job would be perfect for anyone who:

• Can build strong therapeutic relationships.
• Has a passion for overcoming obstacles for others.
• Truly values inclusivity and a rights-based approach to supporting others.
• Lives and breathes our Trust values.
• Has lived experience of mental health difficulties or employment challenges. We don’t expect you to know the IPS method inside out, as we will train you.
• Have specific qualifications, as we welcome equivalent experience.
• To have a specific employment support background – you will receive training and ongoing mentoring and tuition.