Connect to Work Lead Employment Specialist

Key Responsibilities

• Lead coach and supervise a team of IPS Employment Specialists ensuring high performance and adherence to IPS fidelity standards hold a caseload of clients
• Provide regular 1:1 supervision reflective practice sessions and strengths-based coaching
• Oversee referrals flow and allocation of participants across the team
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with health community and employer stakeholders
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting data integrity and compliance with programme requirements
• Support the development and continuous improvement of the service
• Conduct vocational profiling identifying skills aspirations and employment goals
• Develop personalised action plans supporting job search CV writing applications interview preparation and career planning
• Assess clients support needs including:
  Travel planning
  Benefits and welfare advice
  Disclosure support around health conditions
  Budgeting and better-off calculations
• Provide in-work support to help clients sustain roles including frequent early-job check-ins and long-term follow-up
• Support clients at risk of job loss due to ill health helping them maintain employment
• Source job opportunities
• Promote the service to employers and negotiate reasonable adjustments and phased returns
• Maintain ongoing contact with employers to support job retention and resolve employment challenges
• Champion equality diversity and inclusive employment practices
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team including Primary Care training providers mental health teams DWP and referral partners
• Build relationships that generate referrals and strengthen community-based employment support networks
• Maintain accurate case notes progress reports and CRM-based documentation.
• Work to IPS fidelity standards and ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of client outcomes
• Collect feedback from service users to support continuous service improvement
• Work independently reliably and consistently to deliver high-quality IPS practice.
• Ability to analyse team performance data and take action
• Ability to build relationships with clinical partners and community stakeholders
  
  
  
  
  

Skills Knowledge and Expertise

• GCSE (or equivalent) in English Language and Mathematics (essential)
• Level 2 IT Qualification such as ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) (essential)
• Full UK driving licence (often required due to communitybased work) (essential)
• Willingness to undertake IPSspecific training (e.g. IPS Grow training Fidelity training) (essential)
• First Aid at Work Certificate (desirable)
• IOSH Health and Safety Qualification (desirable)
• Level 4 qualification or above in a relevant field (e.g. IAG Health & Social Care Employability Psychology Social Sciences) (desirable)

• Experience supervising coaching or leading staff in employability health social care or similar peoplesupport settings (essential)
• Experience managing performance against targets (essential)
• Experience building relationships with external partners (e.g. clinicians employers community organisations) (essential)
• Experience supporting vulnerable people or individuals with complex barriers to employment (essential)
• Experience working in fastpaced targetdriven environments (essential)
• Experience supporting individuals to achieve goals ideally in employment skills health or social care settings (essential)
• Experience engaging with employers or supporting clients into work (essential)
• Experience delivering IPS services or working within IPS principles (desirable)
• Experience running reflective practice or strengthsbased supervision (desirable)
• Experience managing multistakeholder relationships across health and employment systems (desirable)
• Experience supporting quality audits or compliance frameworks (desirable)
• Skills for Life awareness (desirable)
• Knowledge of the local labour market (desirable)
• Understanding and awareness for clients with multiple and complex difficulties (desirable)

• Understanding of IPS principles and evidencebased practice (training provided) (essential)
• Knowledge of barriers to employment and how to support people with mental health conditions disabilities health inequalities or complex needs (essential)
• Strong understanding of safeguarding data protection and confidentiality (essential)
• Awareness of local labour markets employer needs and recruitment practices (essential)
• Understanding of performance management and quality assurance processes (essential)
• Knowledge of the IPS Fidelity Scale and implementation standards (desirable)
• Understanding of primary care social prescribers community mental health teams or other relevant health pathways (desirable)
• Knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 and inclusive recruitment practices (desirable)

• The ability to work under pressure in a highly performance driven organisation (essential)
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate coach and develop staff (essential)
• Excellent communication skills (written verbal and presentation) (essential)
• Ability to analyse performance data and take appropriate action to improve outcomes (essential)
• Strong organisational and planning skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities (essential)
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with employers clinicians and community partners (essential)
• Ability to resolve problems creatively and support staff through challenges (essential)
• High attention to detail with strong documentation and reporting skills (essential)
• Confident using CRM systems digital tools and Microsoft Office applications (essential)
• Ability to deliver training or group facilitation (desirable)
• Coaching or mentoring skills (formal or informal) (desirable)
• Conflict resolution and managing difficult conversations (desirable)

Job Benefits

• Flexible working including home-based centre-based or hybrid job role dependant
• Up to 26 days annual leave with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days
• Pension scheme to support your long-term financial wellbeing
• Training and professional development including CPD workshops and professional qualifications
• Westfield Health Scheme with benefits including 13 healthcare services cashback towards essential health bills counselling and therapy treatments fast access to MRI CT and PET scans and discounted shopping vouchers
• Wellbeing initiatives including Wellbeing Wednesdays and the Mental Health at Work Pledge
• Disability Confident Leader Menopause Workplace Pledge Armed Forces Covenant Ban the Box Employer and secure prayer spaces
• Annual paid volunteering day and charity initiatives
• Cash incentives for Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year awards