Job overview
Do you want to be part of a friendly & dynamic team of Employment Specialists delivering excellent employment support to our clients in Hammersmith and Fulham? If you believe passionately that anyone with mental health difficulties can work and would like to be part of that journey, then this could be the role for you.
Individual Placement & Support is an internationally-recognised model for supporting people with Serious Mental Illness back into employment, as part of their recovery and wellbeing. As a national priority, our IPS team is currently expanding and working towards achieving high IPS fidelity. We are a friendly and dynamic team, committed to supporting each other to deliver the best outcomes for our clients. We offer a full and comprehensive induction programme and the opportunity to engage in training and development to build your skills.
Our team of Employment Specialists work with caseloads of up to 25 clients, helping them to decide what work they want to do, building their confidence to start looking for work, ensuring they have an up to date CV and providing guidance, support and coaching to enable them to find the right job.
We work in line with the Disability Confident scheme supporting us to make the most of the talents that disabled people can bring to our workplace.
We particularly encourage individuals with lived experience of mental health conditions to apply.
Main duties of the job
The role of Employment Specialist is extremely varied and rewarding. You will be part of a clinical team, ensuring the right package of support for clients and keeping detailed and accurate records. You will also be building relationships with employers and other partners, to get the best outcomes for your clients.
We need people who are assertive and adaptable, with a positive attitude about employment for all and excellent networking and interpersonal skills. You don’t need to have experience in employment support, but you do need to be willing to learn new skills, with a positive and supportive attitude and a passion for working with people. You also need to be confident with IT, keeping detailed and accurate records of your client work.
For more information about the role of Employment Specialist visit www.ipsgrow.org.uk
Please note: If you have applied for this role within the last six months and were not successful, we kindly ask that you do not reapply at this time.
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Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Computer skills – MS Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Communication skills including presenting information in a range of formats for users and stakeholders, including the creation of presentations and reports
- Building confidence in others
- Ability to work under pressure and maintain concentration
- Self-motivated to work autonomously and independently with confidence when required
Desirable
- Able to work flexibly to meet deadlines and prioritise greatest need
Knowledge
Desirable
- Knowledge about employment/health related benefits (e.g. ESA, UC, etc.)
- Employment law – basic knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 and employment rights
- Recruitment – professional knowledge of effective job search including creating an effective CV, applying for jobs in a variety of ways, answering interview questions, and job searching in the local area (London)
- Education and Training – basic knowledge of different types of courses and qualifications available in the UK
- Knowledge and skills in Motivational Interviewing
Experience
Essential
- Developing partnerships with other individuals or organisations
- Managing own workload
- Recording accurate data in electronic format
- Helping others to make their own decisions
- Working collaboratively within a team
Desirable
- Carrying out employment needs assessments with individuals
- Providing information, advice and guidance
- Liaising with employers to sustain employment including identifying reasonable adjustments in line with the equality act
- Experience of working within the IPS model
- Experience of working in a mental health setting
- Working within an employment service
Qualifications
Essential
- Higher education qualification in a related subject (eg. career guidance, information advice and guidance, human resources, counselling, training etc.), psychology, or equivalent experience.
Desirable
- Evidence of recent and ongoing relevant further training and professional development
Other Requirements
Essential
- Open to continuously developing and improving practice
- Exercise initiative, flexibility, tact and self-awareness
- Willing to use peer group supervision creatively
- Willing and able to travel within and potentially outside the catchment area in a timely manner in the course of the working day
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Band 5 IPS Employment Specialist with West London NHS Trust in Southall, London, England. It is listed as a Band 5 Administrative and IT role. The advertised salary is £38,488 - £46,852 per annum inclusive 20% of HCAS. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 14 Aug 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (31 Jul 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
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