The Employment team at The Growth Company has a new and exciting vacancy for an Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Specialist who will actively engage with participants and support them to gain employment. Individual Placement and Support is internationally recognised as the most effective way to support people with mental health problems to gain and keep paid employment. If you are motivated to make a difference to people’s lives by helping them to find good work, then this could be the job for you. Full support, supervision and training is available to help successful candidates to develop their IPS practice.
We are continuing to expand our services that support people with health and mental health conditions. We are therefore particularly keen to hear from you if you have experience of working in either employability, employer engagement, the health or mental health sectors.
Key Responsibilities
1. To manage a caseload of clients who are motivated to start/return to work. Working with participants to progress them on their journey towards employment by delivering the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach and overcoming their work, skills and health barriers to ultimately support participants into sustainable work.
2. To provide IPS services to customers that are employed but are struggling to retain their employment due to their mental health condition.
3. Build relationships with colleagues in clinical teams to engage and generate referrals and create collaborative working partnerships with clinical staff (promoting employment as a positive intervention).
4. Assess client support needs relating to work which may include benefits/welfare advice, disclosure of mental health symptoms, etc., and provide support & guidance.
5. Engage with local employers.
6. Source job opportunities for clients through tailored job searches and regular contact with local employers to explore hidden as well as advertised employment opportunities.
7. Provide support to employers, as agreed with the individual, which may include negotiating adjustments, return to work strategy, and ongoing contact with the employer to ensure job retention.
About You
1. Knowledge in relation to the issues affecting individuals with multiple barriers to progressing to employment and sustained employment.
2. Good knowledge in relation to the support agencies that can assist individuals with complex needs (e.g., debt, substance misuse, housing, etc).
3. Knowledge of a broad range of occupations and jobs in the local area.
4. A warm, approachable empathetic style and the ability to establish a rapport and build relationships with customers that support their progression to sustained employment.
Skills Required
1. Strong interpersonal, communication, and negotiating skills.
2. Ability to work in a target-driven environment, with a focus on the successful achievement of job outcomes and sustained outcomes.
3. Employer engagement skills.
4. Trained in IPS approach is desirable.
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