Individual Placement & Support (IPS) Specialist
Job summary
As an IPS Specialist, you will use your skills and experience to work directly (including telephone, face to face and online engagement) with people with mental health issues to help them find and retain suitable employment. You will work with clients to help them identify their needs and goals, improve their CV, polish interviews skills, etc. You will also work closely with Southern NHS and employers.
Role 1 (West) (Tatchbury Mount, New Forest) - 30 hours per week
Role 2 (North) (Parklands House, Basingstoke) - 37 hours per week
(Both roles hybrid/community/outreach)
*** PLEASE STATE ROLE PREFERENCE ON APPLICATION ***
Main duties of the job
The IPS Specialist will join the EIP IPS Team working under the direction of the Team Leader to deliver IPS as part of the holistic recovery plan for mental health service users.
About us
Solent Mind is a mental health charity, supporting people to develop positive mental wellbeing, live well and thrive. Last year, our 400 strong team supported 45,000 people with their mental health across Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth. We are part of the Mind Federation. Solent Mind has a Gold award for Workplace Wellbeing Index 2022/2023 and has signed up to be a Mindful Employer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Principal Accountabilities:
Manage a caseload and work directly with clients who have mental health support needs to assist them into securing sustainable paid employment, in line with their job goals
Complete a Vocational Profile for each client and tailor action plans that are aligned with their job goals and include specific steps that will be taken to meet these goals, such as support with their job search, CV, application forms and interview techniques
Utilise a solution focused approach when working with clients by recognising each persons unique skills/strengths, disclosure queries within the assessment & action plan
Assist with sourcing and accessing resources such as in work benefit calculations, transport routes, support needs etc.
Maintain a professional relationship with the service users of the programme and with key internal and external stakeholders, with particular attention to confidentiality and the maintenance of boundaries
Provide individualised support to service users once they have returned to work to assist them in sustaining employment
Create good employer engagement throughout the city; identify employers, develop, and maintain meaningful relationships with the recruitment leads in order to negotiate job opportunities that meet each client's strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences
Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the local labour market, and the types of jobs available through attending business expos, forums, local job fairs and employer contact. A substantial amount of the work will need to be done in the community
Develop effective working relationships with a range of external agencies who might be better able to help individuals to achieve their employment goals for example, local colleges, training providers and external supported employment services
Attend weekly clinical meetings with the Community Mental Health Teams to engage and generate referrals, and to create a collaborative working partnership with clinical staff
Adhere to administrative and data capture protocols which record the progress of individuals, and to keep accurate and complete records of casework
Regularly collect and promote service user employment recovery stories
Person Specification
Experience
- Experience of working with people with mental health needs, in a paid or voluntary capacity OR working in Supported Employment, Recruitment, Human Resources or role specialising in Relationship Management.
- Experience of helping people identify their own goals and the ability to support people in pursuing these.
- An understanding of the key difficulties and challenges faced by people with severe mental illness in returning to/retaining mainstream employment.
- Experience of working in partnership/multi agency working.
- An understanding of key concepts of recovery.
Knowledge/Skills/Competencies
- Knowledge of disability and special needs issues, policies and legislation (e.g., the Equality Act 2010) in relation to employment.
- Strong needs assessment and action planning skills.
- Confidence speaking to employers, teams of health professionals and other community groups.
- Able to use IT and tools such as MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
- Able to use patient records systems and other customer relations management systems.
- Good problem-solving skills.
- Good organisational and prioritisation skills.
- Ability to travel within South West Hampshire (Role 1) (West).
- Ability to travel within Mid and North Hampshire (Role 2) (North).
- Knowledge and understanding of the Individual Placement and Support principles and approach.
- Working knowledge of benefits and back to work calculations.
Qualifications
- Educated to NVQ Level 3 or equivalent or extensive experience
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details
Employer name
Solent Mind
Address
Tatchbury Mount Hospital
Calmore
Hampshire
SO40 2RZ
https://www.solentmind.org.uk/work-with-us/current-vacancies/
- Company
- Solent Mind
- Location
- Basingstoke, United Kingdom RG24 9RH
- Employment Type
- Permanent
- Salary
- £26521.00 a year
- Posted
- Company
- Solent Mind
- Location
- Basingstoke, United Kingdom RG24 9RH
- Employment Type
- Permanent
- Salary
- £26521.00 a year
- Posted