IPS Job Coach
Job Description
Job summary
Do you want to make a real difference in the lives of individuals facing mental health challenges? If so, this could be the role for you!
The Mental Health Employment Support Service is a dedicated team of mental health professionals, supporting people who want to work and are under the care of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust mental health services. Employment that suits an individual can be integral to their recovery.
You will provide employment support services, using the evidence based Individual Placement and Support model (IPS), for service users who wish to gain, or retain open employment. This post will work under the supervision of a registered mental health professional as part of a county-wide Mental Health Employment Service to provide specialist vocational assessment, planning and support, within Community Mental Health Teams in Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. There is one vacancy for 30 hours per week for South Somerset and one full-time vacancy for Taunton and West Somerset.
Please can you specify in your application if you are applying for South Somerset or Taunton and West Somerset.
Main duties of the job
Training provided: You don't need to be an Employment Specialist already! We offer full training in the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.
Work directly with service users: Manage a small caseload, providing tailored vocational assessments, action planning, employer engagement, the assessment of work-related risk, development of collaborative risk management plans, worksite assessment and in work support. Your work will support the aspirations of service users with severe mental health issues who want to work.
Collaborate for success: Work alongside other IPS colleagues and sometimes with job retention colleagues. Liaise with clinical treatment colleagues to achieve employment outcomes and contribute to clients recovery.
Build partnerships: Collaborate with external agencies such as Job Centre Plus, CAB, probation services, NACRO and local employers, helping to identity employment opportunities.
What we're looking for:
A passion for helping others achieve their goals and improve their lives through employment.
An understanding of the challenges faced in recovery from mental illness.
The ability to work collaboratively with partners and stakeholders across the NHS and local community.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
- Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
- NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
- Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
- A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job responsibilities
To hold a caseload of 20-25 individuals and to deliver interventions demonstrating a high fidelity to the IPS Model, including individuals with complex needs
To identify the barriers to work and develop appropriate strategies to overcome these barriers for service users who wish to gain open employment, using medical and other relevant information related to their mental health issues.
To actively work with service users in the development of their action plan to achieve their employment objectives.
To plan and undertake a range of vocational assessments to assist service users to identify vocational goals based on their transferable skills, work readiness, aptitudes and job preferences.
To be able to sensitively deal with confidential and complex information regarding an individuals health, forensic and employment history.
To assist service users to explore the pros and cons of disclosure to employers, enabling them to make an informed decision about whether, and how much, to disclose.
Under supervision, to assess work related risk and develop risk management plans in collaboration with service users and other stakeholders as appropriate. To identify changed level of risk and mental state, distinguishing critical information that requires urgent action or rapid onward referral and documentation.
To carry out rapid job search and job development employer engagement with service users to identify suitable employment opportunities based on individual employment goals including job matching and job carving and providing information on training resources, labour market programs and career options.
ANALYTICS
To capture all relevant data on IPS intervention quality and outcomes and assist in meeting reporting responsibilities as required by the Trust, the Integrated Care Board, the Sustainability and Transformation Partnership, NHS England and IPS Grow.
To contribute to other data collection and analysis as required internally and externally, adhering to Trust information governance policy.
SUPERVISION, LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
- To provide expertise, support and advice to the CMH Service colleagues in relation to vocational rehabilitation, the Individual Placement and Support model and the role of employment in recovery.
- To take all necessary action to safeguard ones own and others safety and well-being whilst visiting, workplaces, partner agency premises or patients in the community.
- To contribute to team meetings, audits and developments.
- To be involved with students of all professions, giving practical guidance through sharing opportunities for vocational interventions.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Certificate in Community Mental Health or NVQ III in a health or social care field or an equivalent level recognised qualification in a human services or customer service related field (e.g. advice and guidance, human resources/recruitment, customer care, business).
Desirable
- A diploma level qualification or higher in a field such as health, social care, advice and guidance, human resources/recruitment, customer care, business.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of providing advice, guidance and support in healthcare and/or vocational programme settings.
- Experience of working with adults with severe mental health difficulties or lived experience of mental illness in ones own life or family.
Desirable
- Experience of working within IPS or other vocational, careers or recruitment services.
- Experience of preparing and delivering training.
- Experience of risk assessment and management within a mental health care setting.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Basic understanding of and commitment to the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.
- Evidence of a good standard of Literacy / written English language skills.
- To be able to communicate with a diverse range of people about sensitive information in a variety of settings.
- Able to recognise when to seek support from a registered health professional colleague.
- Ability to collect and understand the need for data.
- Ability to work independently but also able to take direction and work effectively as part of a team.
- Ability to drive a car with appropriate business insurance and driver licence, and access a variety of Trust and community sites throughout the county.
Desirable
- Knowledge of The Equality Act 2010 and other employment related legislation and their implementation.
- Job search, job matching, job carving skills and return to work planning skills.
- Marketing skills.
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
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Summerlands
56 Preston Road
Yeovil
Somerset
BA20 2BN
