IPS Employment Specialist - Ipswich Central | Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Posting date:	12 March 2026
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	£27,485 - £30,162 per annum
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	11 April 2026
Location:	Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2GA
Company:	Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	7857501/364-A-9848

Summary

Would you like an opportunity to help people who have mental health needs find work and help sustain employment? Do you currently work or have experience in health or social care, recruitment, employment or education services? If you have transferable skills to enable people to find /sustain employment, this is an excellent opportunity to join our team of Employment Specialists.

Our service has the IPS status as a National Centre of Excellence (Centre for Mental Health) and we require an empathetic and driven individual to join our team as an Employment Specialist in Ipswich, Suffolkon a Permanent Contract.You will be tasked with helping people with mental health needs to realise and achieve their paid employment goals including support with job searching, applications, interview skills and providing support after they have found work. As well as supporting those already in work with sustaining their employment, where their mental health is a contributing factor. You will be driven to build strong and lasting relationships with local employers, championing IPS and the individuals you support.

You must have strong communication skills and confidence in order to build up relationships with all relevant stakeholders including employers and businesses. You will be required to directly engage with a range of stakeholders (e.g. DWP, Job Centre +, employment law firms, voluntary organisations etc.) but especially local employers in order to create opportunities for service users and to challenge stigma and discrimination that can at times be associated with mental health needs and employment. You will also be meeting and working with people and stakeholders in their local community.

You will work within multi-disciplinary Mental Health Teams, alongside clinical colleagues and will be expected to ‘champion the employment agenda’, instilling the belief that people with mental health needs want to work and with the right support can work; and therefore generating referrals to the service. You will work in partnership with individual service users, developing relationships that are enabling and empowering. You will be providing an evidence based supported employment service (called Individual Placement and Support/IPS) which will require you to prepare individuals for employment by assessing needs; identifying strengths, help with benefits, support networks, travel to work plans etc.



Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.

Benefits
• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
• Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs.
• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

You will work to individual targets, i.e. the number of people supported into employment. You will be skilled in managing your own time and working with a high level of autonomy; responsible to the Team Leader via regular supervision and support and accountable to the Service Manager. You will promote best practice within mental health and employment in the Trust and other organisations in the local area.

Please note this may close early if sufficient number of applications are received.


This advert closes on Sunday 22 Mar 2026