Connect to Work Lead Employment Specialist

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and supervise a team of IPS Employment Specialists, ensuring high performance and adherence to IPS fidelity standards, hold a caseload of clients
• Provide regular 1:1 supervision, reflective practice sessions, and strengths-based coaching
• Oversee referrals, flow, and allocation of participants across the team
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with health, community, and employer stakeholders
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting, data integrity, and compliance with programme requirements
• Support the development and continuous improvement of the service
• Conduct vocational profiling, identifying skills, aspirations, and employment goals
• Develop personalised action plans, supporting job search, CV writing, applications, interview preparation, and career planning
• Assess clients’ support needs, including: 
  Travel planning
  Benefits and welfare advice
  Disclosure support around health conditions
  Budgeting and “better-off” calculations 
• Provide in-work support to help clients sustain roles, including frequent early-job check-ins and long-term follow-up
• Support clients at risk of job loss due to ill health, helping them maintain employment
• Source job opportunities
• Promote the service to employers and negotiate reasonable adjustments and phased returns
• Maintain ongoing contact with employers to support job retention and resolve employment challenges
• Champion equality, diversity, and inclusive employment practices 
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team, including Primary Care, training providers, mental health teams, DWP, and referral partners
• Build relationships that generate referrals and strengthen community-based employment support networks
• Maintain accurate case notes, progress reports, and CRM-based documentation. 
• Work to IPS fidelity standards and ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of client outcomes
• Collect feedback from service users to support continuous service improvement 
• Work independently, reliably, and consistently to deliver high-quality IPS practice.
• Ability to analyse team performance data and take action
• Ability to build relationships with clinical partners and community stakeholders
  
  
   
  
  

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• GCSE (or equivalent) in English Language and Mathematics (essential)
• Level 2 IT Qualification, such as ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) (essential)
• Full UK driving licence (often required due to community‑based work) (essential)
• Willingness to undertake IPS‑specific training (e.g., IPS Grow training, Fidelity training) (essential)
• First Aid at Work Certificate (desirable)
• IOSH Health and Safety Qualification (desirable)
• Level 4 qualification or above in a relevant field (e.g., IAG, Health & Social Care, Employability, Psychology, Social Sciences) (desirable)

• Experience supervising, coaching, or leading staff in employability, health, social care, or similar people‑support settings (essential)
• Experience managing performance against targets (essential)
• Experience building relationships with external partners (e.g., clinicians, employers, community organisations) (essential)
• Experience supporting vulnerable people or individuals with complex barriers to employment (essential)
• Experience working in fast‑paced, target‑driven environments (essential)
• Experience supporting individuals to achieve goals, ideally in employment, skills, health, or social care settings (essential)
• Experience engaging with employers or supporting clients into work (essential)
• Experience delivering IPS services or working within IPS principles (desirable)
• Experience running reflective practice or strengths‑based supervision (desirable)
• Experience managing multi‑stakeholder relationships across health and employment systems (desirable)
• Experience supporting quality audits or compliance frameworks (desirable)
• Skills for Life awareness (desirable)
• Knowledge of the local labour market (desirable)
• Understanding and awareness for clients with multiple and complex difficulties (desirable)

• Understanding of IPS principles and evidence‑based practice (training provided) (essential)
• Knowledge of barriers to employment and how to support people with mental health conditions, disabilities, health inequalities, or complex needs (essential)
• Strong understanding of safeguarding, data protection, and confidentiality (essential)
• Awareness of local labour markets, employer needs, and recruitment practices (essential)
• Understanding of performance management and quality assurance processes (essential)
• Knowledge of the IPS Fidelity Scale and implementation standards (desirable)
• Understanding of primary care, social prescribers, community mental health teams, or other relevant health pathways (desirable)
• Knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 and inclusive recruitment practices (desirable)

• The ability to work under pressure in a highly performance driven organisation (essential)
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate, coach, and develop staff (essential)
• Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, and presentation) (essential)
• Ability to analyse performance data and take appropriate action to improve outcomes (essential)
• Strong organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities (essential)
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with employers, clinicians, and community partners (essential)
• Ability to resolve problems creatively and support staff through challenges (essential)
• High attention to detail with strong documentation and reporting skills (essential)
• Confident using CRM systems, digital tools, and Microsoft Office applications (essential)
• Ability to deliver training or group facilitation (desirable)
• Coaching or mentoring skills (formal or informal) (desirable)
• Conflict resolution and managing difficult conversations (desirable)

Job Benefits

• Flexible working including home-based, centre-based, or hybrid job role dependant 
• Up to 26 days annual leave, with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days
• Pension scheme to support your long-term financial wellbeing
• Training and professional development, including CPD workshops and professional qualifications 
• Westfield Health Scheme with benefits including 13 healthcare services, cashback towards essential health bills, counselling and therapy treatments, fast access to MRI, CT, and PET scans, and discounted shopping vouchers
• Wellbeing initiatives including Wellbeing Wednesdays and the Mental Health at Work Pledge
• Disability Confident Leader, Menopause Workplace Pledge, Armed Forces Covenant, Ban the Box Employer, and secure prayer spaces
• Annual paid volunteering day and charity initiatives
• Cash incentives for Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year awards