Job summary
- Main area
- IPS Specialist
- Grade
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 222-EAL-022
- Employer
- West London NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Avenue House
- Town
- Ealing
- Salary
- £35,763 - £43,466 Per Annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 25/08/2025 23:59
Employer heading

IPS Employment Specialist
Band 5
West London NHS Trust provides a full range of mental health, community and physical healthcare services for children, adults and older people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow.
We also provide some specialist services that are commissioned regionally, such as our medium secure services; and nationally, such as the Cassel Hospital for people with complex and severe personality disorder and our high secure services at Broadmoor Hospital.
Job overview
Do you want to be part of a friendly & dynamic team of Employment Specialists delivering excellent employment support to our clients in Ealing? If you believe passionately that anyone with mental health difficulties can work and would like to be part of that journey, then this could be the role for you.
Individual Placement & Support is an internationally-recognised model for supporting people with Serious Mental Illness back into employment, as part of their recovery and wellbeing. As a national priority, our IPS team is currently expanding and working towards achieving high IPS fidelity. We are a friendly and dynamic team, committed to supporting each other to deliver the best outcomes for our clients. We offer a full and comprehensive induction programme and the opportunity to engage in training and development to build your skills.
Our team of Employment Specialists work with caseloads of up to 25 clients, helping them to decide what work they want to do, building their confidence to start looking for work, ensuring they have an up to date CV and providing guidance, support and coaching to enable them to find the right job. Employment Specialists also provide advice on benefits and contact potential employers. They work with clients to make a plan for returning to work and, once in work, provide ongoing support to address any issues or challenges encountered.
Main duties of the job
The role of Employment Specialist is extremely varied and rewarding. You will be part of a clinical team, ensuring the right package of support for clients and keeping detailed and accurate records. You will also be building relationships with employers and other partners, to get the best outcomes for your clients.
We need people who are assertive and adaptable, with a positive attitude about employment for all and excellent networking and interpersonal skills. You don’t need to have experience in employment support, but you do need to be willing to learn new skills, with a positive and supportive attitude and a passion for working with people. You also need to be confident with IT, keeping detailed and accurate records of your client work.
Working for our organisation
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Higher education qualification in a related subject (eg. career guidance, information advice and guidance, human resources, counselling, training etc.), psychology, or equivalent experience.
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of recent and ongoing relevant further training and professional development
Experience
Essential criteria
- Developing partnerships with other individuals or organisations
- Managing own workload
- Recording accurate data in electronic format
- Working collaboratively within a team
Desirable criteria
- Carrying out employment needs assessments with individuals
- Providing information, advice and guidance
- Experience of working within the IPS model
Knowledge/skills
Essential criteria
- Building confidence in others
- Ability to work under pressure and maintain concentration
- Communication skills including presenting information in a range of formats for users and stakeholders, including the creation of presentations and reports
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge and skills in Motivational Interviewing
- Recruitment – professional knowledge of effective job search including creating an effective CV, applying for jobs in a variety of ways, answering interview questions, and job searching in the local area (London)
- Knowledge about employment/health related benefits (e.g. ESA, UC, etc.)
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Anita Addison
- Job title
- IPS Borough Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
List jobs with West London NHS Trust in Administrative Services or all sectors