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Job summary

Main area
Specialist Employment Support
Grade
Band 5
Contract
9 months (Fixed term)
Hours
Part time - 30 hours per week (30 hours flexible: 9 am - 5 pm Monday - Friday only)
Job ref
152-M008.26
Employer
Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
East Dorset
Town
East Dorset
Salary
£25,658 - £31,234 p.a.
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
22/04/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust logo

IPS Employment Specialist

Band 5

 

 

Job overview

Passionate about supporting people and understanding of mental health needs? If so, you could be the ideal candidate for our team.

We are recruiting band 5 employment specialists to join Dorset Work Matters (DWM), supporting clients across Dorset. These roles are made possible through expansion funding, reflecting a commitment to extending specialist mental health employment support.

We currently have a temporary opportunity available: a part-time role covering East Dorset, based at Kings Park, offered as 9-month maternity cover.

DWM is a well-established, high-performing partnership between Dorset Healthcare Trust and Dorset Mental Health Forum. Since 2019, the service has provided evidence-based support to individuals with mental health conditions, helping them secure paid employment through the nationally recognised individual placement and support (IPS) model.

We are seeking motivated specialists to support people with mental health conditions into sustainable employment, working closely with NHS teams, employers and partner organisations. You will build trusting relationships and provide practical, tailored support to help individuals achieve their employment goals, with much of the work being delivered in the community.

This is a fixed term role and for those with current NHS service, the role will be offered on a secondment basis only.  Please obtain permission to be released on a secondment before submitting an application.

Main duties of the job

To undertake weekly face-to-face engagement with local employers to proactively generate tailored job opportunities, including job carving, in line with IPS principles.

Work collaboratively with clients to identify employment goals, develop CVs and application forms, and prepare effectively for interviews.

Support clients in discussing their mental health condition with potential employers, should they choose to disclose.

Provide welfare benefits advice and calculations to help clients make informed employment decisions.

Deliver ongoing in-work support to both clients and employers, ensuring sustainable employment outcomes.

Adhere to the quality standards and compliance requirements of the IPS Fidelity Model, striving to meet or exceed the service’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Maintain accurate, up-to-date records in line with Service and IPS Fidelity Model requirements.

Demonstrate strong organisational skills by managing caseloads efficiently, prioritising tasks, and meeting deadlines.

Perform a high volume of administrative duties with attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in reporting, documentation, and data entry.

Working for our organisation

At Dorset HealthCare we’re on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We’re a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here – it’s one of the reasons the CQC rated us ‘outstanding’ in 2019. It’s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you’re looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you’ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don’t know. And you’ll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification.  When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application.  However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidate’s individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience.  If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety.  If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, we may withdraw your application.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact [email protected]

Applications from candidates that require  sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.

Person specification

Knowledge, skills and training

Essential criteria
  • Educated to degree level or equivalent training in a relevant field
  • Experience or knowledge of employability or the labour market
  • Team orientated and works collaboratively within a mixed-disciplinary team
Desirable criteria
  • Role specific experience of 2 years
  • Trained in / knowledge of IPS approach
  • Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services Sector Qualification

Job specific experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working with people with mental health problems or a similar client group within health, social services or the voluntary sector
  • Experience of partnership working, negotiation and liaison work with other stake holders and agencies
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working within mental health services
  • Previous experience of delivering a service using the IPS model

Personal qualities/attributes

Essential criteria
  • Excellent Organisational skills
  • Ability to manage own time effectively and independently
  • Natural ability to build close trusting and productive relationships with people
  • Highly motivated with a genuine belief that employment will help the recovery of someone with a mental health condition
Desirable criteria
  • Lived experience / experience of recovery from a mental health condition

Additional requirements

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English to a standard which enables the post holder to carry out the full range of duties and responsibilities of the role effectively.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

National Interim Quality MarkNHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardModern Slavery ActApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveInvestors in PeopleImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare quality commission - OutstandingPrince's Trust - Proud to support the Prince's trust - Youth can do itStep into healthHappy to Talk Flexible WorkingArmed Forces Covenant

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Samantha Stevens
Job title
Dorset Work Matters Project Lead
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07747 638626
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