Employment Specialist (IPS)
Employment Specialist (IPS) - Birmingham & Solihull
At Shaw Trust we believe everyone has the right to live a decent and dignified life and an opportunity for rewarding work. We are a social purpose organisation challenging inequality and breaking down barriers to enable social mobility.
For us being part of the solution is about creating the conditions for this to happen, advocating and delivering services that make a real difference. Working in partnership not competition, we are part of an eco-system of purpose-led organisations, striving for a fairer, more equal society centred on opportunity for all.
PurposeAs an Employment Specialist, your mission is to empower individuals with mental health support needs by helping them secure sustainable employment in alignment with their preferences (meaningful to them) in order to rebuild their lives.
You will deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach, providing person-centred guidance to clients while fostering positive relationships with local employers. Your role within community mental health teams or early intervention psychosis teams will support a holistic approach to recovery through employment.
This is a highly people-focused, community-based role. You will:
- Meet clients in the community or mental health settings
- Support individuals with job goals, applications, and interviews
- Build relationships with local employers
- Work collaboratively with clinical teams
- Provide ongoing in-work support
This role is active and varied—you’ll spend much of your time out and about, building relationships and supporting people directly.
Who we’re looking forWe are looking for motivated, proactive individuals who are passionate about helping others succeed.Transferrable skills are welcome
You don’t need to have done this exact role before. We welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds where supporting people to achieve their goals is key.
This may include experience in:
- Education (teachers, tutors, teaching assistants)
- Health and social care
- Youth work or community roles
- Charity or voluntary sector
- Coaching, mentoring, or careers advice
- Recruitment, HR, or customer advisory roles
- Housing, probation, or rehabilitation services
- Customer-facing leadership roles (e.g. retail, hospitality)
If you’re passionate about people and making a difference, we’ll support you to learn the IPS delivery approach.
If you’re looking for a role where you can genuinely change lives—and be part of a team that values purpose, inclusion, and impact—we’d love to hear from you.
Essential:You will have:
- A people-centred approach in a commercial framework
- Demonstratable passion to further the charitable aims of the organisation
- Be able to work to targets
- Collaborative skills in order to and unite with others behind the organisation’s mission
- Experience/understanding of working with people with mental health support needs, or a similar client group within health, social services or the voluntary sector
- Resilience and initiative
- Excellent communication skills
- Able to work 100% of the time in the community or in a mental health treatment hub
- A strong communicator who can build trust quickly
- Organised and able to manage a varied workload
- Resilient and able to work independently
- Professional in your approach and presentation
- Motivated to achieve positive outcomes for others
Download the Job Description for full details.
Location:You will be based within Birmingham or Solihull - community based (peripatetic).
Why join Shaw Trust?“Working here, you’re part of something bigger—where everybody is somebody.”
- Be part of a supportive, inclusive, purpose-led organisation
- Make a meaningful difference every day
- Work alongside NHS and community partners
- Receive training in the IPS model
- Develop your career in a values-driven organisation
As an employee of Shaw Trust as well as positively impacting people’s lives, you will have access to the following benefits:
- 25 days annual leave per year (plus bank holidays), with incremental increases post 3 years’ service up to 28 days, and the option to purchase additional holiday
- 2 days paid volunteering leave each year
- An enhanced pension scheme after 6 months
- Life Assurance at 3 times your annual salary rate
- Access to a suite of learning and development opportunities including paid for apprenticeship and masters’ levels qualifications, and management development programmes
- Opportunities to connect with our employee diversity networks (LGBTQ+ Support Network, Racial Equality Network, Disability Equality Network, Women’s Network)
- Health and Wellbeing initiatives including internal support, employee assistance programme and health cash plan
To find out more about Shaw Trusts aims in our 2030 Strategic Directive available here:
https://www.shawtrust.org.uk/content/uploads/2020/09/Vision-2030-Strategic-Directive-5-9.pdfJoin a diverse and inclusive organisationShaw Trust is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment, where every employee, regardless of their background or lived experience, feels that they belong and can progress in their career.
In addition;
- We are proud to be certified as an employer who meets the National Equality Standard, the accepted standard for inclusiveness in business across the UK.
- We are Disability Confident Leaders, support the guaranteed interview scheme and use of the government’s Access to Work scheme.
- Living our values, we are keen to reflect the diversity of UK society at every level within our organisation.
We welcome applications from all sections of the community including from people with lived experience and/or knowledge of disability or social exclusion.
If you have accessibility requirements and/or would like further information about the role, please contact:
Resourcing@shaw-trust.org.ukShawIND1
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