Job summary
IPS stands for "Individual Placement and Support". It is an evidence-based approach to helping people with mental health conditions find and keep a paid job.
Having a job can bring numerous benefits to people, routine, structure, identity, social opportunities, a purpose, as well as a wage or salary. We know having a job can help people with mental health conditions to recover.
At present, only around 8% of people receiving support from secondary mental health services are in paid employment, while studies suggest almost 90% of people with serious and enduring mental health conditions want to work. The IPS Employment Team aims to provide the right support to help this happen.
A new and exciting opportunity has arisen for a permanent Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Assistant covering the following areas:
York / North Yorkshire
The IPS Employment Assistant will be supporting the IPS Employment Specialist in working with people who have a mental illness and support them into competitive employment and then enabling them to retain that employment.
You must have the Right to Work in the UK in order to be successfully appointed to this role. Please note, this role does not meet the required eligibility criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa and therefore the Trust is unable to offer sponsorship for this particular role.
Main duties of the job
The IPS Employment Assistant will be supporting the IPS Employment Specialist in day to day IPS delivery in supporting clients with Job search, CV Development, Employment Applications, Interview support and supporting with designated electronic employment support programmes under the guidance and support of the IPS Employment Specialist.
This will involve developing opportunities with local employers and partners and supporting them as well as the client, to ensure the right person is in the right job.
About us
We're committed to co-creating a great experience for our colleagues. This means listening to what staff are telling us and working together to be the best employer we can be.
Our staff are our most important asset and recognising their excellent work and the vital contributions they make to patient care is very important.
We have achieved the gold Investors in People (IIP) standard and have been commended on great people management practice and demonstrating a commitment to staff development.
We are signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme. This means we have to demonstrate that we're taking positive action to attract, recruit and retain disabled people.
We have an award-winning system for delivering efficiency through clinician-led quality improvements.
All staff who join us are provided with a comprehensive induction programme, starting on their first day of employment.
Continuous professional development is important to us. Once you're comfortable in your new role, you and your manager will work collaboratively to form a Personal Development Plan (PDP), your personal career aspirations are taken into account and the trust will provide you with the resources you need to develop.
It's important our staff are able to raise concerns about patient safety and let us know when we need to improve services. We have a number of ways people can do this.
Details
Date posted
09 April 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 3
Salary
£25,760 to £27,476 a year per annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
346-NYA-047-26-A
Job locations
Huntington House
Jockey Lane
York
YO32 9QW
Job description
Job responsibilities
The successful applicants will provide support to the IPS Employment Specialist in monitoring support systems for clients throughout their IPS journey.
This will include supporting the IPS Employment Specialist in providing in work support to clients.
The successful candidate will be dynamic and motivated, with excellent communication skills to enable you to support the IPS Employment Specialist in working/engaging effectively with a wide range of partner agencies and employers, clients and sometimes their families. Innovation and determination are key to the success of this role.
The successful candidate needs to demonstrate a commitment to employment and social inclusion.
IPS supervision and clinical support from community mental health team members will be offered on a regular basis with ongoing training and development opportunities relevant to the post.
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.
Due to the nature of the role it is essential that applicants are able to travel independently across the locality and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes. If necessary, adjustments can be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
1. Numeracy and Literacy level 2 (or above) or must be achieved within 12 months.
2. Level 3 information, advice, and guidance or must be achieved within 18 months of commencement in post.
3. Care Certificate must be achieved within 12 weeks of commencement in post
Desirable
4. Evidence of additional qualifications relevant to role.
5. Previous experience working in employment support.
6. Previous experience of working/supporting people with mental health problems, learning disability and/or autism.
Skills
Essential
7. Ability to work collaboratively with members of the MDT to provide an effective service
8. Ability to deliver IPS support interventions competently
9. Ability to communicate information (verbal and written) effectively in a manner appropriate to the individual and situation
10. Adherence to Trust record keeping standards
11. Ability to adapt IPS interventions using own initiative within own scope of practice under guidance of IPS employment specialist
12. Ability to plan and organise a given caseload and prioritise effectively
13. Fully compliant with statutory and mandatory training
14. Completion of CfMH "Doing what works" IPS training (or equivalent)
15. Ability to use employment related platforms/software packages
16. Demonstrate IPS and service specific competencies
Desirable
17. Can meet physical requirements of the role, with reasonable adjustments as needed
18. Ability to lead a group session
Personal Attributes
Essential
19. Awareness of the needs of individuals from diverse social, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds
20. Ability to relate to the needs of the patient group
21. Compassionate in meeting the needs of vulnerable people and their families and carers
22. Ability to work on own in a variety of settings using initiative appropriately
23. Ability to work under pressure in a rapidly changing environment
24. Able to work flexibly and cooperatively as part of a team
25. Committed to continual quality and service improvement
26. Committed to promoting a positive image of people with mental health conditions and/or learning disabilities and autism
27. Committed to promoting a positive image of IPS and the Trust
28. Self-awareness and committed to continual personal development