IPS Team Manager – Connect to Work
Salary: £35,000 – £38,000 per year
Location: Preston
Are you an experienced employability or supported employment leader who believes that meaningful work is a vital part of recovery and wellbeing? This is a rare opportunity to lead a high-impact IPS (Individual Placement and Support) service, supporting people with health needs into sustainable paid employment while shaping best practice at a regional level.
About the Company
This is a well-established, values-led employability and skills provider with a strong track record of delivering high-quality, person-centred services across health, recovery, and employment programmes. The organisation is recognised for its commitment to social impact, staff development, and service excellence.
You will be joining a supportive and inclusive organisation that genuinely invests in its people, offering structured supervision, continuous professional development, and opportunities to influence service design. The culture is collaborative, recovery-focused, and values lived experience. Leadership is trusted, innovation is encouraged, and impact is clearly visible.
About the Role
As IPS Team Manager – Connect to Work, you will lead and develop a small team of Employment Specialists delivering high-fidelity IPS services as part of an integrated health and recovery pathway. You will ensure the service meets IPS fidelity standards, achieves strong employment outcomes, and maintains excellent relationships with health partners and employers.
Key responsibilities include:
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Managing, coaching, and motivating a team of IPS Employment Specialists
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Providing regular, solution-focused supervision and effective caseload management
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Ensuring delivery aligns with IPS best practice and fidelity requirements
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Driving employer engagement and access to the hidden labour market
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Attending multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings and promoting the IPS service
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Monitoring performance, outcomes, and quality standards
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Supporting staff training, development, and peer learning
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Managing a small caseload of complex clients where required
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Using service user feedback and recovery stories to drive continuous improvement
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Supporting budget management and operational planning
This role combines operational leadership, quality assurance, and partnership working, offering real scope to shape service delivery.
Ideal Candidate
To succeed in this IPS Team Manager role, you will bring strong leadership capability alongside a commitment to recovery-oriented employment support.
Essential:
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Experience within supported employment, employability, health, or social care services
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Strong understanding of the IPS model or supported employment principles
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Proven experience of staff supervision, management, or mentoring
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Background working with individuals with physical and/or mental health support needs
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A track record of achieving employment outcomes and service targets
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Strong employer engagement and stakeholder management skills
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Excellent leadership, communication, and motivational abilities
Desirable (but not essential):
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Formal IPS training
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Experience delivering IPS services within health or NHS-linked environments
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Employability or Information, Advice & Guidance (IAG) qualifications
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Lived experience of recovery
Apply Now
If you are ready to lead a purpose-driven IPS service and make a lasting difference to people’s lives, this IPS Team Manager role offers both challenge and reward. Apply now to take the next step in your employability and supported employment leadership career