Do you want to be part of a mission‑driven organisation that believes everyone deserves dignity, opportunity, and a fair chance at work?Shaw Trust is recruiting an IPS Employment Specialist to empower people with mental health support needs across Birmingham and Solihull.
Deadline: 28th February 2026
* West Midlands
* Full-time
Job overview
Shaw Trust promotes team spirit, inclusiveness and it is an organisation where everybody is somebody. I am proud to be part of this great organisation.”
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.
Employee Benefits
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
* 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
Join a diverse and inclusive organisation
Shaw 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.uk
Role
As an IPS Employment Specialist, your mission is to empower individuals with mental health support needs by helping them secure sustainable employment in alignment with their preferences. 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.
Responsibilities
* Management of an active caseload of up to 25 participants to meet personal and team targets and KPIs and provide caseload support internally to colleague
* Deliver the service using the IPS model for which training will be given
* Record all interactions with participants on the CRM system in a timely manner to meet contract deadlines, compliance, and evidence requirements
* If required update NHS systems within the service level agreement (systems include RIO, Care Notes, IAPTUS and various others)
* Ensure accuracy and compliance with contract data entry, processes and procedures, documentation completion and the Fidelity Scale
* Build relationships with clinical and community health teams to generate referrals and create collaborative working partnerships with NHS clinicians including GPs, Practice Managers, Nursing staff and wider clinical teams
* Attend meetings with clinical teams as an embedded IPS practitioner, where possible, and communicate with team members to integrate vocational services
Please see full Job Description and Person Specification
The person
Essential:
You will have:
* A people-centred approach in a commercial framework
* Demonstratable passion to further the charitable aims of the organisation
* 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
* Have a knowledge of IPS
* Resilience and initiative
* Able to work 65% of the time in the community or in a mental health treatment hub
If your application is successful, you will progress to an assessment centre – date tbc
Please see full Job Description and Person Specification
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