Job Description
Full job description
Job Purpose:
To provide an effective IPS employment service for people with severe and enduring mental health conditions who want to work.
To work as part of a multi-disciplinary mental health team, working alongside other mental health and social care professionals, providing joined-up mental health care.
To develop partnerships with employers, local providers, and services to ensure that the employment support needs of clients are met.
To work as part of the Work Well network, sharing knowledge and expertise with a range of other employment professionals across Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark.
Promote the employment service to mental health professionals, service users, and carers to ensure steady referrals.
Support clients in identifying job goals, assessing needs, and creating action plans to overcome barriers to work.
Deliver personalised one-to-one coaching using various communication methods, including face-to-face, video, phone, email, and text.
Engage with local employers to identify suitable job opportunities and placements.
Challenge stigma and negative beliefs around mental health and employment.
Maintain accurate records, session notes, and outcome evidence using electronic systems.
Manage own caseload and time effectively, track progress toward targets, and use supervision for development.
Stay informed about labour market trends, training opportunities, welfare changes, and employment law.
Follow service policies and procedures, seek guidance when needed, and adapt quickly to changes to maintain quality standards.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provides the UK’s widest range of NHS mental health services, including support for substance misuse. We serve over two million people across Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, and Croydon through 230+ inpatient, outpatient, and community services. Each year, we care for over 5,000 inpatients and 45,000 community patients. We also deliver 50+ specialist services across the UK and internationally.
Work Well is a network of 10 employment support services within SLaM, helping people in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham, and Southwark recover through meaningful employment. We believe everyone can work if they want to and should have choice and control over their career path.
Our values are:
Person-centred : Supporting informed career decisions.
Empowering : Providing tools for independence.
Inspiring : Encouraging long-term career goals.
All staff are expected to uphold confidentiality, equality, health and safety, infection control, safeguarding, and professional standards. We follow NHS codes of conduct and financial procedures. Roles are reviewed regularly to reflect service needs and staff development.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Assessed by Application (A), Interview (I), or Test (T).
Essential Criteria
Qualifications
Educated to degree level or equivalent level of knowledge gained through relevant work experience (A).
Experience
Recent experience of supporting or coaching individuals on a one-to-one basis (in a voluntary role or paid role), verified by an employer reference1 (A).
Experience of managing multiple tasks at any one time (A)
Knowledge
Demonstrates clear understanding of what the Employment Specialist role involves (A, I).
Demonstrates an understanding of primary and secondary care health services (A).
Demonstrates clear understanding of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model (A).
Skills
Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate with others clearly (verbally and non-verbally), negotiate, persuade, and influence, and work as part of a team (A, I, T).
High standard of written English (A, I, T).
Confident using digital technology and proficient in MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams (A, I, T).
High level of learning agility; adapts positively to change and feedback (A, I, T).
Excellent time management; plans and organises own workload independently (A, I, T).
Exceptional listening skills; able to perceive and interpret verbal and non-verbal messages (A, I, T).
Attitude
Demonstrates passion for supporting people with mental health problems into work (A, I, T).
Takes responsibility for own actions and personal development (A, I, T).
Desirable Criteria
Qualifications
Training or qualification in Individual Placement and Support (IPS) (A).
Training or qualification in Job Retention Support (A).
Accredited qualification in coaching or career guidance (A).
Experience
Experience of delivering employment advice or coaching to people who are unemployed or have a disability or mental health problem (A).
Experience of engaging employers to identify job opportunities (A).
Experience of delivering training courses or workshops in person or online (A).
Lived experience of mental health problems or caring for someone with a mental health problem (A).
Knowledge
Knowledge of mental health conditions and understanding the impact of mental health conditions on employment and the support needs of individuals (A).
Values
The focus of every role at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust is always around the service user. Every member of staff is expected to meet these five commitments:
To be caring, kind and polite.
To be prompt and value your time.
To take time and listen to you.
To be honest and direct with you.
To do what I say I am going to do.
In addition, all staff must understand and support the organisation’s commitment to eliminating discrimination, promoting equality and fostering good relations, and put this into practice in everything they do.
For further details / informal visits contact:
