Job Title: IPS Employment Specialist
Reporting to: Team Leader
Salary: £30,000 per annum
Hours: 37 hours per week
Fixed Term Contract: Until March 2027, with a possible extension should funding be extended.
About Better Pathways:
Better Pathways is a values-led charity with over 60 years of experience supporting communities to overcome barriers to employment, skills, and social inclusion. We empower citizens within Birmingham by building self-belief and resilience, aiming to maintain wellbeing and create pathways to secure opportunities for volunteering, training, education, and employment.
Job Purpose:
The IPS Employment Specialist will deliver high-quality, person-centred employment support in line with the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, helping young people aged 16–29 to prepare for, secure and sustain meaningful paid employment.
The post holder will work with individuals experiencing mental health needs, neurodiversity, learning difficulties or disabilities, health conditions, or other barriers to employment. The role requires intensive one-to-one support, strong employer engagement, and collaborative working with health professionals, community organisations and other partner agencies.
This role forms part of the Connect to Work Programme, supporting participants across Birmingham through tailored employment interventions and ongoing in-work support
Key Responsibilities
Participant Support:
- Deliver the IPS model of supported employment, applying the core IPS principles including rapid job search, personalised support and ongoing in-work support.
- Support participants to identify their aspirations, strengths, skills and barriers to employment through vocational profiling and action planning.
- Provide one-to-one job coaching and employability support to help individuals move towards and into sustainable paid employment.
- Support participants to develop confidence, independence and positive workplace behaviours.
- Assist participants with job preparation, applications, interviews and transition into employment.
- Negotiate reasonable adjustments and support workplace integration, job carving and return-to-work planning where appropriate.
Employer Engagement:
- Build and maintain positive relationships with local employers to identify suitable job opportunities.
- Match participants to employment opportunities that align with their goals, strengths and preferences.
- Promote inclusive recruitment practices and support employers to improve retention and workplace outcomes.
- Raise awareness of mental health, disability inclusion and the benefits of supported employment with employers and partners.
Partnership Working:
- Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, health services, community organisations and other stakeholders to support participant outcomes.
- Maintain effective communication with referral partners and wider support services to ensure joined-up provision.
Monitoring and Compliance:
- Maintain accurate and timely records of participant engagement, progress, outcomes and employer activity in line with programme and IPS fidelity requirements.
- Contribute to programme monitoring and impact measurement through collection of destination data and evidence of outcomes.
- Ensure all employment opportunities, placements and support activity meet safeguarding and Health & Safety standards.
Service Quality and Safeguarding:
- Promote safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion at all times.
- Ensure a safe, effective and person-centred service for all participants.
- Follow all legal, organisational and programme requirements in relation to confidentiality, data protection and participant welfare.
Additional Responsibilities:
- Travel across Birmingham, and surrounding areas where required, to provide community-based and in-work support.
- Adhere to all Better Pathways policies, including health and safety and equality and diversity.
- Undertake any other duties within the scope and expectations of the role as required.
Skills and Experience:
Essential:
- Experience supporting individuals with mental health needs, learning disabilities, autism and/or other complex barriers to employment.
- Experience in employability, careers guidance or employment support.
- Experience of employer engagement and building relationships with businesses.
- A proven track record of achieving targets and positive outcomes.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and motivate others.
- A person-centred and flexible approach to supporting individuals.
- Strong IT skills, including use of Word, Excel and CRM or case management systems.
- GCSE Maths and English at Grade C/4 or equivalent.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the IPS fidelity model.
- Understanding of supported employment principles and employer engagement techniques.
- Understanding of welfare benefits and employment legislation.
- Qualification in supported employment or job coaching.
- Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services or IAG Level 3.
- Degree or equivalent in employability, psychology, health or social care.
Better Pathways is a Disability Confident Employer and welcomes applications from disabled people. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.
We value lived experience and recognise the strengths that disabled people bring to our organisation. If you require any adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know.
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 10 months
Pay: £30,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Casual dress
- Sick pay
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Birmingham B12 0NQ: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- Do you have direct experience supporting individuals into employment?
- How many years of experience do you have supporting individuals with additional barriers into employment?
- How many years of experience do you have working with employers to support individuals into employment?
Work Location: In person
