Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

IPS Clinical Lead

The closing date is 03 August 2025

Job summary

Are you a registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, or Occupational Therapist looking for the next step in your career? Do you want to make a real difference in the lives of individuals facing mental health challenges? If so, this could be the role for you!

The Mental Health Employment Support Service is a dedicated team of mental health professionals, supporting people who want to work and are under the care of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust mental health services. Employment that suits an individual can be integral to their recovery. If you are keen to make a real difference in peoples lives, this could be the role for you.

The role is to provide and co-ordinate employment support services, using the evidence based Individual Placement and Support model (IPS), for service users who wish to gain, or retain open employment, focusing on the Bridgwater and Minehead locality. This post will work as part of a county-wide Mental Health Employment Service to provide specialist vocational assessment, planning and services, within Community Mental Health Teams in Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.

Main duties of the job

Training provided: You don't need to be an Employment Specialist already! We offer full training in the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, as well as IPS Leadership.Lead with impact: You'll provide clinical supervision and leadership to a small team of 4 IPS colleagues, supporting them in their roles.Collaborate for success: Work alongside other IPS Clinical Leads and the Employment Support Service Manager to ensure consistent leadership and contribute to the strategic development of the service.Work directly with service users: Manage a small caseload, providing tailored vocational assessments, action planning, employer engagement, the assessment of work-related risk, development of collaborative risk management plans, worksite assessment and in work support. Your work will support the aspirations of service users with severe mental health issues who want to work.Build partnerships: Collaborate with clinical colleagues and external agencies such as Job Centre Plus, CAB, probation services, local employers, and NACRO, helping to identity employment opportunities.What we're looking for:A passion for helping others achieve their goals and improve their lives through employment.Strong leadership skills and a desire to support a team of Employment Specialists.The ability to work collaboratively with partners and stakeholders across the NHS and local community.

About us

As an organisation, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust offers employees a wide range of benefits including flexible working, NHS pension scheme, generous annual leave allowance and a commitment to career development. You will be eligible for our Blue Light Card and a wide range of NHS exclusive shopping & leisure discounts.We are proud of our skilled, diverse workforce and as an inclusive employer we welcome applications from all backgrounds.Working in Somerset enables you to enjoy the idyllic countryside, areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London.There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable.Somerset offers the countryside and the cosmopolitan -- there is truly something for everyone!

Details

Date posted

28 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

184-OL-GR-2899

Job locations

Summerlands

56 Preston Road

Yeovil

Somerset

BA20 2BN


Job description

Job responsibilities

For a full list of duties and responsibilities, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For a full list of duties and responsibilities, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • A degree or equivalent in social work, occupational therapy, or psychiatric nursing
  • Professional registration to practice in the UK

Desirable

  • Masters degree in a relevant field
  • IPS Training

Experience

Essential

  • Working with people with severe and enduring mental health issues in at least a band 5 role or equivalent
  • Working closely with a range of service providers

Desirable

  • Working with people with severe and enduring mental health issues in a band 6 role or equivalent
  • IPS or other employment specialist experience
  • Forensic mental health experience

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Knowledge of clinical effectiveness and clinical governance
  • Understanding of the role of employment in recovery
  • Supervisory skills
  • Ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner
  • Able to use and learn to use various software applications
  • Mental Health risk assessment and management
  • High standard of written English communication skills with the ability to use email and internet
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with staff, service users, carers and relatives (as appropriate) remaining sensitive and empathetic
  • Able to take instruction and direction and work effectively as part of a team
  • Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the county, to meet the needs of the service

Desirable

  • Knowledge of evidence based vocational rehabilitation and related legislation
  • Vocational assessment and worksite assessment
  • Graded return to work or in work support planning
  • Cognitive assessment and functional assessment
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • A degree or equivalent in social work, occupational therapy, or psychiatric nursing
  • Professional registration to practice in the UK

Desirable

  • Masters degree in a relevant field
  • IPS Training

Experience

Essential

  • Working with people with severe and enduring mental health issues in at least a band 5 role or equivalent
  • Working closely with a range of service providers

Desirable

  • Working with people with severe and enduring mental health issues in a band 6 role or equivalent
  • IPS or other employment specialist experience
  • Forensic mental health experience

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Knowledge of clinical effectiveness and clinical governance
  • Understanding of the role of employment in recovery
  • Supervisory skills
  • Ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner
  • Able to use and learn to use various software applications
  • Mental Health risk assessment and management
  • High standard of written English communication skills with the ability to use email and internet
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with staff, service users, carers and relatives (as appropriate) remaining sensitive and empathetic
  • Able to take instruction and direction and work effectively as part of a team
  • Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the county, to meet the needs of the service

Desirable

  • Knowledge of evidence based vocational rehabilitation and related legislation
  • Vocational assessment and worksite assessment
  • Graded return to work or in work support planning
  • Cognitive assessment and functional assessment

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Summerlands

56 Preston Road

Yeovil

Somerset

BA20 2BN


Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Summerlands

56 Preston Road

Yeovil

Somerset

BA20 2BN


Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Hiring Manager

Susan Newell

susan.newell@somersetft.nhs.uk

07500783469

Details

Date posted

28 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

184-OL-GR-2899

Job locations

Summerlands

56 Preston Road

Yeovil

Somerset

BA20 2BN


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)