Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Specialist

Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Specialist

Dublin 6/8

Fixed term,12 months,  39 hours.

Job Purpose

This post is Full-time as an Employment Specialist within the Community Mental Health Team.  The purpose of the job is to provide a recovery focused supported employment service by working with individuals who have experienced mental health problems and wish to gain open competitive employment.  The Employment Specialist will work directly with employers to secure employment opportunities and provide ongoing support to both employers and the individual to retain them in work.

 As a member of the Community Mental Health Team, the Employment Specialist will be required to proactively manage a caseload of people who have experienced mental health problems and who are unemployed and/or currently off work.  The Employment Specialist is expected to deliver the Individual Placement and Support approach; an evidence based model of employment support for people with mental health problems.  Working directly with all relevant stakeholders:  the service user, CMHT staff, GP’s, employers and Occupational Health to enable service users to gain and retain employment.

Minimum Education & Skills required

• Relevant third level qualification or significant prior employment services experience (Essential)
• Degree or Diploma in Supported Employment, Social Studies, Adult Guidance or Business related studies such as HRM (Desirable)
• Full & current driver’s license (Essential)
• Trained in the IPS approach (Desirable)

Work Experience

• Experience of working with and supporting people who have experienced mental health problems (or other unemployed disadvantaged groups) into an in employment within health, social services or the voluntary sector (Desirable l)
• Experience of successfully helping people to obtain or keep education / work (Desirable)
• Experience of partnership working, negotiation and liaison work with other agencies (Desirable)
• Experience of job development (Desirable)

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of a maximum of 20 people at any one time who have experienced mental health problems and wish to gain competitive employment, work as a member of the Community Mental Health multidisciplinary team, provide ongoing support according to both the employees and the employer’s needs, be proactive in working with employers to source and secure employment opportunities for people who experience mental health difficulties, provide information and support for employers as agreed with the individual in order to ensure that employment is sustained, work with the employee and employer in negotiating appropriate adjustments to support and sustain employment, develop networks with other organisations that will help individuals to achieve their employment goals, provide tailored support to individuals who have secured employment to assist them in sustaining that employment, establish the effectiveness of the IPS approach and provide the necessary data and information as required, work as part of a national network of Employment Specialists and attend training / meetings as required, support the realization of annual operating targets in respect of employment outcomes.
• Assure quality service by working continuously to improve outcomes and quality of service, participate in Fidelity reviews and support implementation of recommendations from these reviews, Ensure service users and their supporters are aware of ‘Your Service, Your Say’ and actively welcome feedback regarding the service and user experience of same, ensure that all records are kept in accordance with relevant Rehab /HSE policies and procedures.
• Participate in: supervision, continuing personal and professional development, IPS and any other training and required.  Provide guidance and education for community mental health team colleagues.
• Adhere to Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act (1989) policies and procedures and other relevant legislation, report any immediate concerns / incidents of questionable practice to the line manager or his/her designate, be familiar with emergency procedures and know who to contact in an emergency and ensure that, where any risk has been identified in relation to participants, that appropriate follow up action is taken.

Additional requirements

• Full clean driving licence and means of transport is essential for the position.
• Willingness to be flexible in working hours to meet organisation/client’s needs.
• Working some unsocial hours may be required. 

Staff Benefits

• Company Pension Scheme
• Paid maternity leave
• Paid paternity leave
• 24 days annual leave
• Bike to work scheme
• Tax saver travel scheme
• Income protection

Closing Date: 02/01/2022

To view full extensive job description please, click apply to visit our company site and download attachment at the bottom of the page.

These duties and responsibilities are a reflection of the present service requirements and may be subject to review and amendment to meet the changing needs of the services.

The Rehab Group is an equal opportunity employer