IPS Job Coach: Sponsorship Available

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

Are you interested in working with people and making a difference? The Mental Health Employment Support Service is delighted to offer the opportunity to join our friendly team as a Job Coach.

Evidence shows that employment which suits an individual is integral to mental health recovery, and we’re looking for someone who shares this belief. If you’re keen to make a real difference in people’s lives, this could be the role for you.

In this rewarding position, you will support mental health service users to find and retain paid employment, working within the nationally recognised Individual Placement & Support (IPS) model. Full IPS training, peer support and regular supervision will be provided.

You will work with people through all stages of their employment journey – from goal setting and job search to employer engagement and in work support. The role involves agile working, with a base in Taunton and travel across local areas as required.

Main duties of the job

  • Provide 1:1 employment support to mental health service users who want to gain or retain paid work.
  • Use the IPS model to deliver personalised, strengths-based employment journeys.
  • Carry out vocational assessments, agree employment goals and create collaborative action plans.
  • Conduct rapid job search, job matching, job carving and employer engagement activities.
  • Build relationships with employers, promoting mental health awareness and reasonable adjustments.
  • Provide ongoing inwork support once individuals start employment.
  • Work closely with clinical teams, IPS Clinical Leads, the Employment Service Manager and partner agencies.
  • Maintain accurate records, data, and reporting in line with IPS and Trust standards.
  • Travel across Somerset to meet service users, employers and partner organisations.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Certificate in Community Mental Health or NVQ III in a health or social care field or an equivalent level recognised qualification in a human services or customer service related field (e.g. advice and guidance, human resources/recruitment, customer care, business).

Desirable

  • A diploma level qualification or higher in a field such as health, social care, advice and guidance, human resources/recruitment, customer care, business.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of providing advice, guidance and support in healthcare and/or vocational programme settings.
  • Experience of working with adults with severe mental health difficulties.

Desirable

  • Lived experience of mental illness in ones own life or family.
  • Experience of working within IPS or other vocational, careers or recruitment services.
  • Experience of preparing and delivering training.
  • Experience of risk assessment and management within a mental health care setting.

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Knowledge of and commitment to the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.
  • Ability to drive a car with appropriate business insurance and driver licence, and access a variety of Trust and community sites throughout the county.
  • Understanding of the role of employment in mental health recovery.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of The Equality Act 2010 and other employment related legislation and their implementation.
  • Job search, job matching, job carving skills and return to work planning skills
  • Marketing skills

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 31 August 2026

To apply for this job please visit somersetft.tal.net.