Job overview

As an IPS Team Leader, you will lead the day-to-day delivery of an evidence-based IPS service across South Essex, managing a team of IPS Employment Specialists and ensuring employment is embedded as a core part of mental health care.

Role

Your leadership will shape practice, performance, and culture, ensuring the IPS model is delivered with fidelity, compassion, and impact.

The ideal candidate must have a driver’s license to be able to travel across South Essex.
You will work alongside:

  • NHS and Mental Health Trusts
  • Clinical teams and service leads
  • Commissioners and system partners
  • Employers across Central London
  • IPS Team Leaders and Employment Specialists

    • Your work will be guided every day by our values:

  • Be Ambitious – for every person’s working future
  • Be Proud – of quality, safety and results
  • Be Considerate – of lived mental health experience
  • Own It – take responsibility for outcomes
  • Be Inspiring – help people believe work is possible

Responsibilities

This is fast-moving, relationship-driven supported employment. You will:

  • Lead a team of 8 and their day-to-day delivery of IPS services across South Essex
  • Line-manage and support a team of IPS Employment Specialists
  • Drive performance against job start, sustainment and progression targets
  • Embed the IPS Fidelity Model, supporting Good–Excellent practice
  • Work closely with clinicians to integrate employment into care pathways
  • Monitor caseloads, quality, and outcomes using data and insight
  • Support reflective practice, supervision, and staff wellbeing
  • Ensure safeguarding, GDPR, and audit readiness
  • Identify risks and escalate appropriately to the Contract Manager
  • Act as a visible, values-led leader within the service

The person

This role suits experienced practitioners or leaders with backgrounds in:

  • IPS or supported employment
  • Mental health, health or social care services
  • Frontline team leadership or supervision
  • Performance and quality-led service delivery

    • You will thrive if you:

  • Have a strong understanding of the IPS Fidelity Model
  • Enjoy coaching, developing and motivating others
  • Can balance compassion with accountability
  • Work confidently with clinicians and partners
  • Use data to improve practice and outcomes

    • This is a high-impact leadership role, you will lead services supporting people who may:

  • Experience anxiety, depression or severe mental illness
  • Require flexible, responsive and integrated support
  • Move quickly into work when the system works well
  • Need strong in-work support to sustain employment

    • We are looking for leaders who:

  • Set high standards without losing compassion
  • Build trust across complex systems
  • Hold teams to account while supporting wellbeing
  • Are resilient, reflective and values-led