How long have you worked in IPS?

18 months.

What drew you to a role in IPS?

I was first employed by Portsmouth City Council as an Employment Adviser for an existing contract called Restart. When the IPS role was advertised and I researched the programme, I was struck by the format which allows you time with your client. The support is based around the client – you can agree how often to meet and where to meet in the community – rather than the client just being a ‘number’ in the system to support. Having smaller caseloads allows me to deliver quality support – less is certainly more!   

What were you doing before you started your IPS role?

Before I came to work for the Council I worked within the health and fitness industry. I was a Studio Manager for a chain of private health clubs. I managed a team of 12 – 20 (depending on timetable) group exercise instructors and delivered my own classes, including yoga. I was also a tutor with a local Sports Academy delivering Anatomy and Physiology modules for BTEC Sports Performance courses. 

Sounds like you have a strong grounding in the fields of health and fitness! Were there any transferable skills from your previous work in these industries that you applied to your role in IPS?

Absolutely- listening skills, clear communication, customer service skills, goal setting (use of SMART goals), and being approachable and friendly. Additional skills I applied are organisation, great timekeeping, and being a good motivator. My time as a yoga instructor gave me a calm presence with a perspective of gratitude. Plus, all admin and IT skills I learned in my previous roles are helpful in this one.

After joining, what was your first week on the job like?

My first week on the job went as follows:

Research – A lot of reading from the IPS and NHS Future Collaboration sites.  

Administration – Setting up our own Vocational Profile and referral document etc.  

Networking – Face to face meetings with the Inclusion Hubs and their recovery worker teams to spread the word of our new IPS programme, and one morning at a local job fair to introduce the benefits of IPS and free recruitment to local employers. 

What’s the best bit about your day?

All the interaction – collaborating with working partners and appointments with clients. Each day is different 😊 

That sounds great. Have there been any standout moments for you while on the job?

Yes, a client who wanted to change career from being a chef. He’d been a chef all his working life and had now realised that this environment was toxic to his recovery from alcoholism. He knew he wanted a change but didn’t know what to do. During our meetings we spoke about his family and how on his days off he would love to spend time with his autistic younger brother and take him out for a burger or to the cinema, and I wondered if he had ever thought about the care sector. We started to look into suitable roles, and I made contact with a local care company. I went to visit them and listened to their needs and asked them what attributes they look for in their staff. I could see a match between the business needs and my client’s personality. I supported him with his application and interview preparation, and he was delighted to hear he’d been offered the role. He works in a private care home set up with 4 residential patients and along with personal care responsibilities he gets to take them out and about in the local community. That was a year ago and he is still happily employed and remains abstinent!

Thank you for sharing your client’s journey with us Jenny. What sort of skills have you gained by working in IPS?

A major skill I have gained is patience. Clients will often miss appointments even though you’ve agreed and sent a reminder, and employers work to their own schedule – the bigger the corporation the longer it can take. 

Lastly – What piece of advice would you give to someone who is considering applying for a job as an IPS Employment Specialist? 

Expect each day to be different and be prepared to be flexible with your arrangements – diary management is key.  

Listening is more important, whether you are listening to the client to understand them, or to an employer to understand their requirements.