Employability Team Leader - Health & Wellbeing

Job Role: IPS Team Leader
Individual Placement & Support (IPS) | Employability | Health & Wellbeing | Team Leadership
Location: Islington
Salary: £41,586 per annum (Inclusive of London Weighting)
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Working Pattern: Hybrid working model with a strong community presence.
  
This role requires a high level of visibility across Islington, with an expectation of being present across service locations approximately 4 days per week, including:

• Seven Sisters Road
• Grays Inn Road
• King Henry's Walk

All reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.
  
Role Overview
We are recruiting an experienced and inspirational IPS Team Leader to lead a high-performing employment support team delivering the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model across Islington.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced IPS Team Leader, Senior Employment Specialist, Employability Team Leader, Supported Employment Manager or Employment Services Manager looking to take ownership of a well-established service and drive positive outcomes for individuals facing barriers to employment.
As the IPS Team Leader, you will lead a team of Employment Specialists supporting individuals with disabilities, health conditions, mental health challenges and other complex barriers into sustainable paid employment. Alongside team leadership responsibilities, you will maintain a small caseload, providing direct support and role modelling best practice delivery.
You will work closely with local stakeholders, employers, commissioners and community partners to ensure the service delivers outstanding outcomes while maintaining compliance with IPS Fidelity standards and contractual requirements.
  
Key Responsibilities:
  
Team Leadership & Performance Management

• Lead, motivate and develop a team of IPS Employment Specialists.
• Deliver regular supervision, coaching and performance reviews.
• Conduct caseload reviews and quality assurance activity.
• Support staff through field mentoring, observations and professional development.
• Create a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and high performance.
• Identify training needs and coordinate workforce development activity.
• Support recruitment, induction and ongoing staff development.

IPS Service Delivery & Quality Assurance

• Ensure delivery aligns with IPS best practice and Fidelity standards.
• Monitor referrals, engagement activity, job outcomes and employment sustainment.
• Drive performance against contractual targets and KPIs.
• Maintain oversight of reporting systems and outcome monitoring.
• Ensure quality assurance and participant satisfaction processes are embedded across the service.
• Lead service improvement initiatives and promote innovation within delivery.

Participant Support & Caseload Management

• Maintain a small active caseload of participants.
• Complete vocational profiling and employment action planning.
• Support individuals to identify suitable employment opportunities aligned to their preferences and strengths.
• Provide in-work support and job sustainment activity.
• Promote confidence, independence and progression through employment.

Employer Engagement & Partnership Working

• Build and maintain strong relationships with local employers and business networks.
• Support the team to access hidden labour market opportunities.
• Promote inclusive recruitment practices and workplace adjustments where required.
• Work closely with:

o Commissioners
o Health Services
o Community Organisations
o Referral Partners
o Local Employers

• Attend partnership meetings and represent the service professionally.

Operational Management & Compliance

• Manage service performance, compliance and quality standards.
• Oversee reporting systems and operational monitoring processes.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding, GDPR and organisational requirements.
• Support management of service budgets and resources.
• Contribute to wider organisational objectives and strategic priorities.

Essential Criteria

• Experience leading, supervising or managing staff within:

o IPS Services
o Employability Programmes
o Supported Employment Services
o Welfare-to-Work Provision
o Health & Wellbeing Services

• Proven experience achieving and exceeding performance targets and outcomes.
• Experience mentoring, coaching and developing staff.
• Strong understanding of employment support and employer engagement.
• Experience building effective partnerships with employers and stakeholders.
• Excellent leadership, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong report writing and record-keeping abilities.
• Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Office and digital systems.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for supporting people facing barriers to employment.

Desirable Criteria

• Previous IPS delivery experience.
• Knowledge of IPS Fidelity standards.
• Experience working with:

o Disability Support Services
o Mental Health Services
o Health & Wellbeing Programmes
o Socially Excluded or Vulnerable Groups

• Advice & Guidance qualification.
• Employability or Supported Employment qualification.
• Experience managing service budgets.

Additional Information

• Community-based role with regular travel across Islington.
• High-visibility leadership role requiring presence across multiple service sites.
• Enhanced DBS check required.
• Opportunity to lead a high-impact IPS service helping individuals move into sustainable employment.

How to Apply
For more information or to apply for the IPS Team Leader role, please contact:
Tiff Bennett
(phone number removed)
(url removed)