Job Description

The Team Leader will lead a team of up to 6 Employment Specialists in Hounslow Borough, providing supervision, training, mentoring, and role modelling of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach, as part of the holistic recovery plan for mental health service users.
Working directly with all relevant stakeholders - service users, GPs, Social Prescribers,DWP, employers and partner agencies - the Team Leader will play a pivotal role in managing a high-quality service that meets fidelity standards and delivers positive outcomes for service users.
The Team Leader will support the IPS Borough Lead to expand the provision of IPS to other Trust services and PCNs across Primary Care.
The Team Leader may also be required to manage a small caseload of people who have experienced mental health problems and who are unemployed to support them back into employment.
You can find out more information about working in Individual Placement and Support here https://youtu.be/gN13LHcZ0XU
Main duties of the job
Key Result Areas & Performance:
Effectively manage a high-quality service that adheres to the principles of IPS best practice
Monitor and manage the performance of the IPS Employment Specialists, guiding them individually in best practice and aiming to achieve individual and team job outcome targets, through group and individual supervision
Create a culture of continuous improvement, and involve service users in co-producing service developments wherever possible.
Identify training needs of staff and arrange appropriate training to support with continuous professional development
Identify barriers for service excellence and work with internal and external stakeholders to implement solutions to ensure a high fidelity service is delivered which meets required service user employment targets
Assist the team to build relationships with clinical teams to generate referrals and create a collaborative working partnerships with NHS clinicians where employment support is integrated into mental health treatment.
Lead the service to focus on rapid job search with the service user, whilst utilising local support networks to help them overcome their barriers to employment
Lead the team to ensure that ES spend enough time in face to face meetings with employers to find the right job match.
Build relationships with partners to expand the IPS service into Primary Care.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over 500m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Details
Date posted
15 September 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 6
Salary
44,485 to 52,521 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS (Outer)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
222-HOU-082
Job locations
Lakeside MHU (West Mid)
Twickenham Road
London
TW7 6AF
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed. Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Higher education qualification in a related subject (eg career guidance, information, advice & guidance, human resources, psychology, counselling, social work etc) or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Training in IPS Model
• Mental Health First Aid

Experience
Essential

• Relevant experience of working in supported employment services
• Relevant experience of working with people with mental health problems of a similar service user groups within health, social services of the voluntary sector
• Experience of partnership working, negotiation and liaison work with other agencies
• Experience of staff supervision and coaching
• Experience of opening up job opportunities with a range of employers

Desirable

• Experience of delivering training
• Experience of working within an Employment Service using the IPS model
• Experience of line management

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of the welfare benefits system
• Knowledge of IPS principles and approach
• Knowledge of disability issues, policies and legislation in relation to employment
• Good understanding of the principles and practice of supported employment
• Able to use IT and tools such as MS Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Teams

Desirable

• Knowledge of employment law
• Knowledge of treatment and care for Serious Mental Illness in the UK
• Knowledge of project management techniques to managing competing demands and priorities

Skills
Essential

• Able to role model excellent practice and standards and motivate the team to achieve performance targets
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, tailored to a variety of audiences
• Excellent coaching and active listening skills, ability to ask perceptive questions and to support team members to build their skills
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to build strong working relationships and partnerships with a range of people and organisations
• Ability to build close, trusting and productive relationships with people
• Creative problem solving to tackle obstacles that arise and fulfil requirements of the role in innovative ways to deliver greater impact

Desirable

• Effectively delegate appropriate tasks
• Manage change effectively and facilitate innovation

Other
Essential

• Flexibility to travel within the region and to working out of normal office hours on occasion
• Passion and drive to make a positive difference to people's lives
• Belief that people with mental illness can gain and sustain meaningful work
• Ability to self-reflect and understand own reactions and flex accordingly to any situation
• Reliably deliver excellent results and go the extra mile for service users and employers

Desirable

• Lived experience of a mental health condition

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Higher education qualification in a related subject (eg career guidance, information, advice & guidance, human resources, psychology, counselling, social work etc) or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Training in IPS Model
• Mental Health First Aid

Experience
Essential

• Relevant experience of working in supported employment services
• Relevant experience of working with people with mental health problems of a similar service user groups within health, social services of the voluntary sector
• Experience of partnership working, negotiation and liaison work with other agencies
• Experience of staff supervision and coaching
• Experience of opening up job opportunities with a range of employers

Desirable

• Experience of delivering training
• Experience of working within an Employment Service using the IPS model
• Experience of line management

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of the welfare benefits system
• Knowledge of IPS principles and approach
• Knowledge of disability issues, policies and legislation in relation to employment
• Good understanding of the principles and practice of supported employment
• Able to use IT and tools such as MS Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Teams

Desirable

• Knowledge of employment law
• Knowledge of treatment and care for Serious Mental Illness in the UK
• Knowledge of project management techniques to managing competing demands and priorities

Skills
Essential

• Able to role model excellent practice and standards and motivate the team to achieve performance targets
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, tailored to a variety of audiences
• Excellent coaching and active listening skills, ability to ask perceptive questions and to support team members to build their skills
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to build strong working relationships and partnerships with a range of people and organisations
• Ability to build close, trusting and productive relationships with people
• Creative problem solving to tackle obstacles that arise and fulfil requirements of the role in innovative ways to deliver greater impact

Desirable

• Effectively delegate appropriate tasks
• Manage change effectively and facilitate innovation

Other
Essential

• Flexibility to travel within the region and to working out of normal office hours on occasion
• Passion and drive to make a positive difference to people's lives
• Belief that people with mental illness can gain and sustain meaningful work
• Ability to self-reflect and understand own reactions and flex accordingly to any situation
• Reliably deliver excellent results and go the extra mile for service users and employers

Desirable

• Lived experience of a mental health condition

Skills Required