About

. IPS Employment Specialist (Carlisle & Penrith) Location: Carlisle & Penrith Working Hours: 37 Contract Type: Permanent Salary: £25,110 - £32,090 Do you understand the importance of work and the vital role it can play in the lives of those with health conditions or disabilities? Do you take pride in what you do and can you think creatively about how different organisations can work together to deliver a better service? Are you happy to talk with employers and help match people into meaningful work? If this sounds like you, then you might be ideal for our new IPS Employment Specialist. About the Role As an IPS Employment Specialist, you will support our clients to find and sustain meaningful, paid employment. Using the evidence-based Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, you will work directly with clients to understand their skills, interests and career goals, while actively building relationships with employers to create real job opportunities. This role blends coaching, advocacy, and employer engagement. You’ll work as part of a multidisciplinary team alongside health and support professionals, ensuring employment is integrated into each person’s recovery journey. You won’t just help someone get a job - you’ll support them into the workplace and stay with them as they settle in, helping remove barriers and celebrating their achievements along the way. Your work will change lives by boosting confidence, independence, financial stability, and long-term recovery. What You’ll Do Empower people to believe in their potential and pursue meaningful employment Support individuals through every stage, from job search and interview prep to workplace adjustment and ongoing success Build strong, positive relationships with local employers and advocate for inclusive hiring Work flexibly and creatively to match people with roles that align with their strengths and ambitions Promote the idea that work is a fundamental part of recovery and wellbeing To Succeed in This Role, You’ll Need: Experience talking with employers and supporting people into work Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with everyone from front-line teams to CEOs Confidence in building employer networks and promoting a positive message Negotiation skills and commercial awareness Passion, drive, empathy and belief in people’s potential Ability to stay organised and manage a varied caseload A commitment to equality, inclusion, and recovery-focused work We don’t expect you to know everything about IPS as full training and support will be provided. For full person specifications and job details, please visit this link. About Waythrough Formed in 2024 through the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship, Waythrough is now one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England. With 3,500 staff and volunteers across more than 200 services, we help people to live full, meaningful lives. Some roles may still appear under our legacy brands (Humankind, Richmond Fellowship, Aquarius) while we complete our integration — but wherever you join us, you’ll be part of one supportive team, sharing one purpose. What We Offer We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package: 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays) Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5% Life assurance (3× annual salary) Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals £500 Recommend a Friend bonus Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year Inclusion and Accessibility Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities — especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email recruitmentteam@waythrough.org.uk. How to Apply If you’re viewing this advert on an external platform such as Indeed, please click ‘Apply via Company Website’ to view the full job description and submit your application. Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band. Waythrough launched in October 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Our vision is to break down the barriers that stop people getting the support they need to live a life they value. We tackle poverty and disadvantage in communities, through mental health, drug and alcohol, housing and related support. We have almost 200 services around England – and nearly 3,500 amazing staff and volunteers who run them. Every year our services support around 125,000 people. Bringing together two big organisations is not a small task and it’ll take a while to fully integrate our systems, processes and approaches. That’s why you will notice the jobs here are still branded ‘Richmond Fellowship’ or ‘Aquarius’ (our subsidiary charity in the Midlands). Next year we’ll be fully integrating our recruitment systems but for now they are separate. Thanks for bearing with us – and don’t forget to check out the Waythrough jobs on the Humankind job site https://peoplekind.my.salesforce-sites.com/recruit/ Aquarius Aquarius is a subsidiary of Waythrough. Aquarius is a Midlands-based charity supporting individuals to overcome the harms caused by drugs, alcohol and gambling. Aquarius has always held the view that people we support could resolve their problems with support and guidance and that people have the ability to find their own solutions to their problems. Our roles across the organisation include Practitioners and Administrators as well as Team Managers. Find out more at www.aquarius.org.uk