Kent and Medway IPS Employment Service
Delivered in partnership with
What is Kent and Medway IPS?
The Kent and Medway IPS Service empowers individuals with mental health needs to secure paid employment. This comprehensive service provides intensive one-on-one support, a rapid job search, placement into suitable employment, and unlimited ongoing support for both the employee and employer.
International evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that the IPS model is twice as effective as conventional approaches in facilitating successful employment outcomes.
How does the service work?
At Shaw Trust, we understand that every individual’s career journey is unique. That is why we provide personalised employment support tailored to your specific needs and aspirations. Our dedicated Employment Specialists will work closely with you to understand your career goals, skills, and preferences, and develop an individual plan to help you achieve your desired employment outcomes.
Whether you are currently employed, seeking a new job, or unemployed, our comprehensive support covers all phases of your employment journey. We will work with you to identify suitable job opportunities, prepare you for interviews, and provide ongoing guidance throughout your employment journey.
In collaboration with you and your healthcare providers, we will provide comprehensive employment support tailored to enhance your mental well-being in the workplace. Our IPS service is focused on your recovery journey.
How does the service benefit you?
We offer support in person and can offer remote support to fit around you.
Your first few sessions of support will involve us creating a Vocational Profile with you. We will look at your employment history, job preferences as well as your strengths and skills. This will lead to a vocational action plan based on your goals so we can support you to find paid employment.
One-to-one support includes:
- Creating targeted CV’s and professional statements.
- Support to complete application forms and cover letters.
- Interview techniques and mock interview practice.
- We will design support that suits you and can approach employers on your behalf.
- Support to discuss your mental health / gaps in CV with employers.
- Benefits support and better off in work calculations, ensuring that any role fits with your financial needs.
- Support with managing personal information like sharing your mental health conditions with employers, reasonable adjustments and wellbeing action planning.
- Support with job searching and registering with jobsites or agencies.
- Support to apply for Access to Work funding or related support schemes.
- In work wellbeing support, we can also support your employer to help you.
- Signposting to other organisations to help you with other areas of your life such as debt management and housing related concerns.
Support with job searching aligned with your job aspirations
Rapid job search
Co-located with clinical teams
On going in-work support
Eligibility
• Over 18 years old
• Registered with a Kent and Medway GP
• Currently under the care of secondary mental health services or on the GP Serious Mental Health Register
• Interested in finding paid employment
You can opt out of the service at any time, if you feel it is not right for you
How to apply
To get started fill in a form and a member of our team will be in touch:
Kent and Medway IPS Service
For more information please fill in our referral form or contact:
Email: KentmedwayIPS@shaw-trust.org.uk
Additional resources:
What is Individual Placement Support (IPS)
Employment support for people with severe mental health conditions
Blog
CA’s resilience in the face of adversity
Strengthening international ties through IPS knowledge sharing
East Kent IPS team’s lend a hand at Repton Connect Community Centre Food Bank
The Kent & Medway IPS Service is funded by NHS England (NHSE) and the Kent & Medway ICB.
