Rethink Mental Illness
Employment Specialist
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Make a real difference every day
At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe that everyone severely affected by mental illness deserves the opportunity to live a fulfilling life — and having meaningful employment can be a crucial part of that journey.
We’re looking for an IPS Employment Specialist to join our East Kent IPS Service covering Thanet, Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh, Canterbury, Dover, Deal and Ashford. You’ll work one-to-one with people who want to find or return to paid employment, helping them identify their goals, build confidence, and secure roles that align with their skills and aspirations.
This is a Part Time (21 Hours) role with a salary of £14,726.95 pro rata.
This is a rewarding, dynamic role where no two days are the same. You’ll work in the community, meet people where they are, and build strong relationships with employers and local partners to open real opportunities within the hidden labour market.
What You’ll Do
As an Employment Specialist, you will:
- Work alongside individuals to understand their employment goals and create personalised vocational plans.
- Support people to find and keep paid work that reflects their strengths, interests and ambitions.
- Build and maintain relationships with employers, identifying opportunities and advocating for reasonable adjustments where needed.
- Provide in-work support to help individuals thrive in their roles.
- Collaborate with colleagues across the IPS team and local services to ensure consistent, recovery-focused support.
- Promote the value of employment in mental health recovery across your allocated East Kent area.
- Maintain effective records, manage referrals, and contribute to the smooth running of the service.
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What You’ll Bring
We’re looking for someone who:
- Has experience supporting people into employment or helping others overcome barriers to work.
- Understands mental health challenges and has experience in social care, support services or community-based roles.
- Can build positive relationships with a wide range of people, including employers, colleagues and service users.
- Is empathetic, proactive and comfortable working independently across a dispersed geography.
- Is organised, flexible and able to respond calmly to unexpected challenges.
- Has strong awareness of risk management, safeguarding and confidentiality.
- Holds — or is working towards — a Level 3 qualification relevant to care, community mental health or social support (or equivalent experience).
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Experience delivering community projects, facilitating training, or developing workshops is desirable but not essential.
Why join us?
Joining Rethink Mental Illness means becoming part of a charity that believes in people’s potential. You’ll receive:
- Regular supervision and access to learning and development
- Supportive, values-driven colleagues
- Opportunities to shape services and empower individuals
- The chance to make a direct, life-changing impact
Ready to make a difference?
If you’re passionate about supporting people with mental health challenges to achieve their employment goals, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply today and help create a better future for people living with mental illness in East Kent.
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