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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 £13,796.24 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.

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).

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

East Kent IPS Employment Service Manager

Location: East Kent (Thanet, Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh, Canterbury, Dover, Deal, Ashford)
Hours: 21 hours per week (0.6 FTE)
Contract: Permanent
Work type: Field‑based
Reporting to: Head of Area
DBS: Enhanced Disclosure with Adults Barred List

Who we are

At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe everyone severely affected by mental illness should have a good quality of life. We listen, we work together, and we challenge inequality — always putting people at the heart of what we do.

Our Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Service helps people with mental health challenges find and sustain paid employment that matters to them. We’re now looking for a passionate and experienced IPS Employment Service Manager to lead and develop our East Kent service.

About the role

As Employment Service Manager, you’ll lead a small, dedicated team of Employment Specialists delivering high‑quality, recovery‑focused employment support across East Kent. You’ll ensure the service meets contractual requirements, achieves positive outcomes for people we support, and reflects Rethink’s values in everything it does.

Working closely with the Head of Area, you’ll provide day‑to‑day leadership, oversight of performance and quality, and strong external partnership working — all while championing innovation, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

You’ll manage four part‑time Employment Specialists and play a key role in shaping how the IPS service responds to local need.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading, supporting and developing a dispersed staff team to deliver safe, effective and person‑centred services
• Ensuring strong performance against contract targets, quality standards and reporting requirements
• Embedding safeguarding, data protection, equality and health & safety into everyday practice
• Providing regular supervision, coaching, appraisals and performance support
• Building effective relationships with commissioners, referrers, mental health services and community partners
• Managing recruitment, staff resourcing, budgets and operational processes
• Promoting service user involvement and ensuring voices of lived experience shape the service
• Identifying opportunities for service improvement, innovation and local engagement

Who we’re looking for

You’ll be a confident, values‑driven leader with experience of managing services in health, social care or a related setting. You’ll bring a collaborative approach, a commitment to recovery‑focused practice, and a genuine passion for supporting people affected by mental illness into employment.

You’ll need:

• Experience of managing and supporting staff teams, including supervision and performance management
• Knowledge of mental health, recovery approaches and best practice
• Experience of safeguarding, incident reporting and regulatory compliance
• Strong organisational, communication and partnership‑working skills
• Ability to plan, monitor and evidence outcomes and service impact
• NVQ Level 3 / QCF Diploma (or equivalent) in a health or social care related subject
• Good IT skills, including confidence using Microsoft Office

We’d love it if you also have:

• Lived experience of mental ill health or using mental health services

Why join us?

• Be part of a values‑led organisation making a real difference
• Work flexibly and autonomously with strong leadership support
• Access learning, development and career progression opportunities
• Join a caring, inclusive workplace where equity, respect and openness matter

Interested?
If you’re ready to lead a service that changes lives through meaningful employment, we’d love to hear from you.

Rethink Mental Illness is committed to creating a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from people with lived experience of mental illness.

Hours: 18 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Surbiton/London (with some Hybrid working)

About the Role

Join our Young Carers Project supporting young people through one-to-one and group work to improve wellbeing and resilience.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide targeted support
• Build relationships
• Support wellbeing
• Monitoring and outcomes
• Maintain records
• Follow safeguarding

Further information about the role can be found in the Recruitment Pack.

To apply, please complete the attached Application Form.

Closing date: Monday 15th June 2026.

Interview date: W/C 22nd June 2026.

Make a difference to Young Carers in Kingston.