Suffolk Individual Placement and Support for Severe Mental Illness (IPS SMI)

Service to deliver an individual placement and support employment service for people with severe mental ill health, whether based in secondary mental health teams or primary care in Suffolk. We are looking for an employment specialist who will work in close collaboration with clinical staff in Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT) who are currently in the process of developing a Service Operating Plan on what the Trust consider patients with severe mental ill health.

They will also work with employers locally, regionally and nationally to seek employment opportunities for individuals, and with any individuals who express an interest in employment to achieve an employment outcome. IPS has been identified by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and NHS England, working in partnership with IPS Grow, as a key evidence-based intervention to tackle unemployment among people experiencing severe mental ill health.

IPS is a replicable, quality-assured supported employment model that consistently delivers significantly improved employment outcomes, alongside wider benefits to health, wellbeing and recovery, when compared with traditional vocational or training-only approaches. Providers delivering IPS must therefore demonstrate a clear commitment to IPS fidelity and quality.

This includes active participation in both internal and external quality assurance processes, ensuring delivery aligns with national IPS standards and contributes to improved outcomes for service users. The contract will commence on 1st October 2026 and expire 31st March 2030 and will have the the option to extend for up to a total additional 24 months.