Mental Health Retention Employment Specialist
Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
The Department of Health's strategy for mental health includes the drive to ensure that those with mental health conditions have access to recovery focused interventions, including support to gain meaningful, paid employment and to maintain this.
An opportunity has arisen to work within LPFT's Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Team as a Mental Health Retention Employment Specialist, working with service users in the Adult Community Division to help them with their employment goals. This is a full time post, covering the South of the County.
The post holders will provide Individual Placement and Support to a caseload of service users mainly in defined localities within Lincolnshire but cover for other geographical areas covered by the Trust may be required if the need arises.
Main duties of the job
This post requires both enthusiasm and a commitment towards supporting people with mental health conditions to retain and access paid employment. This includes working collaboratively with a wide range of employers and relevant agencies and partners from the statutory, voluntary and business sectors, internal and external to the Trust.
An understanding of the benefits of employment as part of the recovery process and a positive attitude to enabling service users to overcome barriers within employment are essential. The post will involve working in the community and requires the ability to work autonomously, working closely with teams across the Trust's Adult Community Division in Lincolnshire.
You will be educated to degree level or hold equivalent experience in the field of supported employment, have knowledge of the national employment and welfare benefits agenda; and have skills and recent experience of working with people with mental health conditions. LPFT holds a "Good Fidelity" status with IPS Grow; you must be willing to undertake training in the model of IPS, the evidence-based intervention used by the service.
Job responsibilities
1. Support and advocate on behalf of secondary care mental health service users who are at risk of losing their job due to mental illness.
2. Provide advice and ongoing support on issues including employment rights, reasonable adjustments, and phased return to work plans.
3. Support service users to identify and meet their vocational goals by providing individually tailored programs using a person-centered approach.
4. Complete initial assessments of service users' vocational needs, working collaboratively with service users to complete a Vocational Profile.
5. Engage with employers and employment providers to seek out employment opportunities for service users.
6. Ensure effective communication with CMHT colleagues and relevant organisations internal and external to the Trust.
7. Make regular written and verbal reports concerning the progress of service users and maintain written and electronic records as per Trust policy.
8. Attend and actively contribute to team meetings and peer supervision.
9. Ensure compliance with the policies, procedures and working practices of Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
10. Participate in the provision of an extended hours service if required.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in the field of supported employment.
* NVQ Level 3/equivalent relevant training to diploma level and/or experience relevant to the duties of the post.
* IPS training.
* Motivational interviewing training.
Experience
* Experience of initiating, liaising and collaborating with a wide range of individuals and organisations promoting and developing employment, education and training opportunities on behalf of service users.
* Experience of actively engaging with employers and employment providers to seek out employment opportunities.
* Knowledge of good practice in employment legislation protecting disability equality.
* Recent experience of working with service users to help them meet their employment-related goals.
Skills
* Enthusiasm and commitment towards supporting people with mental health problems find paid employment.
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
* Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
* Thorough understanding of mental health issues.
Special requirements
* Ability to travel independently to other bases and Service User homes.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
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