Job summary
Are you looking for an opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of people with Mental Health challenges & believe you have the skills to support people into employment?
If so, this role may be just what you're looking for!
For people with Mental Health challenges getting into paid work is a vital step in their recovery. Evidence shows that working leads to improved Mental Health, so we are looking for people to join our Individual Placement & Support in Primary Care Service (IPSPC) as Employment Specialists.
This rewarding role will transform lives, giving hope, direction, & support in participant recovery. This role is challenging, so you'll need to be resilient, empathetic, & dedicated to finding participants the work they want. As a people person, you will build rapport & relationships with participants & employers to identify & negotiate hidden job opportunities. As this is currently a fixed-term project, we are looking for people who will show this service to be the invaluable resource that we believe it will be, providing accurate data to evidence that this service should become a part of statutory mental health services.
We welcome people from a range of backgrounds & experiences, particularly those who have lived experience of Mental Health services. We will train you on the IPSPC approach, providing you with all the tools and training you need.
You will be a key part of the service, helping us to develop & shape it to suit the needs of the population.
Main duties of the job
THIS POST IS FIXED TERM FOR 2 YEARS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE.
The post holder will provide opportunities to develop wider support to people who have experienced mental health conditions and wish to engage in vocational activity. This includes the provision of initial assessment, vocational profiling and on-going support to people who have experienced mental health conditions to gain and retain employment. Close liaison with employers and relevant agencies will be required including Job Centre Plus, Work Programme Providers, local education establishments, training providers, voluntary sector groups, User Groups and clinical teams throughout the Mental Health Service.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.
About us
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 15,000 staff, providing over 100 specialist services. Working across 6 hospital sites, we have a diverse range of career opportunities to offer. Serving around 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst working with our partners to develop regional services.
Our mission is "Caring for People, Keeping People Well", and our vision is that every person's chance of leading a healthy life should be equal. As an organisation we are unashamedly ambitious for our population's health, rising to the challenges of today and tomorrow through our 10-year strategy, Shaping our Future Wellbeing. We are contributing to a healthier Wales with great emphasis placed on innovation and improvement, learning from around the world and leading the way in clinical research. Partnership working is strong at Cardiff and Vale, and we work closely with our staff and our community.
Cardiff, the thriving Welsh capital, is a fantastic city to live and work in with an abundance of sports, arts and cultural attractions. Situated to the west of Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan offers a combination of beautiful Welsh countryside and a dramatic natural coastline. Whether city life or rural living, Cardiff and the Vale offers the best of both worlds.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Identify any potential participants who may be referred to the IPS-PC team who want to work, through close liaison with clinical and third sector teams
2. Manage a caseload of up to 25 people who have experienced mental health conditions, who are looking for employment.
3. Develop support to people to who have experienced mental health conditions and wish to engage in some form of paid work.
4. Make use of vocational profiling where appropriate to assess individual employment aspirations, strengths and support needs by conducting thorough profiles involving the clients, their family/ friends, clinical staff and others.
5. Raise the profile of the importance of employment / employment related activity with relevant agencies such as CMHTs, general practice, third sector, etc.
6. Meet regularly with Care Coordinators where relevant to ensure that vocational activity is integrated into the overall care plan, the requirements of Care and Treatment Plans and is risk assessed.
7. Attend relevant meetings including clinical meetings.
8. Provide individualised support of up to 13 sessions to individuals to secure and maintain employment/employment related activity.
9. Provide practical support with needs related to work, which may typically include help with benefits, travel, training etc.
10. Develop links in the community which will maximise access to ordinary employment / education / training resources.
11. Maintain routine and long-term contact with employers to ensure that clients are able to progress in their careers and that any problems that arise are dealt with promptly and effectively.
12. Work flexibly according to individual need, this may involve evenings and weekends.
13. Provide supervision to junior staff working in a vocational capacity.
14. To work in close collaboration with the Volunteer Services Manager in the Patient Experience Team to recruit, place and support the hospital's contracted volunteer workers.
15. Maintain professional relationships with clients and other involved parties paying particular attention to confidentiality and the maintenance of boundaries.
16. Keep informed of government policies relating to benefits, employment etc.
17. To engage in supervision, training and personal development activities consistent with the requirements of the post and individual career goals.
18. To contribute to the development of new initiatives and actively participate in team meetings and development events.
19. Support administrative systems which record the progress of individuals and maintain accurate and complete records.
20. To participate in the collection and collation of activity data to inform service delivery and evaluation.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
1. First level degree or equivalent
2. Training in the 'Individual Placement & Support' model of Supported Employment or equivalent
Desirable
3. Job Coach Training
4. Mental Health First Aid Training
5. Assist Training
Experience
Essential
6. Working with people who have experienced serious mental illnesses
7. Liaising effectively between organisations and/or individuals to ensure good communication and/or deal with conflict
8. Supporting people who have experienced serious mental illnesses into paid, open employment or employment-related activity
Desirable
9. Experience of mental health problems either personally or as a carer
10. Supervision/management of junior staff
11. Experience of supporting people to access volunteering opportunities
Skills
Essential
12. Self-management of workload and the ability to work on own initiative
13. Effective communication skills (written and verbal), Presentation skills, and Teaching skills
14. Diplomatic negotiation skills to resolve conflict and arrive at satisfactory solutions
Desirable
15. Computer literacy
Special Knowledge
Essential
16. Welfare benefits system and the welfare reform agenda especially in relation to returning to work from a financial perspective and the various supports available
17. How serious mental illnesses impact upon clients' ability to function socially and in employment
18. Systems and structures within the mental health service to ensure rapid access to services when necessary
Desirable
19. Equality Act and Health & Safety at Work Act
20. The constraints and priorities of a range of employers, their expectations of you, your service and the people you represent
Personal qualities
Essential
21. Clear motivation to enable people with serious mental illnesses to succeed in open employment