Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
A new and exciting opportunity has arisen for a permanent, full time Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Advisor covering the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale locality.
The IPS employment model is internationally recognised as the most effective way to support people with mental health problems to gain and keep paid employment. It is based on over 20 years of research.
IPS stands for "Individual Placement and Support". It is an evidence-based approach to helping people with mental health conditions find and keep a paid job.
Having a job can bring numerous benefits to people; routine, structure, identity, social opportunities, a purpose, as well as a wage or salary. We know having a job can help people with mental health conditions to recover.
At present, only around 4% of people receiving support from secondary mental health services are in paid employment, while studies suggest almost 90% of people with serious and enduring mental health conditions want to work. The IPS Employment Team aims to provide the right support to help this happen.
IPS is being introduced into youth provision and this role will also provide support to 14/19yr old patients engaged in the ARMS (At Risk Mental State) pathway as part of an IPSY (IPS Youth) model.
Main duties of the job
This role is part of a wider employment support service, working closely with people with moderate to severe common mental health problems and their clinicians. The post holder will support service users to gain or return to competitive (paid) employment following the Individual Placement and Support process, aiming for fidelity to this delivery model. The role will involve working directly with Jobcentre Plus, employers, trade unions and employment agencies to secure paid employment opportunities, including supporting them and their employers to retain these opportunities for up to one year once gained.
In addition to the core IPS model of supported employment, this role will be expanded to incorporate the IPS Youth (IPSY) model which will provide access to 14/19yr old patients engaged with the EIP ARMS pathway, supporting these individuals to engage/reengage with education, employment and training.
To work closely with EIP staff.
To be co-located within the relevant EIP team.
To promote at all times a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.
To promote at all times a positive image of TEWV employment services and the wider Trust.
Job responsibilities
The IPS worker will be working with people who have a mental illness and support them into competitive employment and then enabling them to retain that employment. As an IPS worker you will be looking for paid employment opportunities for clients who are currently involved with secondary care adult mental health services. This will involve developing opportunities with local employers and supporting them as well as the client, to ensure the right person is in the right job.
In addition to the core IPS model of supported employment, this role will be expanded to incorporate the IPS Youth (IPSY) model which will provide access to 14/19yr old patients engaged with the EIP ARMS pathway, supporting these individuals to engage/reengage with education, employment and training which will include liaising with schools, colleges, local authorities, education establishments, training and employment providers.
You will support clients with job searching, completing CVs and application forms and interview preparation. Working with our clients, you will liaise and signpost to a range of employment and training programmes within the local area, to include Job Centre Plus.
Developing your knowledge and networks of employment related support services and inclusive employers within the local area is essential to this role. Employment opportunities would include those within TEWV itself.
The successful applicants will establish ongoing monitoring and support systems for clients once employment is secured. This will include review of employment gained to ensure that this is meeting both clients and employers needs. This will include offering support to employers and clients with any problems that may arise and promoting disability awareness among employers to ensure a positive integration of our clients into the workforce.
The successful candidate will be dynamic and highly motivated, with excellent communication skills to enable you to work/engage effectively with a wide range of agencies and employers, clients and sometimes their families. Innovation, determination and ability to influence assertively are key to the success of this role.
You will apply consistently high standards, have knowledge of relevant legislation and be willing to attend training as required. The successful candidate needs to demonstrate a strong commitment to employment and social inclusion.
IPS supervision and clinical support from community mental health team members will be offered on a regular basis with ongoing training and development opportunities relevant to the post.
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* A degree in a relevant area or equivalent experience in employment advice or mental health.
* To demonstrate knowledge and or experience to degree level or equivalent.
Experience
* Experience of supporting people into vocational/employment activities.
* Understanding of the employment needs barriers and difficulties faced by people with MH conditions.
* Experience of working in a service where agreed targets are in place, demonstrating specific outcomes.
* Experience of assessing, planning and facilitating activities that focus on vocational skills.
* Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team.
* Experience of IPS delivery.
* Experience and knowledge of the benefits agency and all disability/employment related benefits.
* Indirect or direct experience of mental health issues/learning disability.
Knowledge
* An understanding of the principles and practice of the Individual Placement and Support Model.
* A working knowledge of a broad range of jobs/occupations.
* A good understanding of return to work planning.
* Awareness of the secondary effects on the individual that could be caused by their mental health experience.
* Awareness that many individuals with mental health conditions may also have primary or secondary health conditions and disabilities.
* The knowledge to understand the work implications of these conditions, confidence, fear of failure etc.
* Knowledge of employment and disability related benefits.
* The EA must be aware of and guided by the Job Centre Plus Employment, Health Condition and Disability guide notes.
* Awareness of the needs of people with MH conditions. The issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on MH.
* Working knowledge of community resources.
* Knowledge of employment law and the Equality Act 2010.
* Knowledge of evidence based interventions to support people with common MH problems remain in, return to & gain work.
Skills
* Effective written and oral communication skills.
* Good negotiation skills and a persuasive style.
* Organisational and time management skills.
* Ability to prioritise and plan own caseload.
* Ability to provide vocational assessments and profiling, or willingness to gain this ability in a specific timeframe.
* Ability to assess individual strengths in relation to employment.
* Ability to adapt activities to be appropriate for the needs of an individual client.
* Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets.
* Excellent interpersonal skills- including the ability to develop relationships with clients, carers, staff, employers and other agencies being astute in relation to the needs of all.
* Ability to collect and report data to support service performance and evaluation.
* Ability to negotiate with employers on behalf of service users.
* Ability to be flexible, open and creative in problem solving.
* Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr