The opportunity to change minds. The power to change lives.
For people who need mental health support, getting back into work is a vital step on their recovery journey. Following an increase in funding, we are seeking to recruit new Employment Specialists.
You'll play a vital role in helping people with mental health support needs on their recovery journey. This is an opportunity to offer hands-on support, to give people the tools they need to recover and ultimately, to transform lives.
You will support clients currently accessing The Bromsgrove Neighbourhood MH Service to both gain and retain paid employment. Working within the principles of IPS, you will have autonomy to manage your own caseload of clients, working proactively with clinical colleagues, local employers, and other partners to better the lives of others through sustainable employment. The role is diverse, offering a range of duties from the early stages of engagement with clients to the point of support needs being fulfilled, with everything in-between. The role will require a combination of empathy, resilience, and compassion to aid people in achieving their potential, seek opportunities whilst removing barriers and preconceptions.
You will have an interest in working within the employment support sector and knowledge of employment rights and job retention would be an advantage. Ideally, applicants will have experience in an employment and/or a mental health setting.
Main duties of the job
1. Proactively manage a caseload of people who have experienced mental health problems to become established in the workplace.
2. Assess and record clients' identified vocational needs and liaise with clinicians in the team if necessary. Agree and produce person-centred action plans and support clients to achieve their goals.
3. Assist with activities such as producing a CV, interview techniques, confidence building, and any other identified actions.
4. Assist clients in gaining employment through job search skills as well as maintaining regular contact with local employers to build lasting and meaningful relationships, identifying and creating suitable positions such as hidden vacancies for clients.
5. Liaise closely with DWP and providers where appropriate.
6. Support clients who have secured employment or have experienced difficulties in the workplace to retain and sustain their employment status through the awareness and development of tools such as benefits advice, work adjustments, and support plans.
7. Enhance job sustainment through education, advice, and guidance to employers on support needs and negotiating reasonable adjustments and considerations.
8. Attend weekly team meetings both as part of the clinical team and the employment services provision.
About us
At Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, we are working together to deliver outstanding care. We run community hospitals and community health services across Worcestershire and provide mental health and learning disability services across both Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Our people (all 4500+ of them) provide services for people of all ages, experiencing both physical and/or mental health conditions from over 100 sites.
We will support you to thrive, offer flexible working options for a great work-life balance, help you fulfil your ambitions, and empower you to make positive changes within your team or service. It's why we were named Large Apprenticeship Employer of the Year at the 2022 Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards. We value diversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities.
What we offer
* 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service.
* Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when you work unsocial hours.
* Flexible and agile working opportunities.
* Great maternity, paternity, and adoption support.
* Wide range of staff networks such as LGBT+ and ENRICH (Equality Network for Race Inclusion and Cultural Heritage).
* Health service discounts and online benefits including excellent cycle to work and car salary sacrifice schemes.
* Health and wellbeing opportunities.
If you would like to know more, please visit our careers website.
Job description
Job responsibilities
We welcome people from a range of backgrounds and with all kinds of life experience, and actively encourage those who have lived experience of mental illness. To be successful in this role we would like you to have:
* One-to-one employment support, helping people to obtain or keep education/work.
* Employment support experience.
* Knowledge of IPS.
* An understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems.
* Experience of working with people on a one-to-one basis, offering motivation and support.
* Knowledge of a range of resources for helping people maintain employment when facing ill health difficulties.
* The ability to build good relationships with a range of different people, from employers to clients.
* The ability to manage multiple tasks at once.
* Skills in vocational assessment and assessing ill health obstacles to returning to work and working with employees to overcome these.
* Ability to work independently, reliably, and consistently.
* Excellent administrative and organisational skills.
* Data collection experience.
* A passion for making a difference in people's lives.
* An ability to meet the travel requirements of the role.
* A preparedness to work flexible hours through prior arrangement as the needs of the job dictate (e.g. some evenings).
For full detail of the duties and criteria for the role please refer to the job description and person specification attached.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
* Working knowledge of a broad range of occupations and jobs.
* An understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental ill-health.
* Understanding of the Equality Act (2010) in relation to employment.
* Ability to work independently, reliably, and consistently.
Desirable
* Report writing skills.
* Solution-focused therapy skills.
* An understanding of the principle and practice of supported employment.
* Disability and special needs issues in relation to employment and education.
Skills and Abilities
Essential
* Skills in vocational assessment and assessing ill health obstacles to returning to work and working with employees to overcome these.
* Partnership working to reach positive outcomes for clients.
* IT skills including Microsoft programmes.
* Ability to initiate and develop relationships with employers whilst being astute to their needs.
Experience
Essential
* Minimum of 1 year’s experience of working with people who have experienced mental health problems with health, social services, voluntary sector, or mainstream educational or employment services.
* An understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems.
* Experience of supporting clients on a one-to-one basis.
Desirable
* Experience and knowledge of welfare benefits and all disability/employment-related benefits.
* Personal experience of mental health recovery.
* Experience of carrying out person-centred recovery plans.
Qualifications
Essential
* Educated or relevant work experience to a degree level.
* GCSE (Grade A-C) or equivalent in English Language.
* Willingness to train in IPS.
* I understand that I will be asked to provide original certificates to verify my qualifications at the point of offer.
Desirable
* Employment Law and welfare benefits training.
* Mediation training.
Additional Criteria
Essential
* A preparedness to work flexible hours through prior arrangement as the needs of the job dictate (e.g. some evenings).
* Able to meet the travel requirements of the role, including rural areas and sites not accessible by public transport.
Employer details
Employer name
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust
Address
Newbrook, Princess of Wales Community Hospital
Stourbridge Road
Bromsgrove
Worcestershire
B61 0BB
Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.
C9798-0825
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