Job summary
Do you want to be part of a friendly & dynamic team of Employment Specialists delivering excellent employment support to our clients in Hounslow? If you believe passionately that anyone with mental health difficulties can work and would like to be part of that journey, then this could be the role for you.
Individual Placement & Support is an internationally-recognised model for supporting people with Serious Mental Illness back into employment, as part of their recovery and wellbeing. As a national priority, our IPS team is currently expanding and working towards achieving high IPS fidelity. We are a friendly and dynamic team, committed to supporting each other to deliver the best outcomes for our clients. We offer a full and comprehensive induction programme and the opportunity to engage in training and development to build your skills.
Our team of Employment Specialists work with caseloads of up to 25 clients, helping them to decide what work they want to do, building their confidence to start looking for work, ensuring they have an up to date CV and providing guidance, support and coaching to enable them to find the right job. Employment Specialists also provide advice on benefits and contact potential employers.
We work in line with the Disability Confident scheme supporting us to make the most of the talents that disabled people can bring to our workplace.
We particularly encourage individuals with lived experience of mental health conditions to apply.
Main duties of the job
The role of Employment Specialist is extremely varied and rewarding. You will be part of a clinical team, ensuring the right package of support for clients and keeping detailed and accurate records. You will also be building relationships with employers and other partners, to get the best outcomes for your clients.
We need people who are assertive and adaptable, with a positive attitude about employment for all and excellent networking and interpersonal skills. You don't need to have experience in employment support, but you do need to be willing to learn new skills, with a positive and supportive attitude and a passion for working with people. You also need to be confident with IT, keeping detailed and accurate records of your client work.
For more information about the role of Employment Specialist visit www.ipsgrow.org.uk
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse providers of mental health, community and social care in the UK.
Our 3,982 staff care for people in hospital and in the community, helping them to recover and go on to lead full and productive lives. We aim to be the best organisation of our kind in the country.
We provide care and treatment for more than 800,000 people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow, delivering services in the community (at home, in GP surgeries and care homes), hospital, specialist clinics and forensic (secure) units.
We'rerated good overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Together, we're committed to promoting hope and wellbeing, working with patients, service users, carers, families and partners across the communities we serve.
We are keen to ensure that our workforce reflects the community it serves, particularly in terms of ethnicity, gender, disability, LGBTQ+ and experience of mental illness.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The IPS team is part of the Trusts Vocational Recovery Service, which provides a range of vocational support to service users as part of their recovery. As a national priority, our IPS team is currently expanding and working towards achieving high IPS fidelity. We are a friendly and dynamic team, committed to supporting each other to deliver the best outcomes for our clients. We offer a full and comprehensive induction programme and the opportunity to engage in training and development to build your skills.
Staff Benefits include:
- A full induction programme
- A supportive environment to develop skills
- Access to a comprehensive online library of training, development, and resources
- Support towards career development and promotion opportunities within the Trust
- Annual leave starting at 27 days per year plus bank holidays
- Annual leave buying and selling scheme
- Car lease scheme
- Childcare vouchers
- Discounted Gym membership
- Staff discounts
Job description
Job responsibilities
The IPS team is part of the Trusts Vocational Recovery Service, which provides a range of vocational support to service users as part of their recovery. As a national priority, our IPS team is currently expanding and working towards achieving high IPS fidelity. We are a friendly and dynamic team, committed to supporting each other to deliver the best outcomes for our clients. We offer a full and comprehensive induction programme and the opportunity to engage in training and development to build your skills.
Staff Benefits include:
- A full induction programme
- A supportive environment to develop skills
- Access to a comprehensive online library of training, development, and resources
- Support towards career development and promotion opportunities within the Trust
- Annual leave starting at 27 days per year plus bank holidays
- Annual leave buying and selling scheme
- Car lease scheme
- Childcare vouchers
- Discounted Gym membership
- Staff discounts
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Higher education qualification in a related subject (eg. career guidance, information advice and guidance, human resources, counselling, training etc.), psychology, or equivalent experience.
Desirable
- Evidence of recent and ongoing relevant further training and professional development
Experience
Essential
- Developing partnerships with other individuals or organisations
- Managing own workload
- Recording accurate data in electronic format
- Helping others to make their own decisions
- Working collaboratively within a team
Desirable
- Carrying out employment needs assessments with individuals
- Providing information, advice and guidance
- Experience of working in a mental health setting
- Experience of working within the IPS model
- Working within an employment service
- Liaising with employers to sustain employment including identifying reasonable adjustments in line with the equality act
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge about employment/health related benefits (e.g. ESA, UC, etc.)
- Employment law - basic knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 and employment rights
- Education and Training - basic knowledge of different types of courses and qualifications available in the UK
Desirable
- Recruitment - professional knowledge of effective job search including creating an effective CV, applying for jobs in a variety of ways, answering interview questions, and job searching in the local area (London)
- Knowledge and skills in Motivational Interviewing
Skills
Essential
- Computer skills - MS Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Communication skills including presenting information in a range of formats for users and stakeholders, including the creation of presentations and reports
- Building confidence in others
- Building and maintaining effective relationships
- Accuracy and attention to detail
- Ability to work under pressure and maintain concentration
- Problem solving and solution focused in approach
- Self-motivated to work autonomously and independently with confidence when required
Desirable
- Able to work flexibly to meet deadlines and prioritise greatest need
Other Requirements
Essential
- Open to continuously developing and improving practice
- Exercise initiative, flexibility, tact and self-awareness
- Willing to use peer group supervision creatively
- Be aware of own limitations and seek appropriate senior advice and leadership
- Willing and able to travel within and potentially outside the catchment area in a timely manner in the course of the working day
- Personal experience of mental health conditions
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Higher education qualification in a related subject (eg. career guidance, information advice and guidance, human resources, counselling, training etc.), psychology, or equivalent experience.
Desirable
- Evidence of recent and ongoing relevant further training and professional development
Experience
Essential
- Developing partnerships with other individuals or organisations
- Managing own workload
- Recording accurate data in electronic format
- Helping others to make their own decisions
- Working collaboratively within a team
Desirable
- Carrying out employment needs assessments with individuals
- Providing information, advice and guidance
- Experience of working in a mental health setting
- Experience of working within the IPS model
- Working within an employment service
- Liaising with employers to sustain employment including identifying reasonable adjustments in line with the equality act
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge about employment/health related benefits (e.g. ESA, UC, etc.)
- Employment law - basic knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 and employment rights
- Education and Training - basic knowledge of different types of courses and qualifications available in the UK
Desirable
- Recruitment - professional knowledge of effective job search including creating an effective CV, applying for jobs in a variety of ways, answering interview questions, and job searching in the local area (London)
- Knowledge and skills in Motivational Interviewing
Skills
Essential
- Computer skills - MS Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Communication skills including presenting information in a range of formats for users and stakeholders, including the creation of presentations and reports
- Building confidence in others
- Building and maintaining effective relationships
- Accuracy and attention to detail
- Ability to work under pressure and maintain concentration
- Problem solving and solution focused in approach
- Self-motivated to work autonomously and independently with confidence when required
Desirable
- Able to work flexibly to meet deadlines and prioritise greatest need
Other Requirements
Essential
- Open to continuously developing and improving practice
- Exercise initiative, flexibility, tact and self-awareness
- Willing to use peer group supervision creatively
- Be aware of own limitations and seek appropriate senior advice and leadership
- Willing and able to travel within and potentially outside the catchment area in a timely manner in the course of the working day
- Personal experience of mental health conditions
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.
