Job summary
We are inviting applications for the role of Employment Specialist as part of the process of expanding our Individual Placement and Support (IPS) team in line with the Long Term Plan for Mental Health. You will provide advice, coaching and support to clients with mental health conditions who wish to pursue paid employment, which will be in line with IPS principles. Although you will not require clinical skills, you will be integrated with a multidisciplinary community mental health team, providing the employment support element of the overall care plan. You will work closely with mental health professionals, employers and other agencies to support the employment goals of service users with mental health problems. You will be working for a large NHS Trust in London which supplies healthcare to one of the most diverse populations in the UK, and which has been rated as Good by the CQC. Our IPS team are proud of providing great support for people who are looking for work, and are aiming to achieve good fidelity with IPS Grow, who rate IPS services across the UK.
Main duties of the job
As an IPS Employment Specialist you will:
Support people with long term mental illness conditions to find paid employment through ongoing support of service users and direct and proactive engagement with employers
Deliver a service that is fully in line with IPS principles
Support a small number (no more than 4) service users who are already in work but require support with their employment
Work as part of a team of employment specialists within a mental health clinical team
Ensure you are working to the IPS fidelity scale criteria at all times
Work closely with a clinical team, receiving referrals and feeding back outcomes as appropriate
Using the Patient Record System accurately and promptly to ensure accurate recording of patient data
Work in partnership with other organisations and individuals to promote the needs of service users and the Trust
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
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
- Carrying out employment needs assessments with individuals
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- Education and Training - basic knowledge of different types of courses and qualifications available in the UK
- 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
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
- Carrying out employment needs assessments with individuals
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- Education and Training - basic knowledge of different types of courses and qualifications available in the UK
- 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
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.
