Job summary
Do you want to be part of a friendly & dynamic team of Employment Specialists delivering excellent employment support to our clients in Ealing, Hounslow, Hammersmith and Fulham? 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 in the community, 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. They work with clients to make a plan for returning to work and, once in work, provide ongoing support to address any issues or challenges encountered.
Main duties of the job
The role of Employment Specialist is extremely varied and rewarding. This is a community based role working across the Primary Care Network. You will be part of an IPS 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 in the community, to get the best outcomes for your clients.
We need people who are flexible, assertive and adaptable, with a positive attitude about employment for all and excellent networking and interpersonal skills. Ideally you will 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.
We have vacancies in each of our 3 Boroughs; please specify which Borough you would like to work in on your application.
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 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
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
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 and skills in Motivational Interviewing
Desirable
- 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
Other Requirement
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
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
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 and skills in Motivational Interviewing
Desirable
- 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
Other Requirement
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
