Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic team who have recently been awarded a national Quality Kite Mark. We are seeking three employment specialists to join the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Team in Oxfordshire.
We welcome people from a range of backgrounds and with a variety of experience . If you're resilient, empathic and determined to open doors, challenge prejudice, and champion the skills and talents of individuals, a career in IPS could be for you.
These roles are for those who are passionate and proactive about supporting people who have experienced mental health challenges to live well in the community.
Main duties of the job
You will be working to support people either to gain employment or retain their current employment as part of multi-disciplinary (MDT)team's within areas across Oxfordshire.
This would be the Early Intervention Team and Psychosis Team
You will be required to manage a caseload of up to 10 people at any one time who have experienced mental health problems and who are waiting to either gain new employment or retain their current employment. The Employment Specialist is expected to deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach - for which training will be given.
Working directly with all relevant stakeholders: the service user, Oxford Health staff, partner agencies ,employers and people who have experienced mental health challenges themselves - you will support the service users on your caseload to gain and retain paid employment.
The role of an Employment Specialist in Oxford Health is incredibly dynamic and diverse. One moment you'll be working closely with IPS clients to set goals, refining their CVs, or practising interview techniques, the next, you'll be out in the local community approaching potential employers and discussing roles and job flexibility.
About us
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.
Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible
Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive:"Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"
Our values are:"Caring, safe and excellent"
At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:
- Excellent opportunities for career progression
- Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply)
- Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
Job description
Job responsibilities
If you are passionate, creative, solution focused, good at building hopeful relationships and growing trust, a career in IPS could be a varied and rewarding role for you.
You will work with the IPS team leaders and other IPS Employment specialists to assist in the development of the wider service across the county.
- To manage a caseload of up to 10 service users at any one time who are currently off work / unemployed, receiving mental health support and who wish to return to employment
- To provide Job Retention support to those service users currently under services who are at risk of losing their job through supporting with meetings and responses to Managers, Occupational Health Departments, HR departments
- Meet and exceed job outcome targets for service users
- Build relationships with clinical teams and take responsibility to regularly attend the weekly multi-disciplinary meetings (MDT) in order to discuss new referrals/ create new referrals and feedback progress of clients to the wider MDT Team.
- To attend Outpatient appointments with IPS clients to discuss and feedback their progress Attend to discuss how the IPS employment support can support clients back in to work.
- Build a multi-disciplinary approach to the return to work. For example, involve clinical staff (where relevant) in managing symptoms at work, medication reviews and supporting rehabilitation needs
- To prepare individuals for a return to work by supporting service users to understand their skills, aspirations and goals through vocational profiling and action planning.
- Focus on rapid job search with the service user, whilst utilising local support networks to help them overcome their barriers to employment.
- Source job opportunities for service users through tailored job search and regular contact with employers.
- Spend time getting to know local employers, in order to negotiate job opportunities that meet each individuals strengths, needs, abilities and preferences.
- When placing service users with employers, ensure that the quality of work environments is explored, including potential for workplace adjustments that will accommodate individual strengths, skills symptoms and coping skills.
- To develop effective working relationships with a range of external agencies who might be better able to help individuals to achieve their employment goals for example, local colleges, training providers and external supported employment services
- To be responsible for the organisation of and facilitation of courses/ workshops for the recovery college focusing on employment service and information topics including topics such as preparing and returning to work
- To work with and have knowledge of benefit system to be able to signpost and develop collaborative working relationships with organisations that provide benefit advice including DWP and CAB
- To provide education and support to employers, as agreed with the individual, which may include negotiating adjustments, return to work strategy and on-going contact with the employer to ensure job retention.
- To provide individualized support to service users once they have returned to work to assist them in sustaining employment.
- To maintain a professional relationship with the service users of the programme and with key internal and external stakeholders, with particular attention to confidentiality and the maintenance of boundaries.
- To adhere to administrative and data capture protocols which record the progress of individuals, and to keep accurate and complete records of casework.
- Ensure that effective monitoring and evaluation systems are adhered to and keep abreast of changing practice within vocational rehabilitation
- To undertake mandatory training as required including training in the IPS approach
- To actively participate in own continuous professional development
- To ensure that all relevant policies are implemented such as information governance, safeguarding etc.
- To regularly collect and promote service user employment recovery stories.
Job description
Job responsibilities
If you are passionate, creative, solution focused, good at building hopeful relationships and growing trust, a career in IPS could be a varied and rewarding role for you.
You will work with the IPS team leaders and other IPS Employment specialists to assist in the development of the wider service across the county.
- To manage a caseload of up to 10 service users at any one time who are currently off work / unemployed, receiving mental health support and who wish to return to employment
- To provide Job Retention support to those service users currently under services who are at risk of losing their job through supporting with meetings and responses to Managers, Occupational Health Departments, HR departments
- Meet and exceed job outcome targets for service users
- Build relationships with clinical teams and take responsibility to regularly attend the weekly multi-disciplinary meetings (MDT) in order to discuss new referrals/ create new referrals and feedback progress of clients to the wider MDT Team.
- To attend Outpatient appointments with IPS clients to discuss and feedback their progress Attend to discuss how the IPS employment support can support clients back in to work.
- Build a multi-disciplinary approach to the return to work. For example, involve clinical staff (where relevant) in managing symptoms at work, medication reviews and supporting rehabilitation needs
- To prepare individuals for a return to work by supporting service users to understand their skills, aspirations and goals through vocational profiling and action planning.
- Focus on rapid job search with the service user, whilst utilising local support networks to help them overcome their barriers to employment.
- Source job opportunities for service users through tailored job search and regular contact with employers.
- Spend time getting to know local employers, in order to negotiate job opportunities that meet each individuals strengths, needs, abilities and preferences.
- When placing service users with employers, ensure that the quality of work environments is explored, including potential for workplace adjustments that will accommodate individual strengths, skills symptoms and coping skills.
- To develop effective working relationships with a range of external agencies who might be better able to help individuals to achieve their employment goals for example, local colleges, training providers and external supported employment services
- To be responsible for the organisation of and facilitation of courses/ workshops for the recovery college focusing on employment service and information topics including topics such as preparing and returning to work
- To work with and have knowledge of benefit system to be able to signpost and develop collaborative working relationships with organisations that provide benefit advice including DWP and CAB
- To provide education and support to employers, as agreed with the individual, which may include negotiating adjustments, return to work strategy and on-going contact with the employer to ensure job retention.
- To provide individualized support to service users once they have returned to work to assist them in sustaining employment.
- To maintain a professional relationship with the service users of the programme and with key internal and external stakeholders, with particular attention to confidentiality and the maintenance of boundaries.
- To adhere to administrative and data capture protocols which record the progress of individuals, and to keep accurate and complete records of casework.
- Ensure that effective monitoring and evaluation systems are adhered to and keep abreast of changing practice within vocational rehabilitation
- To undertake mandatory training as required including training in the IPS approach
- To actively participate in own continuous professional development
- To ensure that all relevant policies are implemented such as information governance, safeguarding etc.
- To regularly collect and promote service user employment recovery stories.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Degree level or equivalent (vocational experience/training/ or other qualifications
Qualifications
Essential
- Hold a Full Driving license and have access to a car or alternative travel
Knowledge
Essential
- Good understanding of the principles and practice of supported employment
Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working with people with mental health problems or a similar service user group
Desirable
- Experience of partnership working negotiation and liaison work with other agencies
Qualifications
Essential
- Able to use IT and tools such as MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of disability and special needs issues, policies, and legislation in relation to employment
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Degree level or equivalent (vocational experience/training/ or other qualifications
Qualifications
Essential
- Hold a Full Driving license and have access to a car or alternative travel
Knowledge
Essential
- Good understanding of the principles and practice of supported employment
Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working with people with mental health problems or a similar service user group
Desirable
- Experience of partnership working negotiation and liaison work with other agencies
Qualifications
Essential
- Able to use IT and tools such as MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of disability and special needs issues, policies, and legislation in relation to employment
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.
