Job summary
We are seeking a Senior Employment Specialist to support the Forensic community team.
You will be supporting people who have an offending history due to their mental health challenges. The post will cover Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire (including Milton Keynes ) and Berkshire.
We welcome people from a range of backgrounds and with a variety of experience. If you're resilient, empathetic, and determined to open doors, challenge prejudice, and champion the skills and talents of individuals, a career in IPS could be for you.
This post attracts RSU/Forensic lead allowance of £1446 per annum
Please note this vacancy/JD is subject to Banding/Evaluation
Main duties of the job
To work with patients of the Specialist Community Forensic Team using an Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach to seek, secure, and maintain sustainable employment in line with individual choice and aspiration.
This role is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate and proactive about building great partnerships in a community setting. The Senior Forensic Employment Specialist (SFES) will join the team working under the direction of an IPS Operational Service Manager to support a caseload of people who have experienced mental health challenges as well as having a forensic history.
The post-holder will be required to manage a caseload of up to 20 people at any one time who are waiting to either gain new employment or retain their current employment. The SFES is expected to deliver the IPS approach. Working directly with all relevant stakeholders: the service user, Oxford Health staff, partner agencies and employers. The expectation is to work with the IPS team leader's and other IPS Employment specialists to assist in the development of the wider service across multiple counties, as well as promote the cultural change associated with implementing recovery orientated services within Oxford Health.
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
- To manage a caseload of up to 20 service users at any one time who are currently off work / unemployed and receiving specialist mental health support from the community forensic team and who wish to return to work.
- To provide Job Retention support to those service users currently under who are at risk of losing their job through supporting with meetings and responses to Managers, Occupational Health Departments and HR departments.
- Meet and exceed job outcome targets for service users.
- To provide weekly 1-2-1 supervisions with the B5 ESs within your designated area as the IPS service expands
- Support the Operational Service Manager to deliver a high-fidelity service by providing monthly in-field mentoring and coaching of Band 5 employment specialist within the designated area as the IPS Service expands.
- To support the Operational Service Manager in the development of the Forensic IPS Pathway
- Build relationships with clinical teams and take responsibility to regularly attend the weekly multi-disciplinary meetings (MDT) to discuss new referrals/ create new referrals and feedback progress of clients to the wider MDT Team.
- Build a multi-disciplinary approach to the return to work. For example, involve clinical staff (where relevant) offering support in managing personal information around forensic history to employers, managing symptoms at work, medication reviews and supporting rehabilitation.
- 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.
- Liaise with employers regarding suitable placements, work experience, work trials, and employment opportunities.
- 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.
- Develop effective working relationships with a range of other agencies who might be better able to help individuals to achieve their employment goals for example, NACRO, DWP, Probation and external supported employment services.
- To be responsible for the organisation of and facilitation of courses/ workshops for the Forensic Recovery College , focusing on employment service and including topics such as preparing and returning to work
- To provide individualized in work 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 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, in order to evaluate and share best practice.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To manage a caseload of up to 20 service users at any one time who are currently off work / unemployed and receiving specialist mental health support from the community forensic team and who wish to return to work.
- To provide Job Retention support to those service users currently under who are at risk of losing their job through supporting with meetings and responses to Managers, Occupational Health Departments and HR departments.
- Meet and exceed job outcome targets for service users.
- To provide weekly 1-2-1 supervisions with the B5 ESs within your designated area as the IPS service expands
- Support the Operational Service Manager to deliver a high-fidelity service by providing monthly in-field mentoring and coaching of Band 5 employment specialist within the designated area as the IPS Service expands.
- To support the Operational Service Manager in the development of the Forensic IPS Pathway
- Build relationships with clinical teams and take responsibility to regularly attend the weekly multi-disciplinary meetings (MDT) to discuss new referrals/ create new referrals and feedback progress of clients to the wider MDT Team.
- Build a multi-disciplinary approach to the return to work. For example, involve clinical staff (where relevant) offering support in managing personal information around forensic history to employers, managing symptoms at work, medication reviews and supporting rehabilitation.
- 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.
- Liaise with employers regarding suitable placements, work experience, work trials, and employment opportunities.
- 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.
- Develop effective working relationships with a range of other agencies who might be better able to help individuals to achieve their employment goals for example, NACRO, DWP, Probation and external supported employment services.
- To be responsible for the organisation of and facilitation of courses/ workshops for the Forensic Recovery College , focusing on employment service and including topics such as preparing and returning to work
- To provide individualized in work 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 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, in order to evaluate and share best practice.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Degree level or equivalent (vocational experience/training/ or other qualifications)
- IPS Training
- Understanding of relevant policies and procedures, equalities legislation acquired through relevant training and experience.
Desirable
- NACRO training
- Mental Health First Aid qualification
- Level 2/3 - IAG Information Advice and Guidance
- Benefits Training
Knowledge Requirements
Essential
- Knowledge of disability policies and legislation in relation to employment
- An understanding of the principals and practices of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model
- Advanced use of IT and tools such as MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel
Skills/Professional competencies
Essential
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, tailored to a variety of audiences
- Excellent coaching and active listening skills.
- Able to work independently and use initiative to think quickly on the spot in different, and often challenging, situations.
- Can effectively manage time to meet deadlines while maintaining high standards.
- Maintain effective and organised administration systems
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Capability to be warm and empathetic whilst respecting professional boundaries
- Belief that people with mental illness can gain and sustain meaningful work.
- Instil hope and empower others to own their experience and choices
- Resilient and tenacious to not give up despite setbacks and frustrations
Contractual Requirements or other requirements
Essential
- Full and current driving license and access to car for use at work (for rural and remote regions)
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working with people with mental health problems or a similar client group within health, social services, or the voluntary sector.
- Experience of helping people to obtain or keep work.
- Experience of partnership working negotiation and liaison work with other agencies
- Experience and knowledge of the benefits agency and all disability/employment related benefits
Desirable
- Experience of opening up job opportunities with a range of employers
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Degree level or equivalent (vocational experience/training/ or other qualifications)
- IPS Training
- Understanding of relevant policies and procedures, equalities legislation acquired through relevant training and experience.
Desirable
- NACRO training
- Mental Health First Aid qualification
- Level 2/3 - IAG Information Advice and Guidance
- Benefits Training
Knowledge Requirements
Essential
- Knowledge of disability policies and legislation in relation to employment
- An understanding of the principals and practices of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model
- Advanced use of IT and tools such as MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel
Skills/Professional competencies
Essential
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, tailored to a variety of audiences
- Excellent coaching and active listening skills.
- Able to work independently and use initiative to think quickly on the spot in different, and often challenging, situations.
- Can effectively manage time to meet deadlines while maintaining high standards.
- Maintain effective and organised administration systems
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Capability to be warm and empathetic whilst respecting professional boundaries
- Belief that people with mental illness can gain and sustain meaningful work.
- Instil hope and empower others to own their experience and choices
- Resilient and tenacious to not give up despite setbacks and frustrations
Contractual Requirements or other requirements
Essential
- Full and current driving license and access to car for use at work (for rural and remote regions)
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working with people with mental health problems or a similar client group within health, social services, or the voluntary sector.
- Experience of helping people to obtain or keep work.
- Experience of partnership working negotiation and liaison work with other agencies
- Experience and knowledge of the benefits agency and all disability/employment related benefits
Desirable
- Experience of opening up job opportunities with a range of employers
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
