Job summary
A new and exciting opportunity has arisen within South West London and St Georges Mental Health Trust, the pioneers of the Individual Placement and Support Model of Vocational Rehabilitation in the UK.
We are looking for an Employment Specialist to join our well established EIS team in Wandsworth. You will have the opportunity to proactively manage a caseload of people who have experienced mental health problems who are unemployed and / or currently off work and who wish to return to work or fulfill their educational goals. This role enables you to deliver the Individual Placement and Support approach - evidence based model of vocational rehabilitation for people with mental health problems.
Main duties of the job
Working directly with all relevant stakeholders including the service user and EIS staff, GPs, Employers, Human Resources, Educational and Occupational Health services to enable people experiencing mental health issues to gain, retain and sustain employment, education and training. You will also work with a close and supportive vocational team sharing experiences, challenges and achievements with regular peer support and supervision, while having an active role in the development and evolution of our successful vocational rehabilitation service.
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To manage a caseload of a maximum of 20 service users at any one time who are currently off work / unemployed and who wish to return to work or fulfil their educational goals.
- To be integrated with the Wandsworth Early Intervention Team, being responsible for those service users who want to return to employment or fulfil their educational goals.
- To meet regularly with clinical staff to co-ordinate and integrate employment support into health treatment and care plans.
- To support care co-ordinators to discuss employment being a realistic goal with service users at the assessment stage, at care plan reviews etc.
- To prepare individuals for a return to work through assessing each persons individual employment needs through vocational profiling/assessment.
- To proactively undertake job development with employers based on the service users preferences to secure employment opportunities for service users.
- To proactively engage and work with employers to retain employment opportunities for service users.
- To provide education and support to employers, as agreed with the individual, which may include negotiating reasonable adjustments, return to work strategy and on-going contact with the employer to ensure job retention.
- To provide individualised, support to individuals once they have returned to work / education to assist them in sustaining employment.
- To provide outreach services as necessary to individuals when they appear to disengage from the service. Maintain some contact with individuals even without a vocational focus if necessary to sustain engagement.
- To assess individuals support needs related to work which might typically include help with benefits, travel to work, graded return to work etc.
- To develop good working relationships with other organisations that are better able to help individuals to achieve their employment goals for example, Jobcentre Plus providers (Work and Health Programme, Access to Work) , local colleges and training providers.
- To deliver individual employment outcomes in line with service outcomes as set by commissioners in line with Trust key performance indicators.
- To engage in both managerial and professional supervision.
- To work flexibly as required by the individual and the employer which may require some working out of normal office hours.
- To maintain a professional relationship with the service users of the programme and with other staff, with particular attention to confidentiality and the maintenance of boundaries.
- To support administrative systems which record the progress of individuals and keep accurate and complete records of casework with them.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To manage a caseload of a maximum of 20 service users at any one time who are currently off work / unemployed and who wish to return to work or fulfil their educational goals.
- To be integrated with the Wandsworth Early Intervention Team, being responsible for those service users who want to return to employment or fulfil their educational goals.
- To meet regularly with clinical staff to co-ordinate and integrate employment support into health treatment and care plans.
- To support care co-ordinators to discuss employment being a realistic goal with service users at the assessment stage, at care plan reviews etc.
- To prepare individuals for a return to work through assessing each persons individual employment needs through vocational profiling/assessment.
- To proactively undertake job development with employers based on the service users preferences to secure employment opportunities for service users.
- To proactively engage and work with employers to retain employment opportunities for service users.
- To provide education and support to employers, as agreed with the individual, which may include negotiating reasonable adjustments, return to work strategy and on-going contact with the employer to ensure job retention.
- To provide individualised, support to individuals once they have returned to work / education to assist them in sustaining employment.
- To provide outreach services as necessary to individuals when they appear to disengage from the service. Maintain some contact with individuals even without a vocational focus if necessary to sustain engagement.
- To assess individuals support needs related to work which might typically include help with benefits, travel to work, graded return to work etc.
- To develop good working relationships with other organisations that are better able to help individuals to achieve their employment goals for example, Jobcentre Plus providers (Work and Health Programme, Access to Work) , local colleges and training providers.
- To deliver individual employment outcomes in line with service outcomes as set by commissioners in line with Trust key performance indicators.
- To engage in both managerial and professional supervision.
- To work flexibly as required by the individual and the employer which may require some working out of normal office hours.
- To maintain a professional relationship with the service users of the programme and with other staff, with particular attention to confidentiality and the maintenance of boundaries.
- To support administrative systems which record the progress of individuals and keep accurate and complete records of casework with them.
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
Desirable
- Trained in the IPS approach
- Full & current drivers license
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with and supporting people who have experienced mental health problems (or other unemployed disadvantaged groups) into and in employment within health, social services or the voluntary sector
- Experience of successfully helping people to obtain or keep education/work
Desirable
- Experience of partnership working, negotiation and liaison work with other agencies
- Experience of working with young adults
- Experience of job development
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
Essential
- Knowledge of interpretation of welfare benefits and disability/employment related benefits
- Knowledge of the Equality Act
- Knowledge of disability and special needs issues in relation to employment/ education
- An understanding of the issues of user involvement in mental health services
- Ability to work to service outcomes and set targets
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- An ability to negotiate diplomatically and effectively with staff at all levels and users of mental health services
Desirable
- Report writing skills
- Knowledge of government and local funding opportunities regarding learning and employment opportunities
- Knowledge of Employment law
- Good numeracy, financial and information management skills
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
Desirable
- Trained in the IPS approach
- Full & current drivers license
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with and supporting people who have experienced mental health problems (or other unemployed disadvantaged groups) into and in employment within health, social services or the voluntary sector
- Experience of successfully helping people to obtain or keep education/work
Desirable
- Experience of partnership working, negotiation and liaison work with other agencies
- Experience of working with young adults
- Experience of job development
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
Essential
- Knowledge of interpretation of welfare benefits and disability/employment related benefits
- Knowledge of the Equality Act
- Knowledge of disability and special needs issues in relation to employment/ education
- An understanding of the issues of user involvement in mental health services
- Ability to work to service outcomes and set targets
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- An ability to negotiate diplomatically and effectively with staff at all levels and users of mental health services
Desirable
- Report writing skills
- Knowledge of government and local funding opportunities regarding learning and employment opportunities
- Knowledge of Employment law
- Good numeracy, financial and information management skills
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).
