Job summary
We are currently seeking to recruit 2 full time Employment Specialists to join our Merton Individual Placement Support (IPS) team. The roles will be based in our Morden and Mitcham Integrated Recovery Hubs (IRH) .
The Morden Integrated Recovery Hubs is a community-based service for working-age adults between 18 to 70 years, who have experienced severe and enduring mental illness. The service works collaboratively with clients, their carers and networks with the aim of minimising the impact of mental disorder has on their lives. The team is made of integrated health and social care professionals. We work in close partnership with GPs, Housing, Police and other key partners, including voluntary organisations.
Morden IRH is a stable and cohesive team built on mutual trust, collaboration, teamwork and support. This largely explains our stability and very little or no turnover. Successful applicants will work as part of a Multidisciplinary Team. Our vocational team works with a collaborate coaching style, helping each other to grow and develop which helps contribute to feeling valued and empowered, while also receiving regular professional support and supervision.
Main duties of the job
The successful postholder will work with a caseload of 20 - 25 clients and will be responsible for supporting them in finding suitable Employment or retaining an existing job.
Our IPS team are integrated into our clinical mental health service and this means that Employment Specialists work directly with multi-disciplinary clinical colleagues to support patients with mental health problems.
IPS Employment Specialists also work directly with employers to build relationships that enable us to support individuals into their desired job goals.
We are looking for candidates who understand the value of employment in a person's recovery and are able to work with a diverse caseload of individuals to support them to meet their goals.
You will be proactive and able to work collaboratively within a team and have a good understanding of the challenges that people with severe mental illness face in employment. Experience in a similar role is helpful, but more important is the attitude and motivation to make a difference in people's lives and recovery.
Agile and flexible working:
As one of the few Trusts in London we are proud to offer flexible and agile working as part of our new ways of working, and we are happy to talk flexible working at the interview stage. In this role you will be able to work Monday to Friday in the time frames from 9am to 5pm giving you the very best of good work life balance.
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 as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.
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 25 service users at any one time who are currently off work / unemployed and who wish to return to work
- To be gain referrals from primary care services, being responsible for those service users who want to return to employment.
- To meet regularly with primary care staff to co-ordinate and integrate employment support into health treatment.
- To prepare individuals for a return to work through assessing each persons individual employment needs through vocational profiling/assessment.
- To provide individualised, support to individuals once they have returned to work to assist them in sustaining employment.
- To proactively engage and work with employers to retain employment opportunities for people who have experienced mental health problems.
- 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 ensurejob retention.
- 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 tosustain engagement.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To manage a caseload of a maximum of 25 service users at any one time who are currently off work / unemployed and who wish to return to work
- To be gain referrals from primary care services, being responsible for those service users who want to return to employment.
- To meet regularly with primary care staff to co-ordinate and integrate employment support into health treatment.
- To prepare individuals for a return to work through assessing each persons individual employment needs through vocational profiling/assessment.
- To provide individualised, support to individuals once they have returned to work to assist them in sustaining employment.
- To proactively engage and work with employers to retain employment opportunities for people who have experienced mental health problems.
- 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 ensurejob retention.
- 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 tosustain engagement.
Person Specification
TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people who have experienced mental health problems within health, social services, the voluntary sector or mainstream educational services
- Experience of successfully helping people to obtain or keep education/work
Desirable
- Experience and interpretation of welfare benefits; specifically disability, health and employment related benefits
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
Essential
- Knowledge of welfare benefits and disability/employment related benefits
- Knowledge of disability and special needs issues in relation to employment/ education
- An understanding of the issues of user involvement in mental health services
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- A good understanding of the principles and practice of supported employment
Desirable
- Report writing skills
- An understanding of the principles and practice of supported employment
- Knowledge of government and local funding opportunities regarding learning and employment opportunities
Person Specification
TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people who have experienced mental health problems within health, social services, the voluntary sector or mainstream educational services
- Experience of successfully helping people to obtain or keep education/work
Desirable
- Experience and interpretation of welfare benefits; specifically disability, health and employment related benefits
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
Essential
- Knowledge of welfare benefits and disability/employment related benefits
- Knowledge of disability and special needs issues in relation to employment/ education
- An understanding of the issues of user involvement in mental health services
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- A good understanding of the principles and practice of supported employment
Desirable
- Report writing skills
- An understanding of the principles and practice of supported employment
- Knowledge of government and local funding opportunities regarding learning and employment opportunities
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).
