Job summary
We are seeking to recruit a Senior Employment Adviser on a fixed term contract until 31 March 2026 who will be mainly based in Merton Talking Therapies to manage and support a team of Employment Advisers who in turn offer support to individuals with common mental health problems to gain, return to or retain employment.
The post holder will be expected to retain a small caseload of clients in addition to their line management responsibilities. Part of the role will involve presenting to external and internal stakeholders, reviewing and revising the current care pathway and supporting data submissions to evidence outcomes.
Main duties of the job
o To lead, develop and manage the integrated employment support offered within the Talking Therapies service.
o To ensure that employment support is integrated with clinical treatment. Through close working with the low intensity workers develop their skills in recognising and responding to the employment related issues.
o To ensure that the employment intervention can start before the therapeutic intervention and both can proceed simultaneously.
o To establish referral mechanisms that acknowledges that early intervention is the main driver and seeks to minimise delays to employment intervention as a matter of priority. Therefore, referral pathways include IAPT staff but also GPs, self-referral and from employers for employment support
o To ensure that the management and supervision systems acknowledge early intervention as a key component of the employment support and have mechanisms for remediation
o To be responsible for the promotion of the employment support provision within the business community. The aim will be to raise awareness within the business community of the employment support provision and the implications for business effectiveness.
o The employment pathway across both IAPT services and Line management for all employment advisors
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 of benefits 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
1. To lead, develop and manage the integrated employment support offered within the service.
2. To ensure that employment support is integrated with clinical treatment. Through close working with the low intensity workers develop their skills in recognizing and responding to the employment related issues.
3. To ensure that the employment intervention can start before the therapeutic intervention and both can proceed simultaneously.
4. To establish referral mechanisms that acknowledges that early intervention is the main driver and seeks to minimise delays to employment intervention as a matter of priority. Therefore, referral pathways include Talking Therapies staff but also GPs, self-referral and from employers for employment support
5. To ensure that the management and supervision systems acknowledge early intervention as a key component of the employment support and have mechanisms for remediation
6. To be responsible for the promotion of the employment support provision within the business community. The aim will be to raise awareness within the business community of the employment support provision and the implications for business effectiveness.
7. To be responsible for the development of employer engagement. This will include developing relationships with the Local Employment Partnership and those employers who have restricted or no access to Occupational Health services and who signal concern about sickness absence related to mental health issues.
8. To be responsible for the development of partnership agreements with agencies and organisations that help people retain and gain employment including Pathways to Work providers, Jobcentre Plus and all other local employment and training agencies.
9. To establish and maintain employment data as part of the IAPTUS software but also the collection of additional data where needed (i.e. data on timing of intervention)
10. To supervise the work of the Employment Specialists ensuring that they work to evidence based practices and provides an early intervention.
11. To ensure that the Employment Specialists have the training and skills necessary to effectively carry out their jobs.
12. To provide case management advice to the Employment Specialists on more complex employment scenarios. The aim will be to ensure there is provision to meet the needs of individuals who face particularly complex employment scenarios
13. To be responsible for ordering stationery and equipment as appropriate.
14. To work flexibly as required by the individual and the employer which may require some working out of normal office hours.
15. To maintain a professional relationship with the clients of the programme and with other staff, with particular attention to confidentiality and the maintenance of boundaries.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. To lead, develop and manage the integrated employment support offered within the service.
2. To ensure that employment support is integrated with clinical treatment. Through close working with the low intensity workers develop their skills in recognizing and responding to the employment related issues.
3. To ensure that the employment intervention can start before the therapeutic intervention and both can proceed simultaneously.
4. To establish referral mechanisms that acknowledges that early intervention is the main driver and seeks to minimise delays to employment intervention as a matter of priority. Therefore, referral pathways include Talking Therapies staff but also GPs, self-referral and from employers for employment support
5. To ensure that the management and supervision systems acknowledge early intervention as a key component of the employment support and have mechanisms for remediation
6. To be responsible for the promotion of the employment support provision within the business community. The aim will be to raise awareness within the business community of the employment support provision and the implications for business effectiveness.
7. To be responsible for the development of employer engagement. This will include developing relationships with the Local Employment Partnership and those employers who have restricted or no access to Occupational Health services and who signal concern about sickness absence related to mental health issues.
8. To be responsible for the development of partnership agreements with agencies and organisations that help people retain and gain employment including Pathways to Work providers, Jobcentre Plus and all other local employment and training agencies.
9. To establish and maintain employment data as part of the IAPTUS software but also the collection of additional data where needed (i.e. data on timing of intervention)
10. To supervise the work of the Employment Specialists ensuring that they work to evidence based practices and provides an early intervention.
11. To ensure that the Employment Specialists have the training and skills necessary to effectively carry out their jobs.
12. To provide case management advice to the Employment Specialists on more complex employment scenarios. The aim will be to ensure there is provision to meet the needs of individuals who face particularly complex employment scenarios
13. To be responsible for ordering stationery and equipment as appropriate.
14. To work flexibly as required by the individual and the employer which may require some working out of normal office hours.
15. To maintain a professional relationship with the clients of the programme and with other staff, with particular attention to confidentiality and the maintenance of boundaries.
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
- Evidence of continuing professional and personal development
- NVQ Level 3 or above in Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG)
Desirable
- Trained in the IPS approach
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
- Experience of partnership working, negotiation and liaison work with other agencies
- Experience of managing a team
- Experience of providing supervision
Desirable
- Experience and interpretation of welfare benefits; specifically disability, health and employment related benefits
- Experience of IPS
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of welfare benefits and disability/employment related benefits
- An understanding of the issues of user involvement in mental health services
- Knowledge of disability and special needs issues in relation to employment/ education
- An understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems
- Good written and verbal communication skills
Desirable
- Basic counseling and coaching skills
- Solution focused therapy skills
- An understanding of the principles and practice of supported employment
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
- Evidence of continuing professional and personal development
- NVQ Level 3 or above in Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG)
Desirable
- Trained in the IPS approach
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
- Experience of partnership working, negotiation and liaison work with other agencies
- Experience of managing a team
- Experience of providing supervision
Desirable
- Experience and interpretation of welfare benefits; specifically disability, health and employment related benefits
- Experience of IPS
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of welfare benefits and disability/employment related benefits
- An understanding of the issues of user involvement in mental health services
- Knowledge of disability and special needs issues in relation to employment/ education
- An understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems
- Good written and verbal communication skills
Desirable
- Basic counseling and coaching skills
- Solution focused therapy skills
- An understanding of the principles and practice of supported 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.
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).
