Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity within the NHS Talking Therapies Employment Services working both remotely and attending our offices at Jubilee Health Centre, Wallington and Hollyfield House, Surbiton.
NHS Talking Therapies is a primary care mental health and wellbeing service aiming to provide support to people living within the relevant boroughs or with a GP in that borough.
As an Employment Specialist you will have the opportunity to proactively manage a caseload of clients who have experienced common mental health problems who are unemployed, currently off sick from work or unwell but still at work.
The Employment Service is part of the Employment Advisers in Talking Therapies Programme, an initiative through the DWP and NHS England. Funding is currently fixed until the end of March 2026 but there may be an opportunity to extend the contract.
Main duties of the job
Working directly with all relevant stakeholders: the service users, Talking Therapies Team, GPs, employers, Human Resources and Occupational Health services, as well as Trade Unions to enable service users to gain, retain and/ or sustain employment.
To manage a caseload of 30 plus service users at any one time.
To be proactive and well integrated within the NHS Talking Therapies Service to ensure that your colleagues are constantly aware of your services and making appropriate referrals.
Supporting clients to find and retain employment or return to work after long-term sickness.
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 manage a caseload of a minimum of 30 service users at any one time who are currently off work / unemployed and who wish to return to work.
2. To be integrated within the NHS Kingston Talking Therapies Service, being responsible for those service users who want to return to and remain in employment.
3. To meet regularly with the clinical staff to co-ordinate and integrate employment support into health treatment.
4. The EA work will be led by and focused on the aspirations of the service user. Considering their strengths, difficulties and employment assets in order to offer the most effective support
5. To prepare individuals for a return to work through assessing each persons individual employment needs through vocational profiling/assessment.
6. Refer the person to other support if they have particularly complex barriers.
7. Offer the person support agreeing a written action plan with the person detailing the steps to be taken to either get back into or retain employment and the appropriate support route. Need to include abilities, work solutions, preparation for work, disclosure. The action plan should also be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time bound).
8. The EA will develop in-depth knowledge of the local labour market, local support and new initiatives, taking into account the needs of the client to broker effective interventions. Including specialist schemes to help with retaining or finding employment.
9. To provide individualised, support to individuals once they have returned to work to assist them in sustaining employment.
10. To proactively engage and work with employers to retain employment opportunities for people who have experienced mental health problems.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. To assess individuals support needs related to work which might typically include help with benefits, travel to work, graded return to work etc.
14. To develop good working relationships with other organisations that are better able to help individuals to achieve their employment goals for example, Pathways to Work providers, local colleges and training provider 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 manage a caseload of a minimum of 30 service users at any one time who are currently off work / unemployed and who wish to return to work.
2. To be integrated within the NHS Kingston Talking Therapies Service, being responsible for those service users who want to return to and remain in employment.
3. To meet regularly with the clinical staff to co-ordinate and integrate employment support into health treatment.
4. The EA work will be led by and focused on the aspirations of the service user. Considering their strengths, difficulties and employment assets in order to offer the most effective support
5. To prepare individuals for a return to work through assessing each persons individual employment needs through vocational profiling/assessment.
6. Refer the person to other support if they have particularly complex barriers.
7. Offer the person support agreeing a written action plan with the person detailing the steps to be taken to either get back into or retain employment and the appropriate support route. Need to include abilities, work solutions, preparation for work, disclosure. The action plan should also be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time bound).
8. The EA will develop in-depth knowledge of the local labour market, local support and new initiatives, taking into account the needs of the client to broker effective interventions. Including specialist schemes to help with retaining or finding employment.
9. To provide individualised, support to individuals once they have returned to work to assist them in sustaining employment.
10. To proactively engage and work with employers to retain employment opportunities for people who have experienced mental health problems.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. To assess individuals support needs related to work which might typically include help with benefits, travel to work, graded return to work etc.
14. To develop good working relationships with other organisations that are better able to help individuals to achieve their employment goals for example, Pathways to Work providers, local colleges and training provider 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 & Qualification
Essential
- Educated to degree level or Customer service NVQ level 3 minimum or equivalent.
- RSA Ii / III and Evidence of further study in vocational training, careers advice, job retention and presenteeism or equivalent experience gained through work in the field.
Desirable
- Evidence of good customer service background
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 providing vocational/employment support
Desirable
- Experience and interpretation of welfare benefits; specifically disability, health and employment related benefits
- Experience of working to IPS principles of evidenced based practice for employment support
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 employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to adapt activities to be appropriate for the needs of an individual client.
- Ability to assess individual strengths in relation to employment
Desirable
- Report writing skills
- Knowledge of government and local funding opportunities regarding learning and employment opportunities
Person Specification
Training & Qualification
Essential
- Educated to degree level or Customer service NVQ level 3 minimum or equivalent.
- RSA Ii / III and Evidence of further study in vocational training, careers advice, job retention and presenteeism or equivalent experience gained through work in the field.
Desirable
- Evidence of good customer service background
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 providing vocational/employment support
Desirable
- Experience and interpretation of welfare benefits; specifically disability, health and employment related benefits
- Experience of working to IPS principles of evidenced based practice for employment support
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 employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to adapt activities to be appropriate for the needs of an individual client.
- Ability to assess individual strengths in relation to employment
Desirable
- Report writing skills
- 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).
