Job summary
We have a fantastic opportunity for a dynamic Employment Specialist to join our Employment Services Team in Hillingdon.
The FULL time post will be based within the Hillingdon Community Mental Health Team located at Mill House in Uxbridge. The post is 37.5 hours per week
PLEASE NOTE - this is not an administrative post. The post involves frequent face to face contact with service users and working to achieve set targets and KPIs.
We are looking for individuals who are highly motivated, have experience of supporting people to access paid employment or employability skills which could be transferred to this role and have the right qualities and aptitudes. These include a passionate belief that anyone with mental health problems can work, is a self-starters with initiative, a commitment to team work and strong organisational skills.
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
Main duties of the job
You will be joining a well-established Employment Service, who are a National Centre of Excellence, and will have access to a range of professional development and training opportunities.
Your role will often involve being the only Employment Specialist in a mental health team, and you will need to promote employment and raise expectations around the ability of service users to access paid employment. You will have individual and team targets, and will receive professional supervision and support from an Employment Team leader, a clinical supervisor and local peers. You will also be expected to spend time in the community negotiating job opportunities via the hidden labour market, as well as networking with local agencies.
About us
Successful applicants will be entitled to 27 days annual leave per year, as well as access to the NHS final salary pension scheme.
Due to the number of posts advertised, candidates who pass the recruitment assessment centre may be asked to attend an interview on a later date. We will contact you to invite you to the Assessment Centre, and will discuss interview dates and your availability.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Overview of Main Responsibilities:
Communication:
- To manage a caseload of between 20-25 people who have experienced mental health or substance misuse problems who wish to return to work. This will include challenging inequalities experienced by mental health service users and to address existing discrimination, whilst ensuring a process of learning for the organisation
- To provide individualised support with a focus on multi-disciplinary interventions to service users once they have returned to work
- To have an understanding of evidenced based IPS employment practice, with a focus on delivering a person-centred, high quality service which results in meeting and exceeding sustained job outcome targets for people accessing the service.
- Building relationships and marketing the service with clinical teams to generate referrals and create collaborative working with clinical staff
- To support the team in promoting a recovery orientated environment by identifying recovery-focused activities and imparting information and education as required. This would involve promoting courses being delivered by Recovery and Wellbeing College as well as supporting the development of employment modules and local information sessions
- To prepare individuals for a return to work by supporting people to understand their skills, aspirations and goals by offering employment profiling, job matching, action planning and employment case management support.
- To focus on rapid job search with service users, whilst utilising local support networks to help individuals overcome their barriers to employment
- Source job opportunities for service users through tailored job search and proactive engagement with employers to open up and secure paid employment. This may involve accessing the hidden labour market or carving out jobs where specific tasks can be assigned. Contact with employer will be carried out face to face as per the IPS model as well as via social media platforms such as Linked In.
- To provide advice and support to employers, as agreed with the individual, which may include negotiating adjustments and on-going contact with supervisors to ensure job retention
- To assess individual support needs related to work which might typically include help with in work benefits, travel to work, managing health at work etc and to continue providing this once in employment to ensure they retain work.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Overview of Main Responsibilities:
Communication:
- To manage a caseload of between 20-25 people who have experienced mental health or substance misuse problems who wish to return to work. This will include challenging inequalities experienced by mental health service users and to address existing discrimination, whilst ensuring a process of learning for the organisation
- To provide individualised support with a focus on multi-disciplinary interventions to service users once they have returned to work
- To have an understanding of evidenced based IPS employment practice, with a focus on delivering a person-centred, high quality service which results in meeting and exceeding sustained job outcome targets for people accessing the service.
- Building relationships and marketing the service with clinical teams to generate referrals and create collaborative working with clinical staff
- To support the team in promoting a recovery orientated environment by identifying recovery-focused activities and imparting information and education as required. This would involve promoting courses being delivered by Recovery and Wellbeing College as well as supporting the development of employment modules and local information sessions
- To prepare individuals for a return to work by supporting people to understand their skills, aspirations and goals by offering employment profiling, job matching, action planning and employment case management support.
- To focus on rapid job search with service users, whilst utilising local support networks to help individuals overcome their barriers to employment
- Source job opportunities for service users through tailored job search and proactive engagement with employers to open up and secure paid employment. This may involve accessing the hidden labour market or carving out jobs where specific tasks can be assigned. Contact with employer will be carried out face to face as per the IPS model as well as via social media platforms such as Linked In.
- To provide advice and support to employers, as agreed with the individual, which may include negotiating adjustments and on-going contact with supervisors to ensure job retention
- To assess individual support needs related to work which might typically include help with in work benefits, travel to work, managing health at work etc and to continue providing this once in employment to ensure they retain work.
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent industry experience.
Previous experience
Essential
- Experience of working with clients with MH needs in a social care or voluntary organisation
- Experience of supporting people to obtain or keep work
- Experience of working within diverse communities
Desirable
- Experience and knowledge of the benefits agency and all disability/employment related benefits
Skills
Essential
- Understanding of principles and practices of supported employment
- Understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people that experience mental health challenges
- A commitment to learning about and working within the IPS employment model
- Good marketing and presentation skills
- Ability to engage with employers using a variety of methods including face to face, social media, phone and email
- Time management and organisation skills
- Basic wordprocessing/computer skills
Desirable
- An unterstanding of principles and practices of the IPS model
- An understanding of the equality act 2010
ATTITUDES, APTITUDES PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Essential
- A preparedness to work flexible hours through prior arrangement as the needs of the job dictate.
- Ability to see solutions rather than problems.
- Ability to work in strengths based ways
- Willingness to participate in supervision
- Ability to work independently of direct supervision
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent industry experience.
Previous experience
Essential
- Experience of working with clients with MH needs in a social care or voluntary organisation
- Experience of supporting people to obtain or keep work
- Experience of working within diverse communities
Desirable
- Experience and knowledge of the benefits agency and all disability/employment related benefits
Skills
Essential
- Understanding of principles and practices of supported employment
- Understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people that experience mental health challenges
- A commitment to learning about and working within the IPS employment model
- Good marketing and presentation skills
- Ability to engage with employers using a variety of methods including face to face, social media, phone and email
- Time management and organisation skills
- Basic wordprocessing/computer skills
Desirable
- An unterstanding of principles and practices of the IPS model
- An understanding of the equality act 2010
ATTITUDES, APTITUDES PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Essential
- A preparedness to work flexible hours through prior arrangement as the needs of the job dictate.
- Ability to see solutions rather than problems.
- Ability to work in strengths based ways
- Willingness to participate in supervision
- Ability to work independently of direct supervision
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).
