Job summary
Would you like an opportunity to help people who have mental health needs find work and help sustain employment? Do you currently work or have experience in health or social care, recruitment, employment or education services? If you have transferable skills to enable people to find /sustain employment, this is an excellent opportunity to join our team of Employment Specialists.
Our service has the IPS status as a National Centre of Excellence (Centre for Mental Health) and we require an empathetic and driven individual to join our team as an Employment Specialist in Ipswich, Suffolk on a 5 month fixed term contract (With the possibility of extension). You will be involved in helping people with mental health needs to decide on their employment goals including support with job searching, applications, interview skills and providing support after they have found work. As well as supporting those already in work with sustaining their employment, where their mental health is a contributing factor. You will be driven to build strong and lasting relationships with local employers, championing IPS and the individuals you support.
Main duties of the job
You must have strong communication skills and confidence in order to build up relationships with all relevant stakeholders including employers and businesses. You will be required to directly engage with a range of stakeholders (e.g. DWP, Job Centre +, employment law firms, voluntary organisations etc.) but especially local employers in order to create opportunities for service users and to challenge stigma and discrimination that can at times be associated with mental health needs and employment. You will also be meeting and working with people and stakeholders in their local community.
You will work within multi-disciplinary Mental Health Teams, alongside clinical colleagues and will be expected to 'champion the employment agenda', instilling the belief that people with mental health needs want to work and with the right support can work; and therefore generating referrals to the service. You will work in partnership with individual service users, developing relationships that are enabling and empowering. You will be providing an evidence based supported employment service (called Individual Placement and Support/IPS) which will require you to prepare individuals for employment by assessing needs; identifying strengths, help with benefits, support networks, travel to work plans etc.
About us
EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Open, Compassionate and Empowering. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;
- Season Ticket Loans
- NHS discounts for staff
- Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
- Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
- The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will work to individual targets, i.e. the number of people supported into employment. You will be skilled in managing your own time and working with a high level of autonomy; responsible to the Team Leader via regular supervision and support and accountable to the Service Manager. You will promote best practice within mental health and employment in the Trust and other organisations in the local area.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will work to individual targets, i.e. the number of people supported into employment. You will be skilled in managing your own time and working with a high level of autonomy; responsible to the Team Leader via regular supervision and support and accountable to the Service Manager. You will promote best practice within mental health and employment in the Trust and other organisations in the local area.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oGood standard of education; NVQ 3 or equivalent
Desirable
- oEducated to degree level; Health and Social care related qualification
Knowledge
Essential
- oVocational assessment and profiling
- oKnowledge of good practice in employment
- oKnowledge of relevant Welfare Benefits and benefits rules
Desirable
- oAn understanding of the principles and practice of supported employment
- Knowledge of the Equality Act 2010
Experience
Essential
- oExperience of working within health, social care or the voluntary sector with people who have experienced mental health problems.
- oExperience of helping people obtain or sustain employment/training
- oAn understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems.
- oLiterate in IT/Computer Skills
- oExperience of working with a range of stakeholders (including employers) to support people into employment
Desirable
- oExperience and knowledge of the benefits agency and all disability / employment related benefits.
Personal Qualities/Skills
Essential
- oAbility to assess service users' employment skills and needs
- oAble to construct and review person-centered action plans
- oAbility to be flexible, open and creative in problem solving
- oAbility to initiate and develop relationships with employers
- oExcellent marketing and promotional skills
- oAbility to work independently, reliably and consistently
- oShares the Trust's Beliefs and models this in their attitude and behaviour:
- oAbility to facilitate solutions to difficult situations
Desirable
- oReport writing skills
- oAbility to analyse interpret and present monitoring data
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oGood standard of education; NVQ 3 or equivalent
Desirable
- oEducated to degree level; Health and Social care related qualification
Knowledge
Essential
- oVocational assessment and profiling
- oKnowledge of good practice in employment
- oKnowledge of relevant Welfare Benefits and benefits rules
Desirable
- oAn understanding of the principles and practice of supported employment
- Knowledge of the Equality Act 2010
Experience
Essential
- oExperience of working within health, social care or the voluntary sector with people who have experienced mental health problems.
- oExperience of helping people obtain or sustain employment/training
- oAn understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems.
- oLiterate in IT/Computer Skills
- oExperience of working with a range of stakeholders (including employers) to support people into employment
Desirable
- oExperience and knowledge of the benefits agency and all disability / employment related benefits.
Personal Qualities/Skills
Essential
- oAbility to assess service users' employment skills and needs
- oAble to construct and review person-centered action plans
- oAbility to be flexible, open and creative in problem solving
- oAbility to initiate and develop relationships with employers
- oExcellent marketing and promotional skills
- oAbility to work independently, reliably and consistently
- oShares the Trust's Beliefs and models this in their attitude and behaviour:
- oAbility to facilitate solutions to difficult situations
Desirable
- oReport writing skills
- oAbility to analyse interpret and present monitoring data
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.
Employer details
Employer name
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Mariner House, Ipswich Central
43 Handford Road
Ipswich, Suffolk
IP1 2GA
Employer's website
https://eput.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
