Employment Advisor

Job responsibilities

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

Offer patients 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. Including abilities, work solutions, preparation for work, disclosure. The action plan should also be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time bound).

Advocate on behalf of the patient with prospective employers if necessary, aiming to identify work solutions that will overcome or minimise difficulties within the workplace.

Establish any return to work issues, potential behaviour in the work place, possible work solutions. Employer awareness of the implications under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments, health conditions and employment reactions. Interactions with supervisors and colleagues. Development needs and in work support

Develop in-depth knowledge of the local labour market, local support and new initiatives, taking into account the needs of the patient to support effective interventions. Including specialist schemes to help with retaining or finding employment.

Be able to sensitively deal with confidential and complex information regarding an individualshealth, education and employment history.

Work closely with the person using the service ensuring appropriate, prompt, pro-active andclear communication at all times.

Following DPT policies, respond to requests for general information regarding mental health andemployment, this may be from employers and members of the public

Develop effective working relationships with a range of other agencies who might be better ableto help individuals to achieve their employment and/or education goals for example, local colleges, training providers and external supported employment services.

Advocate on behalf of the patient with prospective employers if necessary, aiming to identify work solutions that will overcome or minimise difficulties within the workplace.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Analyse job tasks and match with an individuals ability to do the job and any work solutions that may be required to develop the match.

Consider a range of options available for a patient.

To appropriately escalate any concerns following the identification of risk and safeguarding by adhering to TALKWORK risk management guidance.

Planning and Organisational Skills

Provide a service that is flexible as far as possible in terms of service working hours, enabling, where possible, at least one working session to be run outside 9-5 hours.

Be responsible for organising and planning own caseload and managing clinical/non clinical timeeffectively to fit with service needs and demands

Prepare, organise and run training for employers, others in learning and work organisations and care staff about learning, work and mental health issues.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

To manage a caseload of people who have experienced mental health problems and who wish to retain, return to or regain employment, using evidence based interventions.

The work will be led by and focus on the aspirations of the service user. Considering their strengths, difficulties and employment assets in order to offer the most effective support.

Conduct an assessment, discussing the persons job goals and any concerns regarding their capacity for work. It is important at this point to establish a job goal (they may wish to change roles or find a job), job tasks gathering evidence about the individuals abilities including previous work experience (it could be that a role they did previously may be more suitable). Also important is their confidence to perform tasks and any factors that may be issues for employment and whether the individual has or could develop strategies to address them.

Where appropriate provide help to find the right job and provide advice and support on training and also how to prepare for employer interviews.

Aim to identify work solutions that will overcome or minimise difficulties within the workplace. In particular establishing any return to work issues, potential behaviour in the work place, possible work solutions.

Provide the patient with appropriate tools to enable them to ensure that their needs are met within the workplace. Support to either self-advocate or source an appropriate advocate.

Be aware of the impact on an individual who is experiencing mental health issues, including loss of confidence, fear of failure etc.

Be aware that many individuals with mental health conditions may also have primary or secondary health conditions and disabilities.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation

To contribute, alongside fellow Employment Advisors, Employment Support Coordinators and TALKWORKS leadership, to the development of policies to guide the work of EAs

Ensure there is easily accessible written and electronic information for all the team and peopleusing the service about learning and work related issues and services.

Be involved in developing local policies

Assist as requested in producing documents of good practice about the employment of peoplewith mental health difficulties.

Increase engagement of employers through providing support for employers in recruitment &retention of staff with mental health issues.

Network with peers to maintain professional links across the Trust

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources

To ensure that all Trust equipment and resources are used in line with Trust policies

Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management

Subject to experience, the post holders will be willing to deputise for Band 6 Employment Support Coordinators for short periods of time.

Subject to experience, the post holders may be support to undertake supervision with newer EAs or Band 4 EAs.

To be willing to providing information and training to clinical staff on any area of specialist knowledge relating to employment matters

To update existing knowledge by attending relevant training opportunities and CPD arranged by the service.

Keep up to date with the latest updates on employment law, labour market changes and benefits system

To keep up to date with accurate information on local resources, facilities, training and employment.

To attend regular supervision with an Employment Support Coordinator

Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties

Ensure that all necessary documentation is completed, including recording notes from each patient contact on the IAPTus clinical record system.

Ensure that annual leave, expenses and other job administration is kept up to date and completed on time.

Responsibility for Research and Development

Assist in audits of clinical activity and evaluative research as required.

To collect data accurately as part of day to day role, enable audit activity to take place.

Undertake surveys or audits, as necessary to own work

Freedom to Act

Works to Clearly defined occupational policies. Work is managed, rather than supervised

Qualifications

Essential

• A degree in a relevant area or equivalent experience in employment advice or mental health

Desirable

• Evidence of further qualification or professional CPD relating to employment, employment law, and or mental health
• NVQ 4 in Advice and Guidance
• Certificate in Coaching skills

Experience

Essential

• Experience of providing vocational/employment support as part of a prior role.

Desirable

• Experience of supporting people with MH conditions into vocational/employment activities.
• Understanding of the employment needs, barriers and difficulties faced by people with MH conditions.
• Experience of working in a service where agreed targets are in place, demonstrating specific outcomes
• Experience of assessing, planning and facilitating activities that focus on recovery and vocational skills.
• Experience of working with interpreters
• Experience of working within a multi disciplinary team

Knowledge

Essential

• The post holder will have a good understanding of return to work planning.
• Knowledge of the secondary effects on the individual that could be caused by their mental health experience, including loss of employment. The EA will also be aware that many individuals with mental health conditions may also have primary or secondary health conditions and disabilities.
• knowledge to understand the work implications of conditions, confidence, fear of failure etc.
• Knowledge of employment and disability related benefits.
• Knowledge of the employment /education needs and possible difficulties of people who experience mental health problems.

Desirable

• Knowledge of and guided by the Job Centre Plus Employment, Health Condition and Disability guide notes.
• Awareness of the needs of people with MH conditions. The issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on MH.
• Current awareness of Government employment/training schemes
• Working knowledge of community resources.
• Knowledge of employment law and the Equality Act 2010.
• Knowledge of evidence based interventions to support people with common MH problems remain in, return to & gain work

Planning and Organisational Skills

Essential

• Ability to set clear SMART employment goals with patients
• Able to communicate clearly and persuasively both verbally and in writing
• Basic IT skills including word processing, excel and data base packages
• Ability to carry out a range of evaluation and monitoring techniques

Physical Skills

Essential

• Ability to travel independently in accordance with Trust policies and service need.

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

Essential

• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Organisational skills.
• Ability to prioritise and plan own caseload.
• Ability to assess individual strengths in relation to employment.
• Ability to adapt activities to be appropriate for the needs of an individual client.
• Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to collect and report data to support service performance and evaluation
• Able to work in accordance with the Staff Compact and Trust Values and Behaviours.
• A caring, responsible and positive approach.
• Reliable, trustworthy and enthusiastic
• Motivated and innovative.
• Committed to continual quality and service improvement.
• Self-aware and committed to continual professional and personal development. Able to accept and respond positively to feedback from supervision.
• Committed to promoting a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.

Desirable

• Ability to negotiate with employers on behalf of service users.
• Ability to be flexible, open and creative in problem solving.
• Ability to work as part of a multi disciplinary team

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Essential

• Ability to self-reflect, whilst working with patients, in own personal and professional development and in supervision
• Skilled at developing good rapport with patients and enabling them to find their own solutions

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).