Talking Therapies Employment advisors

Job description

Job responsibilities

Develop effective working relationships with a range of external agencies who might support individuals employment goals, e.g. local colleges, training providers, trade unions and external support services

Maintain a professional relationship with clients and with key internal and external stakeholders, with particular attention to confidentiality and appropriate boundaries

Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of Jobcentre Plus provision, benefits, and national/local employment and social support options

Adhere to administrative and data capture protocols, recording client progress accurately and completelyEnsure that effective monitoring and evaluation systems are followed, adapting to best practice in employment adviceUndertake mandatory training as requiredActively participate in own continuous professional development

Ensure implementation of relevant policies such as information governance, safeguarding etc.

To appropriately escalate any concerns following the identification of risk and to follow the EA Risk Policy.

Conduct employment assessments with clients to then support them to develop personalised, realistic employment action plans that align with their therapy goals and recovery journey

Provide high-quality information, advice, and guidance on employment rights, reasonable adjustments, workplace wellbeing, and returning to work

Maintain accurate records of employment outcomes and soft goals using service-approved systems

To offer at least one early appointment and one late appointment per week and Saturday working on occasion if required.

Communicating and Relationship Skills

Provide and receive complex information in relation to a clients employment situation, where messages could constantly change

Use negotiating, empathetic, and motivational skills to support clients discussing sensitive or complex material, ensuring consent and professionalism is maintained

Work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders, keeping all parties informed. Signpost clients to appropriate community and employability services.

Provide the person 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

Regularly collect feedback from clients

Use IT systems confidently and effectively

Adapt communication to overcome barriers and ensure engagement, including use of interpreters when required

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Able to work independently and use initiative in varied and challenging situations

Assess and make judgments within the service to gather information and apply creative problem solving where there are a range of options. Apply creative problem solving to meet service requirements and tailor employment advice to client needs

Planning and Organisational Responsibilities

To assist and contribute to complex service improvement or employment-related projects by supporting the development of workstreams, gathering feedback, and planning delivery in collaboration with project leads and clinical teams

Manage own time efficiently within service

Prioritise casework and workload with appropriate support and supervision

Facilitate timely, person-centred SMART action plans with clients

Physical Skills

Have and demonstrate competent keyboard skills, fast paced and accurate at note taking

To be able to multitask while taking calls from patient i.e. data entry onto system

Employment in this post is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service criminal records Disclosure. The post holder may be required to undertake a Disclosure application at any time during employment.

To be able to travel between bases

Responsibilities for Patient Care (duties and/or leadership)

Assess and provide non-clinical support to people with common mental health problems in the self-management of their recovery and progress toward personal and employment-related goals

Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the departments referral protocols

Keep coherent records of all client activity in line with service protocols and use these records and client outcome data in service decision making

Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the overall number of client contacts offered and sessions carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure service delivery remains accessible and convenient

Work collaboratively with talking therapies clinicians providing low/high intensity interventions to clients who are unemployed, at risk of unemployment or looking to change roles.

To develop and maintain the integration of Employment support within the wider Sheffield NHS Talking Therapies service and for EAs to be integrated in to clinical teams.

Deliver client-led employment appointments identifying job goals, individual strengths, and barriers

Record and report on caseload progress, including soft outcomes

Promote employment support and circulate related resources as part of the employment team

Staff are expected to observe the highest standards of care and conduct and to engage constructively with managers, colleagues, patients/service users/carers and others in the course of their duties

Responsibilities for Policy and Service Development Implementation

Full understanding of relevant Trust policies and procedures e.g. Fire, Health & Safety, Data Protection/Security of Information

Contribute to the reviewing, developing and monitoring of departmental policy relevant to the service area and impacting on other areas

Implement policies and procedures relevant to own work area

Engage with local service initiatives, acknowledging best practice and policies and procedures, which influence the local and national agenda

Responsibilities for Finance Physical Resources

Use office equipment and resources in an appropriate manner, reporting faults following the recognised organisational procedure

Follow trust policy for submitting expenses

Maintain safe and clean working environments

The post holder does not have financial responsibilities

Responsibilities for Human Resources (Management, Leadership and Training)

Actively engage in personal development planning through 1:1 line management, CPD, mandatory training, supervision/group supervision/peer supervision, and reflective practice

Commitment, if required, to complete national training programme for EAs.

Support less experienced staff through mentoring, shadowing, and sharing best practices

Participate in team activities and knowledge sharing

Responsibilities for Information Resources

Stay informed of legislation relevant to the role

Comply with Data Protection Act, Freedom of information and Records Management Policy.

To maintain a high standard of notes on the online computer system IAPTus in line with the clinical record keeping policy.

Ensure all data is stored in line with trust policy

Occasionally create reports in relations to meeting service KPIs

To ensure all data/information is kept confidential

Responsibilities for Research and Development

Contribute to local and national evaluation/research projects of Employment Advice services

Undertake research to stay current on employment, mental health, and labour market trends

Monitoring own caseload performance against service targets. Contribute to service learning through feedback, reflective practice, and performance monitoring

Freedom to Act

Work autonomously while attending regular supervision

Required to act independently within appropriate occupational guidelines, deciding when it is necessary to refer to their manager.

Works within Trust policies and codes of conduct.

Use initiative to manage time and workload effectively

Person Specification

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a range of stakeholders
• Ability to build effective working relationships with clients and professionals (internal and external)
• Empathy, motivation and resilience when supporting people in emotional distress or with complex needs
• Ability to analyse client information and develop realistic, person-centred employment plans
• Ability to support clients to problem-solve, communicate with employers, and navigate work-related challenges independently
• Strong organisational and time management skills, including ability to prioritise workload in a pressured environment and meet service targets and KPIs.
• Demonstrated commitment to equality, diversity, and reducing stigma around mental health in the workplace
• High level of personal motivation, professionalism, and proactive attitude
• Ability to manage emotionally challenging situations, including clients who may be distressed or frustrated
• Comfortable working both in shared office environments and remotely, maintaining focus with interruptions
• Good IT literacy including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and video conferencing
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, contributing to a positive team culture
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle
• Confident using a wide range of IT systems, including Microsoft Office and client management platforms
• Willingness and ability to travel within the Trust or region
• Confidence in delivering group-based sessions or workshops (in person or virtually)

Training & Qualifications

Essential

• Relevant knowledge acquired through training and experience to NVQ Level 3 or equivalent
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the role i.e. further study in vocational training, careers advice, job retention and presenteeism or equivalent experience gained through work in the field.
• Willingness to undertake mandatory and role-specific training (e.g. employment rights, safeguarding, information governance)

Desirable

• Qualification in employment-related activity (e.g. job retention, coaching, mediation)
• Information Advice and Guidance NVQ Level 3
• The Award in Education and Training Level 3

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of providing employment-related support to jobseekers and individuals in employment with a health condition or disability
• Experience working with individuals with common mental health conditions
• Evidence of partnership working and service coordination to achieve joint outcomes
• Understanding of the relationship between unemployment, mental health and wider social issues (e.g. isolation, low confidence, debt)
• Working knowledge of in- and out-of-work benefits and processes (e.g. ESA, UC, PIP)
• Understanding of the Equality Act 2010 in the context of employment
• Knowledge of reasonable adjustments and workplace wellbeing
• Awareness of the role of Talking Therapies in supporting mental wellbeing
• Awareness of welfare reform and its impact on social inclusion
• Experience using IT systems for case recording and communication (e.g. MS Office, video conferencing, CRM platforms)
• Ability to work independently in the community and remotely

Desirable

• Experience working with clinical practitioners or in multidisciplinary teams
• Experience working in primary care, mental health or Talking Therapies services
• Awareness of how other health conditions (e.g. MSK, learning difficulties, long-term conditions) impact employment
• Awareness of national employment programmes and vocational rehabilitation best practice

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Citywide

Wainwright Crescent

Sheffield

S13 8EN

Employer's website

https://www.sheffieldpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)