Employment Specialist

Develop effective working relationships with a

range of other agencies who might be better able to help individuals to achieve

their employment goals for example, local colleges, training providers and

external supported employment services.

Liaise regularly with

mental health services workers, users and carers groups and other health related

agencies over learning and work issues

Establish, maintain and

nurture employer contacts .

Promote the benefits of employing and

supporting people with mental health issues to employers

Support employers and mental health workers to

enable the person using the service to sustain their position. This will

involve regular communication with employers and others to provide advice,

guidance and training on how to manage a particular situation.

Be available on the

end of the phone for advice and support to employers and others as required

Promote and publicise

Workways to learning and work providers and the wider community by occasionally

giving talks or presentations with a more senior team member.

Be able to sensitively deal with confidential

and complex information regarding an individuals health and employment history.

Work closely with the person using the service

ensuring appropriate, prompt, pro-active and clear communication at all times.

policies, respond to requests for general information regarding mental health

and employment, this may be from employers and members of the public

Keep the Workways team

informed of current work to ensure continuity of work at times of absence.

Work closely with the

whole Workways team and cover others work as needed, this may include covering

admin and reception duties at times of staff shortages.

Following

assessment of a new applicant to the service, offer the most relevant

interventions in line with the evidence based Job Retention and Individual Placement and Support model/ approach.

Monitor

progress with clinical outcomes of own caseload and report monthly to team lead

on these to ensure accurate onward reporting.

Ensure effective use of resources within own work.

Be responsible for organising and planning own caseload and managing

clinical/non clinical time effectively to fit with service needs and demands

Work flexibly to meet individuals needs and

this may require some working out of normal office hours.

for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

At all times work in a recovery-focussed way.

Manage a caseload of people (of no more than 20 people per

whole time equivalent worker) who have mental health issues and who wish to retain their paid

work .

Work pro-actively with the person using the service with

the ultimate goal of helping them retain paid work or search for alternative employment.

Provide vocational assessment for individual applicants to Workways.

Work with the person using the service to explore their areas

of strength, development needs, barriers to progression, learning and work needs and so on

to draw up a plan of action and their next best step.

Co-write all care plans with the person using the

service, then monitor and evaluate these plans in order to measure progress and effectiveness

of all interventions.

Regularly review the agreed care plan with the person

using the service, seeking to assist them to progress with their employment goals.

Provide interventions to assist the individual in problem

solving, confidence building and improving work related skills

Provide, or ensure, support in the work environment for each person using the service to enable them to have the best possible chance of

succeeding in the position.

Maintain a professional relationship with the

people using the service with IPS staff, primary and secondary health care

staff, employers and with particular attention to confidentiality and

maintenance of professional boundaries.

Be

able to work with people who have additional problems such as learning

difficulties, neuro-diverse diagnoses, physical conditions, injuries or other long term health conditions.

for Policy and Service Development Implementation

Ensure up to date knowledge of Job Retention principles and practice

Keep Workways informed of current Job Retention issues and keep up

to date with examples of evidence - based practice and government initiatives and mandates.

Be involved in ensuring there is easily accessible written and electronic information

for all the team and people using the service about relevant local learning and work related issues and services.

Be involved in

developing local policies

Be involved in co-producing

documents of good practice about the employment of people with mental health conditions.

Increase engagement

of employers through providing support for employers in recruitment &

retention of staff with mental health conditions.

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Experience

Qualifications

Desirable: - NVQ 4 in Advice and Guidance; - Certificate in Coaching skills