Senior Employment Specialist

Provide specialist, recovery-focused job retention support to people experiencing mental health difficulties, helping them to sustain paid employment. Undertake specialist vocational assessments and develop individualised care plans, working collaboratively with individuals, employers, health professionals and partner organisations. Provide expert advice to employers on mental health and workplace issues, and develop strong employer networks. As a senior member of the Workways team, provide clinical supervision and support to Employment Specialists, contribute to service development and evidence-based practice, monitor clinical outcomes and deputise for the Team Lead when required.

Communication

and Working Relationship Skills

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, placement providers and

learning and work organisations 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 clinical team and work

providers and the wider community by giving talks or presentations as agreed with service

manager.

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, members of the public, the press

and so on

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 duties at times of

staff shortages.

and Organisational Skills

Ensure effective use of resources within own work.

Take a lead in agreed aspects of service leadership and development

depending on individual development

needs and interests and service priorities.

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.

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 paid work .

Work pro-actively with the person using the service with

the ultimate goal of helping them retain paid work.

Provide specialised 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 for 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.

Provide individualised,

on-going support and advice to individuals once they have secured employment

to assist them in sustaining employment.

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.

Qualifications

Experience