About this role
Job summary
Are you interested in supporting people to rebuild their lives after a mental health crisis?
In this rewarding role, you will support individuals recovering from a first episode of psychosis to move forward into education, training, and volunteering. Your work will help them regain independence, purpose, and confidence. You will also play a key role in reducing financial stress by providing practical welfare benefits support, enabling service users to focus fully on their recovery.
Over time, you will develop strong partnerships with educational institutions, local providers, and community services, ensuring our service users can access a wide range of opportunities to support their goals and aspirations.
We're looking for someone who is:
Experienced in benefits advice, employability, education, or support work Skilled at working with people facing complex barriers to engagement Confident completing detailed benefits applications and paperwork Able to build trusting, therapeutic relationships Organised, proactive, and able to manage their own workload
Main duties of the job
Supporting service users to explore and access education, training and volunteering opportunities Providing hands-on support with benefits applications (Universal Credit, PIP, Mandatory Reconsideration Requests, UC Journal Support etc) Helping individuals set goals and overcome barriers to participation Delivering 1:1 and Group sessions at team base and out in the community Working collaboratively with care coordinators and other professionals as part of a multi-disciplinary mental health team Building links with local providers, colleges, and community services Keeping up to date with benefits changes and local educational opportunities Updating records and sharing progress with the wider MDT
About us
LEIS provides specialist Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) support to people aged 18-65 who are experiencing or recovering from a first episode of psychosis (FEP). Our service works collaboratively to support recovery, promote independence, and improve long-term outcomes for service users within the borough of Lewisham.
This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated individual who is committed to the Early Intervention (EI) ethos of hope, recovery, and high-quality person-centred care.
Why join LEIS?
Be part of a supportive, experienced multi-disciplinary team Develop specialist skills in benefits advice and vocational recovery work Access ongoing training and development opportunities Build meaningful community partnerships Shape the education and benefits pathwaywithin the service Make a visible, lasting difference to people's recovery journeys
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see attached full JD and person specification
Direct work
Helping service users to identify and consider educational or voluntary opportunities, set personal goals, and develop appropriate action plans to overcome any barriers.
Supporting service users to complete benefits application forms where eligible, such as Personal Independence Payments, Universal Credit, and Employment Support Allowance.
Develop and facilitate group work as appropriate.
Keeping up to date with local and national education and labour market trends & policy, and informing and educating service users and colleagues about education/training opportunities for our client group.
Keeping up to date and informing and educating service users about welfare benefit changes relevant to client group
Providing training to colleagues on welfare benefits eligibility.
Communication & engagement
To collaboratively and sensitively work with individuals with a range of mental health needs, adjusting and adapting approach as necessary
To use a range of communication methods and being flexible in what is offered - face-to-face appointments, video meetings, telephone calls, emails, texts.
To be creative and innovative in engaging sometimes hard to reach service users
MDT working and stakeholder engagement
Contribute to the EI Pathway vocational strategy by working closely alongside the teams Occupational Therapist, Vocational/Employment specialist (IPS worker) and STaR worker
Working with local providers to identify work experience, volunteering, courses and training that meet the needs of service users vocational development
Working as part of a team, sharing knowledge and expertise, and contributing to team meetings, service development activities and wider networks
Documentation
Typing clear and concise event entries, entering data onto electronic databases, ensuring that files and systems are always up-to-date and accurate.
Participate in audits and data collection as required
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
At least 3 years employment in a relevant role or NVQ in relevant area
Desirable
Educated to degree level or L4 IAG training / IPS training /benefits training/ mental health training or equivalent would be beneficial but not essential
Experience Essential
Experience of working in an educational, volunteering or benefits advisory role Experience of working with individuals experiencing complex barriers to participating in education, training, or volunteering Experience in coaching or mentoring others to meet their goals Experience of working collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
Experience working in a mental health setting Experience running of groups for service users in particular those with mental health difficulties Vocational assessment and profiling skills
Knowledge / Skills Essential
Knowledge and understanding of link between vocation, purpose, and mental wellbeing Good working knowledge of the welfare benefits system The ability to form trusting, therapeutic relationships with service users (A/I) Good understanding of Equality and Diversity issues, including knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 (I/A) Ability to work independently, prioritise workload and carry out work efficiently and effectively (I/A)
Desirable
Knowledge of Early Intervention in Psychosis interventions and the EI standards.
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 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address Lewisham Early Intervention Service
59 Cordwell Road
London
SE13 5QY
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)