About this role
Job summary
The service has 8 principles that are followed based on the Individual Placement Support model (Centre for Mental Health, 2021):
1. It aims to get people into competitive employment
2. It is open to all those who want to work
3. It tries to find jobs consistent with people's preferences
4. It works quickly
5. It brings employment specialists into clinical teams
6. Employment specialists develop relationships with employers based upon a person's work preferences
7. It provides time unlimited, individualised support for the person and their employer
8. Benefits counselling is included
This role is designed to support individuals to recognise and better equip them to meet the challenges of achieving and maintaining paid employment as a fundamental and integral part of their desired recovery journey.
Main duties of the job
The service is individually tailored to the person's needs and requirements. The overall aim of the service is to get the person into paid employment that is of interest to them and that will aid their mental health recovery. Following evidenced-based Individual Placement and Support (IPS) principles, key duties will include:
Raising the profile of employment as an essential part of the recovery journey within the mental health teams
Raising expectations around the ability of service users under those teams to find employment.
Preparing people who have experienced mental health conditions to find paid work and supporting them to the practicalities of job searching and applications
Engaging with and building effective working relationships with a range of employers to secure job opportunities for people who have experienced mental health conditions.
Providing on-going in work support according to needs of both employer and employee in order to enable people to retain employment.
Helping those currently employed who may require support to retain employment due to their mental health condition.
About us
NHFT is an integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible. This means many of our services can be provided at home, work or in schools.We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
NHFT promotes a culture of learning to improve the care and safety of our patients and staff, which focuses on people who enable our Trust to be 'outstanding' by supporting opportunity, innovation, development and growth.
Job description Job responsibilities
Employment Specialists identify and meet service users vocational goals by providing individually tailored programs using a person centred approach. The IPS staff sit within Community Mental Health clinical teams so that they are embedded and part of that MDT and wider discussion.
Completing initial assessments of service users vocational needs
Work collaboratively with service users to complete a Vocational Profile
Confidential and individualised support to meet service users employment goals.
Help to search for jobs quickly
Help to build or rebuild CVs, make applications and prepare for interviews
Support with the disclosure of mental health conditions, should service users choose to disclose
Contact with local employers to seek fresh opportunities and support for the employer to help service users to return to work
Continued support once service users are in work for them and their employer
Work Retention support
Actively and regularly engage with employers and employment services
Attend and actively contribute to CMHT team allocation meetings
Complete required records for caseload and service activity and achievement of outcomes
Work flexibly across the county to support service need
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Educated to GCSE level
Desirable
Qualification in delivering Employment or Vocational Activities
Knowledge & Experience Essential
Experience of helping people to obtain or keep work. An understanding of the principles and practices of supported employment.
Desirable
Experience of supporting people with mental health conditions into vocational/employment activities An understanding of the principals and practices of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.
Skills & Abilities Essential
Excellent written communication skills for writing CVs, employer contacts and job applications Excellent internet use skills for job search, research and online applications An ability and confidence to initiate and develop face to face relationships with employers and other agencies Ability to travel easily between locations around Northamptonshire
Desirable
Basic Counselling or Motivational Interviewing Skills
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 Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Address Campbell House
Campbell Square
Northampton
NN1 3EB
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.nhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)