Mental Health Employment Specialist

**The closing date is 20th Jan 2025**

**Job summary**:
Are you a registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist or psychology graduate looking for the next step in your career? Do you want to make a real difference in the lives of individuals facing mental health challenges? If so, we could have the roles for you

We are currently recruiting for 3 posts across Glanville House, Bridgwater and Foundation House, Taunton.

The Mental Health Employment Support Service is a dedicated team of mental health professionals, supporting people who want to work and are under the care of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust mental health services. Employment that suits an individual can be integral to their recovery. If you are keen to make a real difference in peoples lives, this could be the role for you.

The role is to provide employment support services, using the evidence based Individual Placement and Support model (IPS), for service users who wish to gain, or retain open employment, focusing on the Mendip locality. This post will work as part of a countywide Mental Health Employment Service to provide specialist vocational assessment, planning and services, within Community Mental Health Teams in Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.

**Main duties, tasks & skills required**:
Training provided: You do not need to be an Employment Specialist already We offer full training in the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.

Work directly with service users: Manage a small caseload, providing tailored vocational assessments, action planning, employer engagement, the assessment of work related risk, development of collaborative risk management plans, worksite assessment and in work support. Your work will support the aspirations of service users with severe mental health issues who want to work.

Collaborate for success: Work alongside other IPS colleagues and sometimes with job retention colleagues. Liaise with clinical treatment colleagues to achieve employment outcomes and contribute to clients recovery.

Build partnerships: Collaborate with external agencies such as Job Centre Plus, CAB, probation services, NACRO and local employers, helping to identify employment opportunities.

What we are looking for:
A passion for helping others achieve their goals and improve their lives through employment.

An understanding of the challenges faced in recovery from mental illness.

The ability to work collaboratively with partners and stakeholders across the NHS and local community.

**About us**:
As an organisation, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust offers employees a wide range of benefits including flexible working, NHS pension scheme, generous annual leave allowance and a commitment to career development.

You will be eligible for our Blue Light Card and a wide range of NHS exclusive shopping & leisure discounts.

Working in Somerset enables you to enjoy the idyllic countryside, areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London.

There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable.

Somerset offers the countryside and the cosmopolitan - there is truly something for everyone

**Job description**:
**CLINICAL DUTIES**

To hold a caseload of 20-25 individuals and to deliver interventions demonstrating a high fidelity to the IPS Model, including individuals with complex needs

To identify the barriers to work and develop appropriate strategies to overcome these barriers for service users who wish to gain open employment, using medical and other relevant information related to their mental health issues.

To actively work with service users in the development of their action plan to achieve their employment objectives.

To plan and undertake a range of vocational assessments to assist service users to identify vocational goals based on their transferable skills, work readiness, aptitudes and job preferences.

To be able to sensitively deal with confidential and complex information regarding an individuals health, forensic and employment history.

To assist service users to explore the pros and cons of disclosure to employers, enabling them to make an informed decision about whether, and how much, to disclose.

To assess work related risk and develop risk management plans in collaboration with service users and other stakeholders as appropriate. To identify changed level of risk and mental state, distinguishing critical information that requires urgent action or rapid onward referral and documentation.

To carry out rapid job search and job development employer engagement with service users to identify suitable employment opportunities based on individual employment goals including job matching and job carving and providing information on training resources, labour market programs and career options.

**ANALYTICS