Employment Specialist

Promote the benefits of employing and supporting people with mental health issues to employers Support employers 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 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. Following DPT 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 ofabsence. Work closely with the whole Workways team and cover others work as needed, this mayinclude covering admin and reception duties at times of staff shortages. Analytical and Judgemental Skills Following assessment of a new applicant to the service, offer the most relevant interventions in line with the IPS approach.
Monitor progress with clinical outcomes of own caseload and report monthly to team lead on these to ensure accurate onward reporting. Planning and Organisational Skills 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 Working with another team member, prepare, organise and run training for employers, others in learning and work organisations and care staff about learning, work and mental health issues. As required take a lead in planning and running of recovery courses and groups for people who use the service such as Preparing For Work.
Work flexibly to meet individuals needs and this may require some working out of normal office hours. Responsibility 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 find paid work. Work pro-actively with the person using the service with the ultimate goal of helping them find and retain paid work.
Provide IPS 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 theirnext best step. Co-write all action plans with the person using the service, then monitor and evaluate theseplans in order to measure progress and effectiveness of all interventions. Regularly review the agreed action plan with the person using the service, seeking to assistthem to progress with their vocational goals.
Provide interventions to assist the individual in problem solving, confidence building andimproving work related skills Provide support in the work place for each person using the service to enable themto 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. Maintain a professional relationship with the people using the service with VRS staff, with mental health staff, employers and with particular attention to confidentiality and maintenance of professional boundaries. Plan and implement recovery courses or groups as required.
This involves running group sessions on topics such as interview techniques, c.v. writing or assertiveness, for example. Be able to work with people who have additional problems such as learning difficulties, physical conditions or injuries. Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation Ensure up to date knowledge of, and adherence to, the Individual Placement and Support approach to helping people find employment.
Keep Workways informed of current VR issues and keep up to date with examples of evidence-based practice and government initiatives and mandates. Ensure there is easily accessible written and electronic information for all the team and people using the service about learning and work related issues and services. Be involved in developing local policies Assist as requested in producing documents of good practice about the employment of people with mental health difficulties. Increase engagement of employers through providing support for employers in recruitment & retention of staff with mental health issues.
Network with peers to maintain professional links across the Trust Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and O