Following a successful internal promotion, we are pleased to offer a Band 4 Employment Support Officer post within the Mental Health Employment Support Service, based in Yeovil and covering the South Somerset area.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a dedicated, countywide team supporting people under the care of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust mental health services who want to gain or remain in paid employment. Good quality employment can play a significant role in recovery, while the risk of job loss can have a serious negative impact on mental health.
The post holder will be primarily based within South Somerset, with access to an onsite supervisor, while also being part of a wider countywide Mental Health Employment Service embedded within Community Mental Health Teams.
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
The Employment Support Officer will provide specialist vocational support to service users receiving secondary mental health care who wish to gain or retain open employment. The role involves delivering individualised vocational interventions, including assessment, action planning, job matching and ongoing employment retention support.
You will work directly with service users to identify employment goals and develop practical strategies to overcome workrelated difficulties, including mental healthrelated barriers in the workplace. This may include graded return to work planning, advice on workplace adjustments, worksite assessments within your level of competence, and liaison with employers to support sustainable employment outcomes.
The post holder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team alongside mental health professionals, contributing vocational expertise to care planning and recoveryfocused interventions. Close collaboration with Employment Support colleagues, Community Mental Health Teams and external agencies will be central to the role.
You will be required to manage your own caseload, prioritise workload effectively and maintain comprehensive, uptodate records using Trust systems. Under appropriate supervision, you will assess and manage risk associated with employment or workplace situations and contribute written reports as required.
The role also includes supporting service development, participating in clinical governance activities, attending mandatory training and maintaining continuing professional development. Occasional countywide travel is required, and access to transport is essential.
This is a varied and rewarding role for someone who is passionate about mental health recovery, employment inclusion and working collaboratively with individuals, professionals and employers.
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.