Overview
The opportunity is for someone to cover maternity leave as an Employment Advisor within the Employment Support Team in the Talking Therapies services. The team operates across St Helens, Halton, Knowsley and Liverpool, supporting the Knowsley branch of the service. The Employment Support team includes Employment Advisors, Senior Employment Advisors and an Employment Support Team Manager. The post holder will receive Caseload Review Supervision and Line Management to support in their role.
The post holder will provide skills-based interventions, information, advice, guidance and practical support to help people receiving NHS Talking Therapies to remain in work, return to work and gain work.
This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check.
Main duties of the job include delivering the Talking Therapies approach and working with stakeholders to support service users in employment-related goals. Since 2015 the Work & Health Unit has invested to increase the number of Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies to provide integrated psychological treatment and employment support for people with anxiety and depression.
About us: Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people. We offer specialist inpatient and community services and are involved in organisational transformation to improve quality and efficiency. Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Location: Harry Blackman House, Marshalls Cross Road, St Helens, WA9 3DE.
Responsibilities
* The Employment Specialist will manage a caseload of between 20-25 people at any one time who have experienced severe mental health issues and are unemployed or need support to retain their current employment.
* Deliver the Talking Therapies approach, working directly with relevant stakeholders.
* Maintain professional relationships with service users and stakeholders, with attention to confidentiality and professional boundaries.
* Adhere to administrative and data capture protocols; keep accurate records of casework using appropriate electronic records systems.
* Work independently to understand the needs and career aspirations of job seekers.
* Support service users to gain and retain paid employment.
* Gather information to develop vocational profiles and create CVs; handle complex, sensitive information and difficult situations.
* Initiate rapid job search within 30 days of referral, using local networks to overcome barriers to employment.
* Research the labour market and build relationships with local employers to negotiate opportunities that fit individuals’ strengths and preferences.
* Source meaningful paid job opportunities through tailored job search and employer contact; explore the hidden labour market.
* Undertake job analyses and workplace assessments to ensure suitable work environments and potential for workplace adjustments.
* Provide specialised advice to employers regarding employment of people with diverse clinical needs; offer education and support to employers as agreed.
* Develop workplace introduction strategies and comprehensive, individualised support for service users returning to work; provide ongoing support to sustain employment.
* Offer high-quality support to employed service users at risk of losing employment; provide advocacy and return-to-work guidance as needed.
* Monitor longer-term career development and provide ongoing input as required; handle cases involving disciplinary hearings, phased returns, and mediation as appropriate.
* Build relationships with clinical teams to generate referrals and implement employment support within mental health treatment; promote a multidisciplinary approach to return to work.
* Communicate with carers, families, employers and professionals with appropriate consent as required.
* Provide reports to employers regarding occupational health and HR to negotiate satisfactory resolutions, particularly during deteriorations in mental health.
* Ensure mandatory training is completed; participate in role-specific training offered by external organisations.
* Adhere to Health and Safety at Work Act and ensure safety of self and others; implement information governance and safeguarding policies.
* Promote service user employment at recovery story events; contribute to innovative approaches to reduce discrimination in recruitment.
* Provide cover to localities with high referrals, complex cases, or when there are disruptions due to illness or vacancies; support benefits advice and better-off calculations prior to employment; match service users’ skills with volunteering leading to paid work.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential: Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
Desirable: Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services Sector; Trained in Talking Therapies delivery model; Mental Health First Aid; NVQ level 3 in Care or Learning Disability; Knowledge of teaching principles; Training in Systematic Instruction; Counselling; Person Centred Planning; Adult education/training, Sales & marketing
Knowledge and Experience
Essential: Experience of working with people with complex mental health needs; knowledge and experience of recovery and social inclusion principles; IT skills; experience working with diverse communities; ability to engage with employers across industries; understanding of recruitment/employment sectors and barriers to employment for people with mental health needs; knowledge of disability issues and related legislation; ability to design person-centred programmes; familiarity with various workplaces and processes; understanding of information systems in workplace; knowledge of labour market and market positioning; understanding of financial implications of benefits and pay structures.
Desirable: Experience in supported employment; understanding of Talking Therapies model; experience caring for someone with mental ill health; personal experience of using mental health services; understanding of self employment or business start-up.
Values
Essential: Continuous Improvement, Accountability, Respect, Enthusiasm, Support, High Professional Standards, Responsive to service users, Engaging Leadership, Strong Customer Service, Transparency and Honesty, Discretion, Change Oriented
Skills
Essential: Comfortable talking with people; non-judgemental and trustworthy; drive to help people gain meaningful work; resilience to failure; patient and empathetic; able to work unsupervised; good listening and judgement; diplomatic and negotiating skills with employers; ability to reach shared agreement and work in groups; quick learner; accurate record-keeping; ability to translate employer needs into job opportunities; selling and promotion skills; meaningful negotiating with employers, job seekers, carers; promote respect and dignity; motivation to work with marginalised groups.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and will require a DBS disclosure.
Employer
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Harry Blackman House, Marshalls Cross Road, St Helens, WA9 3DE
Website: https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/
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