Location: Barnstaple, EX31 1TA
Salary: £28407.00 to £34581.00
Date posted: 22nd April 2024
Closing date: 7th May 2024
Our professional responsibility is to reduce the risk of infection to others as far as possible. Getting vaccinated against diseases that can be passed person-to-person in healthcare settings is part of this responsibility. The Trust will provide advice, guidance and support on vaccinations and access to vaccinations where requested.
Job Description:
A recent evaluation of the roleof employment advisors in NHS talking therapies, has shown improved mentalhealth for patients where there is a combined offer of employment support andpsychological treatment. In light of these outcomes we are excited to confirm our plan to expand ouremployment offer in TALKWORKS, Devons NHS Talking Therapies Service. Theexpansion enables us to appoint an employment advisor within our North Devon Team.
The employment advisor rolewill involve working alongside a team of therapists to ensure that apersonalised package of combined psychological treatment and employment supportis available to all patients who require support with remaining in employment,returning to employment following a period of absence or seeking newemployment.
We are looking for enthusiastic person who has acommitment to our local services. The service covers a large geographical areaand we strive to maintain a strong and healthy team culture. This position will cover the north Devon locality of TALKWORKS and some travel will be required when developing links within the community and supporting patients accessing employment support. The base for the role will be in Barnstaple. We welcome applications from positive and motivated individualswho have a keen interest to contribute towards developing and shaping theemployment support offer within our service.
Main duties of the job
* To provide information, advice and guidance to all NHS Talking Therapies patients who choose to receive employment support. This may include supporting people to remain in, return to and gain employment.
* To collaboratively establish employment goals with patients and produce a personalised action plan to help them to achieve these
* To empower patients to make better decisions about their working lives through improving communication with their colleagues and managers in the workplace.
* To work closely with external employment related services including Jobcentre Plus, Work & Health Programme providers, employers, trade unions and employment agencies
About us
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Job responsibilities
Communication andWorking Relationship Skills
* Offer patientssupport agreeing a written action plan with the person detailing the steps tobe taken to either get back into or retain employment and the appropriatesupport route. Including abilities, work solutions, preparation forwork, disclosure. The action plan should also be SMART (specific, measurable,achievable, realistic, time bound).
* Advocateon behalf of the patient with prospective employers if necessary, aiming toidentify work solutions that will overcome or minimise difficulties withinthe workplace.
* Establishany return to work issues, potential behaviour in the work place, possiblework solutions. Employer awareness ofthe implications under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments,health conditions and employment reactions.Interactions with supervisors and colleagues. Development needs and in work support
* Develop in-depth knowledge of the locallabour market, local support and new initiatives, taking into account theneeds of the patient to support effective interventions. Including specialistschemes to help with retaining or finding employment.
* Be able to sensitively deal with confidential andcomplex information regarding an individuals health, education and employment history.
* Work closely with the person using the serviceensuring appropriate, prompt, pro-active and clear communication at all times.
* Following DPT policies, respond to requests forgeneral information regarding mental health and employment,this may be from employers and members of the public
* Develop effective working relationships with arange of other agencies who might be better able to help individuals to achieve their employmentand/or education goals for example, local colleges, training providers andexternal supported employment services.
* Advocate on behalf of the patientwith prospective employers if necessary, aiming to identify work solutionsthat will overcome or minimise difficulties within the workplace.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Communication andWorking Relationship Skills
* Offer patientssupport agreeing a written action plan with the person detailing the steps tobe taken to either get back into or retain employment and the appropriatesupport route. Including abilities, work solutions, preparation forwork, disclosure. The action plan should also be SMART (specific, measurable,achievable, realistic, time bound).
* Advocateon behalf of the patient with prospective employers if necessary, aiming toidentify work solutions that will overcome or minimise difficulties withinthe workplace.
* Establishany return to work issues, potential behaviour in the work place, possiblework solutions. Employer awareness ofthe implications under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments,health conditions and employment reactions.Interactions with supervisors and colleagues. Development needs and in work support
* Develop in-depth knowledge of the locallabour market, local support and new initiatives, taking into account theneeds of the patient to support effective interventions. Including specialistschemes to help with retaining or finding employment.
* Be able to sensitively deal with confidential andcomplex information regarding an individuals health, education and employment history.
* Work closely with the person using the serviceensuring appropriate, prompt, pro-active and clear communication at all times.
* Following DPT policies, respond to requests forgeneral information regarding mental health and employment,this may be from employers and members of the public
* Develop effective working relationships with arange of other agencies who might be better able to help individuals to achieve their employmentand/or education goals for example, local colleges, training providers andexternal supported employment services.
* Advocate on behalf of the patientwith prospective employers if necessary, aiming to identify work solutionsthat will overcome or minimise difficulties within the workplace.
Analytical and Judgemental Skills
* Analyse job tasks and match with an individuals abilityto do the job and any work solutions that may be required to develop thematch.
* Consider a range of options available for a patient.
* To appropriately escalate any concerns following theidentification of risk and safeguarding by adhering to TALKWORK riskmanagement guidance.
Planning and Organisational Skills
* Provide a service that is flexible as far as possible interms of service working hours, enabling, where possible, at least oneworking session to be run outside 9-5 hours.
* Be responsible for organising and planning owncaseload and managing clinical/non clinical time effectively to fit with service needs and demands
* Prepare, organise and run training for employers,others in learning and work organisations and care staff about learning, workand mental health issues.
Responsibility for Patient/ClientCare, Treatment and Therapy
* To manage a caseload of people who have experienced mental healthproblems and who wish to retain, return to or regain employment, usingevidence based interventions.
* The work will be led by and focus on the aspirations of the serviceuser. Considering their strengths, difficulties and employment assets inorder to offer the most effective support.
* Conduct an assessment, discussing the persons job goals and any concernsregarding their capacity for work. Itis important at this point to establish a job goal (they may wish to changeroles or find a job), job tasks gathering evidence about the individualsabilities including previous work experience (it could be that a role theydid previously may be more suitable).Also important is their confidence to perform tasks and any factorsthat may be issues for employment and whether the individual has or coulddevelop strategies to address them.
* Where appropriate provide help to find the right job and provide adviceand support on training and also how to prepare for employer interviews.
* Aim to identify work solutions that will overcome or minimisedifficulties within the workplace. In particular establishing any return towork issues, potential behaviour in the work place, possible work solutions.
* Provide the patient with appropriate tools to enable them to ensurethat their needs are met within the workplace. Support to eitherself-advocate or source an appropriate advocate.
* Be aware of the impact on an individual who is experiencing mentalhealth issues, including loss of confidence, fear of failure etc.
* Be aware that many individuals with mental health conditions may alsohave primary or secondary health conditions and disabilities.
Responsibility for Policy and Service DevelopmentImplementation
* To contribute, alongside fellow Employment Advisorss,Employment Support Coordinators and TALKWORKS leadership, to the developmentof policies to guide the work of EAs
* Ensure there is easily accessible written andelectronic information for all the team and people using the service about learning and work relatedissues and services.
* Be involved in developing local policies
* Assist as requested in producing documents ofgood practice about the employment of peoplewith mental health difficulties.
* Increase engagement of employers throughproviding support for employers in recruitment & retention of staff with mental health issues.
* Network with peers to maintain professional links across the Trust
Responsibility forFinance, Equipment and Other Resources
* To ensure that all Trust equipment and resourcesare used in line with Trust policies
Responsibility for Human Resources,e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management
* Subject to experience, the post holders will be willing to deputise forBand 6 Employment Support Coordinators for short periods of time.
* Subject to experience, the post holders may be support to undertakesupervision with newer EAs or Band 4 EAs.
* To be willing to providing information and training to clinical staffon any area of specialist knowledge relating to employment matters
* To update existing knowledge by attending relevant trainingopportunities and CPD arranged by the service.
* Keep up to date with the latest updates on employment law, labourmarket changes and benefits system
* To keep up to date with accurate information on local resources,facilities, training and employment.
* To attend regular supervision with an Employment Support Coordinator
Responsibility forInformation Resources and Administrative Duties
* Ensure that all necessary documentationis completed, including recording notes from each patient contact on theIAPTus clinical record system.
* Ensure that annual leave, expensesand other job administration is kept up to date and completed on time.
Responsibility forResearch and Development
* Assist in audits of clinical activity andevaluative research as required.
* To collect data accurately as part of day to dayrole, enable audit activity to take place.
* Undertake surveys or audits, as necessary to ownwork
Freedom to Act
* Works to Clearly defined occupational policies.Work is managed, rather than supervised
Person Specification
Experience
* Experience of providing vocational/employment support as part of a prior role.
* Experience of supporting people with MH conditions into vocational/employment activities.
* Understanding of the employment needs, barriers and difficulties faced by people with MH conditions.
* Experience of working in a service where agreed targets are in place, demonstrating specific outcomes
* Experience of assessing, planning and facilitating activities that focus on recovery and vocational skills.
* Experience of working with interpreters
* Experience of working within a multi disciplinary team
Analytical and Judgemental Skills
* Ability to self-reflect, whilst working with patients, in own personal and professional development and in supervision
* Skilled at developing good rapport with patients and enabling them to find their own solutions
Knowledge
* The post holder will have a good understanding of return to work planning.
* Knowledge of the secondary effects on the individual that could be caused by their mental health experience, including loss of employment. The EA will also be aware that many individuals with mental health conditions may also have primary or secondary health conditions and disabilities.
* knowledge to understand the work implications of conditions, confidence, fear of failure etc.
* Knowledge of employment and disability related benefits.
* Knowledge of the employment /education needs and possible difficulties of people who experience mental health problems.
* Knowledge of and guided by the Job Centre Plus Employment, Health Condition and Disability guide notes.
* Awareness of the needs of people with MH conditions. The issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on MH.
* Current awareness of Government employment/training schemes
* Working knowledge of community resources.
* Knowledge of employment law and the Equality Act 2010.
* Knowledge of evidence based interventions to support people with common MH problems remain in, return to & gain work
Planning and Organisational Skills
* Ability to set clear SMART employment goals with patients
* Able to communicate clearly and persuasively both verbally and in writing
* Basic IT skills including word processing, excel and data base packages
* Ability to carry out a range of evaluation and monitoring techniques
Communication and Working Relationship Skills
* Effective written and oral communication skills.
* Organisational skills.
* Ability to prioritise and plan own caseload.
* Ability to assess individual strengths in relation to employment.
* Ability to adapt activities to be appropriate for the needs of an individual client.
* Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets.
* Excellent interpersonal skills.
* Ability to collect and report data to support service performance and evaluation
* Able to work in accordance with the Staff Compact and Trust Values and Behaviours.
* A caring, responsible and positive approach.
* Reliable, trustworthy and enthusiastic
* Motivated and innovative.
* Committed to continual quality and service improvement.
* Self-aware and committed to continual professional and personal development. Able to accept and respond positively to feedback from supervision.
* Committed to promoting a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.
* Ability to negotiate with employers on behalf of service users.
* Ability to be flexible, open and creative in problem solving.
* Ability to work as part of a multi disciplinary team
Qualifications
* A degree in a relevant area or equivalent experience in employment advice or mental health
* Evidence of further qualification or professional CPD relating to employment, employment law, and or mental health
* NVQ 4 in Advice and Guidance
* Certificate in Coaching skills
Physical Skills
* Ability to travel independently within the North Devon locality in accordance with Trust policies and service need.
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.
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