Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Specialist
Job summary
37.5 Per Hours Week
As part of the NHS England initiative to expand access to evidence-based Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services, we are delighted to be seeking a full-time Employment Specialist (Band 5) to join our IPS service in Calderdale. For people who need mental health support, getting back into work is a vital step on their recovery journey.
You will be joining an established IPS service, which at present is fully integrated into existing community mental health teams however the primary focus of this role will be to continue the exciting development of our IPS provision within primary care.
The quality of our support is well recognised with the service achieving the IPS Grow Quality Kite Mark accreditation with Exemplary fidelity rating.
You will work alongside clinical colleagues and will be expected to champion the employment agenda, instilling the belief that people with mental health needs want to work and with the right support can work; and therefore, generating referrals to the service.
We welcome people from a range of backgrounds and with a variety of experience for this role - a background in employment support, health or social care would be helpful.
If required, well train you on the IPS approach, giving you the tools you need to provide expert support and advice to clients, whilst also building positive relationships with employers, opening doors and changing perceptions around mental health.
Main duties of the job
This is an incredibly rewarding role - utilising the IPS model, you will have the opportunity to transform the lives of your clients, to give them hope, direction and support their recovery journey.
This is also a challenging role, so you will need to be resilient, empathetic and dedicated to finding clients a role that's right for them. As a people person, with your can do attitude, you will build a good rapport with your clients, gaining a real understanding of their key skills, their aspirations and their career goals and finding them opportunities to match.
You'll also spend time building productive relationships with employers to identify and negotiate job opportunities within the hidden labour market.Using a strength-based approach, collaboratively formulating employment plans which will be regularly reviewed and assessed, taking into consideration any potential barriers to work and identifying any reasonable work adjustments.
Offering flexible, regular and individualised support to your caseload of clients, which may include; benefits counselling, job brokerage, goal setting, CV building, rapid job searching and support with applications.
Managing your own time and working with a high level of autonomy; responsible to the Team Leader via regular supervision and support and accountable to the Service Manager.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.
About us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Assess, provide guidance and person centred support to people who have experienced mental health problems in exploring their interest and capacity for employment under the supervision of the Team Leader.
Have an individual caseload of people who have experienced mental health problems and wish to return to employment using the Individual Placement and Support approach.
Proactively engage and work with employers to negotiate and secure employment opportunities for this client group.
Work as part of a Community Mental Health Team, maintaining positive and integrated relationships, fostering a holistic approach to recovery through employment.
The IPS Employment Specialist undertakes comprehensive assessments formulating vocational profiles of the individuals employment needs and abilities, developing an employment action/support plan whilst liaising with the care coordinator.
To assess individuals work related support needs.
To offer guidance and support to people in exploring their interest and capacity in employment using the Individual Placement and Support approach.
To prepare individuals for employment through vocational profiling under supervision of the Team Leader.
To provide personalized ongoing support to individuals once they have secured employment and to assist them in sustaining their employment.
If the service user consents, to review employment support needs with both the service users and the employer.
To provide education and support to the employer as agreed with the individual. This may include negotiating adjustments and maintaining ongoing contact with the employer.
To develop relationships with both service users, employers and other organisations that support people to achieve their employment goals whilst being mindful of their needs and priorities.
Assess for, review and deliver a comprehensive range of HR services around employment needs and difficulties of people who have experienced mental health problems who want to access employment opportunities and want to return to work.
To create documents/reports in a timely manner.
To support service users complete application forms and to job search.
The role of the IPS Employment Specialist is integrated into the Calderdale Community Mental Health Teams and works along side Care Coordinators/Health Care Professionals (HCPs), being responsible for those service users who want to gain employment.
To meet regularly with Care Coordinators/HCPs to coordinate and integrate IPS services into mental health services.
To feedback information clearly and concisely within multidisclinary team meetings using excellent communication skills.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Educated to degree level in a subject relevant to the role or able to demonstrate competencies working at degree level.
Physical Attributes
- Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post.
- A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
Experience
- Experience with health or social services or the voluntary sector, working with people who have experienced mental health problems and related employment difficulties.
- Personal lived experience of mental health problems.
Special Knowledge and Skills
- An understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems and related barriers to employment.
- An understanding of the principles and practice of Individual Placement and Support.
- An understanding of Employer Engagement strategies.
- Understanding of Recovery principles.
- A working knowledge of Human Resources good practice and employment legislation in relation to supporting people with mental health needs in the workplace.
- Understanding of Welfare Rights/ benefits system.
- An understanding of applied research methods.
- Good presentation skills.
Training
- Coaching or motivational interviewing experience/qualification.
- Occupational Therapy or Occupational Psychology Training.
- IPS Training.
- Employer Engagement Training.
- Counselling or Careers Guidance/equivalent as evidenced by a relevant qualification.
Personal Attributes
- An ability to initiate and develop relationships with employers while being aware of their needs.
- Ability to build and develop relationships with service users having awareness of their needs to access employment.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Vocational assessment skills.
- IT skills.
- Good administrative skills.
- Motivational skills.
- Ability to use ones initiative.
- A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).
- Willingness to work flexible hours according to the demands of the job.
- Good marketing skills.
- Good negotiation skills and persuasive style.
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.
Employer details
Employer name
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Address
Laura Mitchell Health & Wellbeing Centre
Great Albion Street
Halifax
HX1 1YR
https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk
- Company
- South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
- Location
- Halifax, United Kingdom HX1 1YR
- Employment Type
- Permanent
- Salary
- £28407.00 - £34581.00 a year
- Posted
- Company
- South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
- Location
- Halifax, United Kingdom HX1 1YR
- Employment Type
- Permanent
- Salary
- £28407.00 - £34581.00 a year
- Posted