Employment Specialist, Newmarket

Employment Specialist, Newmarket - West Suffolk You will work with clients (managing a caseload) who have mental health support needs, to assist them in securing sustainable paid employment in line with their preferences. You will deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach (for which training will be given); providing person centred advice and guidance to clients, whilst building positive relationships with local employers to enable clients to move into suitable employment. You will work as part of a community mental health team, maintaining positive and integrated relationships, fostering a holistic approach to recovery through employment. Why Join us? Together we are looking to create growth and opportunity for individuals with mental health conditions and build a better and all-inclusive working world. We work collaboratively to make a real impact in transforming someone's life. We love what we do and feel we offer an incredibly rewarding career with an excellent training and development plan, a generous amount of annual leave and pension scheme. 35 days annual leave (incl bank holidays)Company Pension and Sick PayEmployee Assistance ProgrammeLife AssuranceReward Gateway (Employee discounts and benefits)Blue Light Card Main duties of the job Establish positive and integrated relationships with clinical teams, employers and other service providers. This includes: To build and maintain employer relationships and maintain employer engagement database.Arrange regular meetings with clients to monitor and review progress pre and post-employment.Spend time getting to know local employers, in order to negotiate job opportunities that meet each individuals strengths, needs, abilities and preferences.To challenge inequalities experienced by clients and address existing discrimination, whilst ensuring a process of learning for the organisation.Work with employers to promote the service, identify job opportunities and ensure appropriate strategies are in place to reduce barriers in the work place this can include exploring job carving i.e. carving small slices of work from the duties other staff do not have time to do.To develop effective working relationships with a range of external agencies who can help individuals to achieve their employment goals. This may include local colleges and training providers. About us Employ-Ability, an Essex-based charity, is seeking to recruit suitable candidates to support those, with mental ill health, to find and keep employment. Our recent achievements include securing further funding to deliver IPS and Retention Services across South and West Essex with Essex Partnership University Trust. Employ-Ability is a highly successful supported employment service, as well as a recognised Centre of Excellence. The charity works with Essex Partnership University Foundation Trust to deliver an Essex wide Individual Placement and Support (IPS) service and from April 2019 with Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust to deliver a West Suffolk, Ipswich and East Suffolk Service. Job responsibilities Core Responsibilities: Manage a caseload of around 20 clients who have mental health support needs who are motivated to start/return to work.Deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach for which training will be given.Meet and support clients to understand their key skills, aspirations and goals through completing a Vocational Profile and produce an Action Plan to help them obtain and sustain competitive employment. This includes support with their job search, CV production, application forms, interview techniques and career development.Assess clients support needs related to work which may include benefits/welfare advice, disclosure of mental health symptoms etc, and provide support & guidance.Attend weekly clinical team meetings as an embedded IPS practitioner.Source job opportunities for clients through tailored job search and regular contact with local employers to explore hidden as well as advertised employment opportunities.Provide education and support to employers, as agreed with the individual, which may include negotiating adjustments, return to work strategy and on-going contact with the employer to ensure job retention.Build relationships with colleagues in clinical teams to engage and generate referrals and create collaborative working partnerships with clinical staff (promoting employment as a positive intervention in the recovery journey).Once employment has been secured continue to provide quality service through conducting regular visits, effective monitoring and in-work support to clients and employers to help sustain employment. Other: To adhere to administrative and data capture protocols which record the progress of individuals, and to keep accurate and complete records of casework.To work independently, reliably and deliver consistently to deliver effective IPS practice.Ensure that effective monitoring and evaluation systems are adhered to and keep abreast of changing practice within vocational rehabilitation.To co-produce service development with service users where possible.To collect employment recovery stories from people accessing the service.Ensure that all relevant policies are implemented such as information governance, safeguarding etc.Partake in continuous learning about mental health conditions, their impact and how they can be managed and undertake mandatory training as required.Work flexible hours as required.To keep up to date with information on grants and advisory services for clients and employers, for instance funding for specialised equipment or advice on the Equality Act 2010.To support the team in promoting Employ-Ability in the community and with related publicity events and materials.You will be required to be mobile across a geographical area in supporting clients.To undertake any other duties as may be necessary from time to time, including possible out of hours working for which there will be time off in lieu. Person Specification Qualifications Educated to a degree level or equivalent experienceTrained in IPS approachLevel 3 Diploma in Employability Services Sector QualificationQCF in Advice & Guidance (Level 3) Experience Experience/understanding of working with people with mental health support needs, or a similar client group within health, social services or the voluntary sectorExperience of working with someone on a one-to-one basisExperience of managing multiple tasks at any one timeExperience of working assertively to influence decision makersExperience of supporting people to obtain or keep workExperience of working within mental health servicesOwn personal lived experience of recovery from mental health difficultiesPrevious experience of delivering a service using the IPS model is a bonusProven experience of meeting and exceeding outcomes and targets Knowledge An understanding of the employment needs, and challenges faced by people who experience mental health difficultiesDeveloping a knowledge of a broad range of occupations and jobsAble to use IT and tools such as MS Word, PowerPoint and ExcelKnowledge of the benefits agency and all disability/ employment related benefits Skills and competencies Good motivational, communication and listening skillsOutstanding interpersonal skills and ability to build rapport with a range of peopleGood organisational abilityNatural ability to build close, trusting and productive relationships with peopleTeam orientated and works collaboratively within a mixed-disciplinary teamAbility to work independently and use initiative to develop and promote a serviceNon-judgemental and trustworthyEmpathy with the needs of those with mental health support needsPassion and drive to make a positive difference to people's livesHighly motivated with a genuine belief that someone with a mental health condition can find paid employmentResilient and tenacious to not give up despite setbacks and frustrationsSelf-aware of personal strengths and weaknesses and actively invest in personal and professional developmentWillingness to travel within the region 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr