Employment Specialist

Main duties of the job

The post holder works as part of the Workways

team in line with the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) evidence based

best practice. The post holder also provides specialised vocational

assessment of individuals learning and work needs. The post holder will manage

a caseload of no more than 20 people (per wte) who are supported by the Early

Intervention Team, experiencing mental health problems and wish to enter or

remain in employment in line with IPS principles. Working with people in an

individualised way to help them achieve their own employment and/or education

goals, the post holder will be pro-active in their engagement with people on

their caseload . The post holder will

provide advice, information and support to the individual and to their employer/educator

and mental health worker. The post holder is responsible for establishing and

maintaining links with relevant organisations, employers and individuals to

enable people who have mental ill health to obtain paid work.

This post may involve lone

working, working away from base frequently and working without direct

supervision.

Communication

and Working Relationship Skills

Be the

linked Employment Specialist with Early Intervention Teams in either Torbay, South and West Devon

Develop

• effective working relationships with a range of other agencies who might be
• better able to help individuals to achieve their employment and/or education
• goals for example, local colleges, training providers and external supported
• employment services.
• Liaise regularly with mental health services workers,
• users and carers groups and other health related agencies over learning and work issues.

Carry out all components of supporting clients on

caseload with education goals.

Establish, maintain and nurture employer contacts with

the aim of increasing options for people to find employment. Aim to contact at least one new

employer every week.

Promote the benefits of employing and

supporting people with mental health issues to Employers

Promote the benefits of mainstream

education for clients on caseload with education goals.

Support employers to enable the person using the

service to sustain their position. This will involve regular communication

with employers and others to provide advice, guidance and training on how to

manage a particular situation.

Be available on the

end of the phone for advice and support to employers/educators and others as required

Promote and publicise Workways to learning and work

providers and the wider community by giving talks or presentations as agreed with service

manager.

Be

able to sensitively deal with confidential and complex information regarding

an individuals health, education and employment history.

Work

closely with the person using the service ensuring appropriate, prompt,

pro-active and clear communication at all times.

Following DPT

policies, respond to requests for general information regarding mental health

and employment, this may be from employers and members of the public

Keep the Workways team informed of current work to ensure

continuity of work at times of absence.

Work closely with the whole Workways team and cover

others work as needed, this may include covering admin and reception duties at times of

staff shortages.

Analytical

and Judgemental Skills

Following

assessment of a new applicant to the service, offer the most relevant

interventions in line with the IPS approach.

Monitor

progress with clinical outcomes of own caseload and report monthly to team

lead on these to ensure accurate onward reporting.

Planning

and Organisational Skills

Ensure effective use of resources within own work.

Be responsible for organising and planning own caseload and managing

clinical/non clinical time effectively to fit with service needs and demands

Working with another team member, prepare, organise and

run training for employers, others in learning and work organisations and care staff about

learning, work and mental health issues.

As required take a lead in planning and running of

recovery courses and groups for people who use the service such as Preparing For Work.

Work flexibly to meet individuals needs and

this may require some working out of normal office hours.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment

• and Therapy
• At all times work in a recovery-focussed way.
• Manage a caseload of people (of no more than 20 people
• per whole time equivalent worker) who have mental health issues and who wish to find paid work or
• commence mainstream education

Work pro-actively with the person using the service with

the ultimate goal of helping them find and retain paid work.

Provide IPS vocational assessment for individual

applicants to Workways.

Work with the person using the service to explore their

areas of strength, development needs, barriers to progression, learning and work needs and so

on to draw up a plan of action and

their next best step.

Co-write all action plans with the person using the

service, then monitor and evaluate these plans in order to measure progress and effectiveness

of all interventions.

Regularly review the agreed action plan with the person

using the service, seeking to assist them to progress with their vocational goals.

Provide interventions to assist the individual in problem

solving, confidence building and improving work related skills

Provide support in the work place for each person using

• the service to enable them to have the best
• possible chance of succeeding in the position.
• Provide individualised,
• on-going support and advice to individuals once they have secured employment
• to assist them in sustaining employment.

Maintain a professional relationship with the

people using the service with VRS staff, with mental health staff, employers

and with particular attention to confidentiality and maintenance of

professional boundaries.

Plan

and implement recovery courses or groups as required. This involves running

group sessions on topics such as interview techniques, c.v. writing or

assertiveness, for example.

Be

able to work with people who have additional problems such as learning

difficulties, physical conditions or injuries.

Responsibility

• for Policy and Service Development Implementation
• Ensure up to date knowledge of, and adherence to, the Individual
• Placement and Support approach, in relation to Early Intervention to helping
• people find employment or commence education.

Keep Workways informed of current VR issues and keep up

to date with examples of evidence-

based practice and government initiatives and mandates.

Ensure there is easily accessible written and electronic information

for all the team and people using the service about

learning and work related issues and services.

Be involved in

developing local policies

Assist as requested

in producing documents of good practice about the employment of people with

mental health difficulties.

Increase engagement

of employers through providing support for employers in recruitment &

retention of staff with mental health issues.

Network

with peers to maintain professional links across the Trust

Responsibility

• for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources
• Ensure all resources are used safely, efficiently and effectively,
• bringing to the service managers attention any areas where this might be
• improved
• May handle small amounts of petty cash on occasion.

May be a purchase card holder

Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision,

Training, HR Advice and Management

Provide informal and ad-hoc clinical support and supervision to the

administration team as required

Supervise students on placement as agreed with service manager.

Assist with the induction of new staff

Responsibility

for Information Resources and Administrative Duties

Maintain

up to date and accurate statistics, clinical records, service deficits,

training given, outcomes of contact, and any other information needed for the

ongoing evaluation of the service.

Regularly use IT systems for inputting of

data, e-mailing, internet and word processing.

Assist

in reviewing the teams administration processes to ensure they are fit for

purpose, raising any concerns with team lead or service manager.

Responsibility

for Research and Development

Take an active part

in reviewing and developing new working practices in line with current

evidence based practice

Participate in

staff surveys

Take an active role

in conducting clinical audits

Freedom

to Act

In line with

policies and procedures, work under the general supervision of the appointed

supervisor making independent decisions on a day to day basis.

Any

• Other Specific Tasks Required
• Using
• the Trusts core training requirements and the Workways team development
• checklist,
• participate
• in a range of learning opportunities to ensure own skills and knowledge are
• up to date.

Have monthly

professional, clinical and managerial supervision of work

Have

yearly personal development and review meetings and six monthly reviews.