Employment Advisor

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

This role is designed to offer employment advice to people engaging with NHS Plymouth Talking Therapies Service. The post holders will work closely with clinicians who provide psychological therapies to people with common mental health problems. The post holder will manage a caseload of patients, providing employment support and advice. This advice will range from single sessions to regular appointments with patients, and may continue for up to one month post therapy.

The role will involve working directly and indirectly with Jobcentre Plus, employers, trade unions and employment agencies to keep both help people retain employment and secure employment opportunities.

SCOPE AND RANGE

The postholder will provide specialised assessment of individuals works needs and manage the provision and a caseload of people who are referred from NHS Plymouth Talking Therapies practitioners and wish to return to, remain in or enter work for the first time.

The postholder will also provide specialised advice, information and support to the individuals employer or learning provider as required. The postholder is responsible for establishing and maintaining links with relevant organisations, employers and individuals to enable people who have mental ill health can access work opportunities.

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

To manage a caseload of people who have experienced mental health problems and who wish to retain, return to or regain employment, using evidence based interventions.

The EA work will be led by and focused on the aspirations of the service user. Considering their strengths, difficulties and employment assets to offer the most effective support.

Conduct an assessment, discussing the persons job goals and any concerns regarding their capacity for work. It is important at this point to establish a job goal (they may wish to change roles or find a job), job tasks gathering evidence about the individuals abilities including previous work experience (it could be that a role they did previously may be more suitable). Also important is their confidence to perform tasks and any factors that may be issues for employment and whether the individual has or could develop strategies to address them.

Where appropriate provide help to find the right job and provide advice and support on training and also how to prepare for employer interviews.

Aim to identify work solutions that will overcome or minimise difficulties within the workplace. In particular establishing any return-to-work issues, potential behaviour in the workplace, possible work solutions.

Provide the patient with appropriate tools to enable them to ensure that their needs are met within the workplace. Support to either self-advocate or source an appropriate advocate.

Be aware of the impact on an individual who is experiencing mental health issues, including loss of confidence, fear of failure etc.

Be aware that many individuals with mental health conditions may also have primary or secondary health conditions and disabilities. The post holders will have the knowledge to understand the work implications of these conditions.

Provide a service that is flexible as far as possible in terms of service working hours, enabling, where possible, at least one working session to be run outside 9-5 hours.

Be responsible for organising and planning own caseload 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, work and mental health issues. Run workshops to enhance employability skills for patients.

To manage a caseload of people who have experienced mental health problems and who wish to retain, return to or regain employment, using evidence based interventions.

The work will be led by and focus on the aspirations of the service user. Considering their strengths, difficulties and employment assets in order to offer the most effective support.

Conduct an assessment, discussing the persons job goals and any concerns regarding their capacity for work. It is important at this point to establish a job goal (they may wish to change roles or find a job), job tasks gathering evidence about the individuals abilities including previous work experience (it could be that a role they did previously may be more suitable). Also important is their confidence to perform tasks and any factors that may be issues for employment and whether the individual has or could develop strategies to address them.

Where appropriate provide help to find the right job and provide advice and support on training and also how to prepare for employer interviews.

Aim to identify work solutions that will overcome or minimise difficulties within the workplace. In particular establishing any return to work issues, potential behaviour in the work place, possible work solutions.

Provide the patient with appropriate tools to enable them to ensure that their needs are met within the workplace. Support to either self-advocate or source an appropriate advocate.

Be aware of the impact on an individual who is experiencing mental health issues, including loss of confidence, fear of failure etc.

Be aware that many individuals with mental health conditions may also have primary or secondary health conditions and disabilities.

To contribute, alongside fellow Employment Advisors, Employment Support Coordinators and Talking Therapies leadership, to the development of policies to guide the work of EAs

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 peoplewith 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.

Analyse job tasks and match with an individuals ability to do the job and any work solutions that may be required to develop the match.

Consider a range of options available for a patient.

To appropriately escalate any concerns following the identification of risk and safeguarding by adhering to Talking Therapies risk management guidance.

COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

Offer patients support agreeing a written action plan with the person detailing the steps to be taken to either get back into or retain employment and the appropriate support route. Including abilities, work solutions, preparation for work, disclosure. The action plan should also be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time bound).

Advocate on behalf of the patient with prospective employers if necessary, aiming to identify work solutions that will overcome or minimise difficulties within the workplace.

Establish any return-to-work issues, potential behaviour in the workplace, possible work solutions. Employer awareness of the 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 local labour market, local support and new initiatives, taking into account the needs of the patient to support effective interventions. Including specialist schemes to help with retaining or finding employment.

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 Livewell Southwest policies, respond to requests for general information regarding mental health and employment, this may be from employers and members of the public.

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.

Advocate on behalf of the patient with prospective employers if necessary, aiming to identify work solutions that will overcome or minimise difficulties within the workplace.

Qualifications

Essential

• A degree in a relevant area or equivalent experience in employment advice or mental health.

Desirable

• Evidence of further qualification or professional CPD relating to employment, employment law, and or mental health.
• NVQ Level 4 in Advice & Guidance
• Certificate in Coaching Skills

Experience

Essential

• Experience of providing vocational/employment support as part of a prior role.

Desirable

• Experience of supporting people with MH conditions into vocational or 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

Skills

Essential

• 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.

Desirable

• 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.

Knowledge

Essential

• The post holder will have a good understanding of return-to-work planning.
• EAs will be aware 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. The EA will have the knowledge to understand the work implications of these conditions, confidence, fear of failure etc.
• Knowledge of employment and disability related benefits.

Desirable

• The EA must be aware 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.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Knowledge of employment law and the Equality Act 2010.
• Knowledge of evidence based interventions to support people remain in, return to & gain work.

Additional requirements

Essential

• An enhanced DBS Check will be required for this role.
• Ability to travel independently in accordance with LWSW 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).