Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen within North Cumbria Talking Therapies service (formerly North Cumbria First Step) to appoint an Employment Advisor (EA) .
Who are we?
As part of CNTW we provide a range of evidenced based psychological interventions for people presenting with common mental health problems such as depression and a range of anxiety disorders. The employment support team delivers a range of help alongside trained mental health practitioners including including Counsellors, Cognitive Behavioural Therapists, and Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners.
We are a well respected NHS mental health service based in North Cumbria and are continually looking for ways to improve and develop our service to our patients. We operate 8am-8pm weekdays with some weekend work when required. We are a diverse team and employment advisors have been fully integrated with mental health practitioners.
As a mental health service we are committed to ongoing action to embrace diversity and we are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all staff and patients.
As a service we are currently offering a combination of face to face and remote working (telephone/video) either from one of our bases or working from home. This offers an opportunity for our staff to enjoy an improved work/life balance.
Main duties of the job
The Employment Advisor works collaboratively with psychological practitioners within the service to understand and support patients with a variety of employment support needs.
Using a thorough assessment, you will be creative and innovative to support our patients to use strategies or solutions to find, return or remain in work.
This is a varied role, which will involve supporting patients to look and apply for appropriate work as well as facilitating conversations between a patient and their employer to agree solutions or reasonable adjustments to help them return or remain in work.
An awareness of the impact of mental health upon work is desirable as well as excellent interpersonal skills that can build successful relationships with employers.
You will work autonomously and manage a caseload of patients receiving treatment, reporting to a Senior Employment Advisor for regular caseload supervision and peer support.
You will be expected to complete and pass a qualification equivalent to NVQ Level 4 as part of the national training for Employment Advisors.
You will work as part of a locality team within Carlisle and Eden as well as supporting colleagues in West Cumbria.
Working 37.5 hours per week, arranged flexibly within service hours where service permits. We would consider suggestions of any reasonable working plan to balance service needs and personal preferences.
About us
We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.
Benefits of joining our team:
- Staff benefits including pension, discounts and staff support services.
- Flexible working opportunities
- Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave for eligible staff
- Relocation package for eligible staff
- Annual leave entitlement of 27 days per year for new starters increasing to 29 days after 5 years of service and 33 after 10 years of service plus bank holidays.
Job description
Job 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 in order to offer the most effective support.
- Conduct an assessment, discussing the patient's employment support needs 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.
- Agree with the patient the steps to be taken to either get back into or retain employment and the appropriate support route.
- Develop in-depth knowledge of the local labour market, local support and new initiatives, taking into account the needs of the client to broker effective interventions.
- Where appropriate provide help to find the right job and provide advice and support on job applications / CV's and also how to prepare for job interviews.
- Advocate on behalf of the person with prospective employers if necessary, aiming to identify work solutions that will overcome or minimise difficulties within the workplace.
- Have an awareness of the implications under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments.
- Signpost patients to other funded specialist support who will be able to provide advice on debt, housing, legal or welfare benefits.
- Complete clinical records and ensure patient confidentiality is maintained at all times.
- Collect & report data to support service performance and evaluation.
- To report any progress, change or adverse event promptly to a Senior Employment Advisor.
- To autonomously manage occasional exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances related to working with service users with mental health problems in complex employment situations. This may involve supporting patients who are highly distressed when facing disciplinary procedures, loss of benefits or high levels of anxiety related to entering/re-entering the workforce.
- Act in a way which facilitates service users rights to make their own decisions and also recognise their responsibilities.
- Be able to successfully complete vocational training at Level 4.
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 27th June 2024
Closing date : 11th July 2024
We welcome your application.
Job description
Job 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 in order to offer the most effective support.
- Conduct an assessment, discussing the patient's employment support needs 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.
- Agree with the patient the steps to be taken to either get back into or retain employment and the appropriate support route.
- Develop in-depth knowledge of the local labour market, local support and new initiatives, taking into account the needs of the client to broker effective interventions.
- Where appropriate provide help to find the right job and provide advice and support on job applications / CV's and also how to prepare for job interviews.
- Advocate on behalf of the person with prospective employers if necessary, aiming to identify work solutions that will overcome or minimise difficulties within the workplace.
- Have an awareness of the implications under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments.
- Signpost patients to other funded specialist support who will be able to provide advice on debt, housing, legal or welfare benefits.
- Complete clinical records and ensure patient confidentiality is maintained at all times.
- Collect & report data to support service performance and evaluation.
- To report any progress, change or adverse event promptly to a Senior Employment Advisor.
- To autonomously manage occasional exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances related to working with service users with mental health problems in complex employment situations. This may involve supporting patients who are highly distressed when facing disciplinary procedures, loss of benefits or high levels of anxiety related to entering/re-entering the workforce.
- Act in a way which facilitates service users rights to make their own decisions and also recognise their responsibilities.
- Be able to successfully complete vocational training at Level 4.
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 27th June 2024
Closing date : 11th July 2024
We welcome your application.
Person Specification
Experience Knowledge Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or equivalent experience in a related field e.g. psychology, occupational therapy, human resources, job coaching or careers advice HR
- Knowledge or experience of supporting people with mental health conditions to find, return or remain in work
Desirable
- Knowledge achieved in a role that involved supporting people with mental health conditions
- Knowledge of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies and evidence based treatments
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Ability to build professional relationships and rapport with people
- Ability to collaborate with employers, organisations or strategic partners
Desirable
- Experience of coaching, mentoring or influencing to improve outcomes
- Understanding of the employment needs, barriers and difficulties faced by people with MH conditions
Role specific / team requirements
Essential
- Able to work independently and use initiative to think quickly on the spot in different, and often challenging, situations
- Creative problem solving to tackle obstacles that arise and fulfil requirements of the role in innovative ways to deliver greater impact
Desirable
- Demonstrates a non-judgemental and trustworthy approach to be warm and empathetic whilst respecting professional boundaries
- Demonstrates the ability to instil hope and empower others to own their experience and choices
Person Specification
Experience Knowledge Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or equivalent experience in a related field e.g. psychology, occupational therapy, human resources, job coaching or careers advice HR
- Knowledge or experience of supporting people with mental health conditions to find, return or remain in work
Desirable
- Knowledge achieved in a role that involved supporting people with mental health conditions
- Knowledge of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies and evidence based treatments
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Ability to build professional relationships and rapport with people
- Ability to collaborate with employers, organisations or strategic partners
Desirable
- Experience of coaching, mentoring or influencing to improve outcomes
- Understanding of the employment needs, barriers and difficulties faced by people with MH conditions
Role specific / team requirements
Essential
- Able to work independently and use initiative to think quickly on the spot in different, and often challenging, situations
- Creative problem solving to tackle obstacles that arise and fulfil requirements of the role in innovative ways to deliver greater impact
Desirable
- Demonstrates a non-judgemental and trustworthy approach to be warm and empathetic whilst respecting professional boundaries
- Demonstrates the ability to instil hope and empower others to own their experience and choices
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
