Talking Therapies Employment Advisors

Job responsibilities

1. Key Objectives

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

The EA work will be led by and focused on the aspirations of the client, considering their strengths, difficulties and employment assets in order to offer the most effective support.

Conduct an employment assessment, discussing the persons job goals and any concerns regarding their capacity for work. To examine barriers preventing them from paid employment and whether the individual could develop strategies to address them.

Utilise specialist advisory skills to support people, who are facing complex employment situations related to mental ill health to obtain, return to or retain employment.

Refer and signpost the person to other support if they have particularly complex barriers.

Offer the person support by agreeing an action plan with the person detailing the steps to be taken to either get back into or retain employment and the appropriate support route. Action plans need to include abilities, work solutions, preparation for work, disclosure as well as SMART.

The EA will develop in-depth knowledge of the local labour market, local support and new initiatives, taking into account the needs of the client to support effective interventions. Including specialist schemes to help with retaining or finding employment.

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

To appropriately escalate any concerns following the identification of risk and to follow the EA Risk Policy.

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

Provide the person 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.

Establish the likelihood of an individual being covered by the Equality Act and make suggestions about appropriate reasonable adjustments.

If appropriate signpost the person to other agencies who will be able to provide advice on other benefits/support the person may be entitled to.

Provide personalised support after an individual has returned to work or secured employment to help them to sustain employment.

To develop and maintain the integration of Employment support and the wider Sheffield NHS Talking Therapies service.

To report any progress, change or adverse event promptly to a senior EA.

Work closely with local agencies to identify appropriate job vacancies.

To attend regular supervision with the Senior EA.

1. Learning and Development and Training

Commitment to identify and explore training opportunities based on own gaps in knowledge.

Understand the importance of legislation and procedures.

To keep up to date with accurate information on local resources, facilities, training and employment.

To update existing knowledge by attending relevant training opportunities and CPD arranged by the service.

Keep up to date with the latest updates on employment law, labour market changes and benefits system.

Commitment to complete national training programme for EAs.

1. Data

To complete all necessary notes on the IAPTus system including questionnaires, reports and summaries for each client contact.

Collect & report data to support service performance and evaluation.

Contribute where appropriate to national data collection to inform national programme roll out.

Employment in this post is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service criminal records Disclosure. The post holder may be required to undertake a Disclosure application at any time during employment.

Staff are expected to undertake all mandatory training and refresher training appropriate to their role.

Staff are expected to observe the highest standards of care and conduct and to engage constructively with managers, colleagues, patients/service users/carers and others in the course of their duties.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Sound IT 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 build rapport and empathise with individuals accessing the service.
• Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to collect and report data to support service performance and evaluation.
• Knowledge of employment and disability related benefits.
• Vocational assessment and profiling.

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.
• Awareness of the needs of people with Mental Health conditions. The issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on Mental Health
• Working knowledge of community resources.
• Knowledge of employment law and the Equality Act 2010.
• Knowledge of evidence based interventions to support people with common MH problems remain in, return to & gain work.
• Experience of working with people with long term health conditions

Training & Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ level 3 minimum or equivalent.
• Evidence of further study in vocational training, careers advice, job retention and presenteeism or equivalent experience gained through work in the field.
• Willing and able to undertake the relevant training associated with the role.
• Able to integrate training into practice.

Desirable

• Evidence of a good customer service background.
• Information Advice and Guidance NVG level 3
• The Award in Education and Training level 3

Experience

Essential

• Experience of providing Vocational / Employment support.

Desirable

• Experience of supporting people with MH conditions into vocational/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 within a multi - disciplinary team
• Experience of facilitating group work and/or delivering presentations

Other

Essential

• A caring, responsible and positive approach.
• Reliable, trustworthy and enthusiastic.
• Motivated and innovative.
• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships.
• Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality.
• Ability to drive to different locations as part of the role.

Desirable

• Willingness to travel to other locations throughout the organisation.

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).