Ips Employment Specialist

The Employment Specialist will join TUKES Individual Placement & Support (IPS) under the direction of Lisa Heys (IPS Team Lead) to deliver Employability support as part of the holistic recovery plan for mental health service users. You will be required to manage a caseload of up to 20-30 people at any time who have experienced mental health problems and who are unemployed. The Employment Specialist is expected to deliver employability and training will be given. Working directly with all relevant stakeholders: the service user, CMHT staff, consultant psychiatrists, partner agencies and employers - you will support the service users on your caseload to gain and retain paid employment. Responsibilities To manage a caseload of between 20-30 service users at any one time who are currently off work / unemployed, who may or may not be receiving specialist mental health services, but who wish to return to work. Meet and exceed job outcome targets for service users Build relationships with clinical teams to generate referrals and create a collaborative working partnerships with NHS clinicians where employment support is integrated into mental health treatment. Build a multi-disciplinary approach to the return to work. For example, involve clinical staff (where relevant) in managing symptoms at work, medication reviews and supporting rehabilitation needs e.g. social skill development, budgeting, travel training etc. To prepare individuals for a return to work by supporting service users to understand their skills, aspirations and goals through vocational profiling and action planning. Focus on rapid job search with the service user, whilst utilising local support networks to help them overcome their barriers to employment. Source job opportunities for service users through tailored job search and regular contact with employers. Spend time getting to know local employers, in order to negotiate job opportunities that meet each individuals strengths, needs, abilities and preferences. When placing service users with employers, ensure that the quality of work environments is explored, including potential for workplace adjustments that will accommodate individual strengths, skills symptoms and coping skills. Support wider team by 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 might be better able to help individuals to achieve their employment goals for example, local colleges, training providers and external supported employment services To 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. To provide individualised support to service users once they have returned to work to assist them in sustaining employment. To maintain a professional relationship with the service users of the programme and with key internal and external stakeholders, with particular attention to confidentiality and the maintenance of boundaries. Work with external agencies to maximise use of both internal and external resources in the delivery of vocational support services To adhere to administrative and data capture protocols which record the progress of individuals, and to keep accurate and complete records of casework. Ensure that effective monitoring and evaluation systems are adhered to and keep abreast of changing practice within vocational rehabilitation To undertake mandatory training as required including any employability training. To actively participate in own continuous professional development To ensure that all relevant policies are implemented such as information governance, safeguarding etc. To regularly collect and promote service user employment recovery stories.