At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals recovering from mental health crises to access education and benefits.
- Company: Join a leading NHS Trust known for its compassionate care and community impact.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and ongoing training opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team dedicated to improving mental health outcomes.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in benefits advice or support work is preferred.
The predicted salary is between 34186 - 37389 £ per year.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond. We are committed to providing high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’. We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience.
By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers. The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special. As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.
Job overview
Are you interested in supporting people to rebuild their lives after a mental health crisis? In this rewarding role, you will support individuals recovering from a first episode of psychosis to move forward into education, training, and volunteering. Your work will help them regain independence, purpose, and confidence. You will also play a key role in reducing financial stress by providing practical welfare benefits support, enabling service users to focus fully on their recovery. Over time, you will develop strong partnerships with educational institutions, local providers, and community services, ensuring our service users can access a wide range of opportunities to support their goals and aspirations.
We’re looking for someone who is:
- Experienced in benefits advice, employability, education, or support work
- Skilled at working with people facing complex barriers to engagement
- Confident completing detailed benefits applications and paperwork
- Able to build trusting, therapeutic relationships
- Organised, proactive, and able to manage their own workload
Main duties of the job
- Supporting service users to explore and access education, training and volunteering opportunities
- Providing hands‑on support with benefits applications (Universal Credit, PIP, Mandatory Reconsideration Requests, UC Journal Support etc)
- Helping individuals set goals and overcome barriers to participation
- Delivering 1:1 and Group sessions at team base and out in the community
- Working collaboratively with care coordinators and other professionals as part of a multi‑disciplinary mental health team
- Building links with local providers, colleges, and community services
- Keeping up to date with benefits changes and local educational opportunities
- Updating records and sharing progress with the wider MDT
Working for our organisation
LEIS provides specialist Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) support to people aged 18–65 who are experiencing or recovering from a first episode of psychosis (FEP). Our service works collaboratively to support recovery, promote independence, and improve long‑term outcomes for service users within the borough of Lewisham. This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated individual who is committed to the Early Intervention (EI) ethos of hope, recovery, and high‑quality person‑centred care.
Be part of a supportive, experienced multi‑disciplinary team
- Develop specialist skills in benefits advice and vocational recovery work
- Access ongoing training and development opportunities
- Build meaningful community partnerships
- Shape the education and benefits pathway within the service
- Make a visible, lasting difference to people’s recovery journeys
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- Helping service users to identify and consider educational or voluntary opportunities, set personal goals, and develop appropriate action plans to overcome any barriers.
- Supporting service users to complete benefits application forms where eligible, such as Personal Independence Payments, Universal Credit, and Employment Support Allowance.
- Develop and facilitate group work as appropriate.
- Keeping up to date with local and national education and labour market trends & policy, and informing and educating service users and colleagues about education/training opportunities for our client group.
- Keeping up to date and informing and educating service users about welfare benefit changes relevant to client group
- Providing training to colleagues on welfare benefits eligibility.
- To collaboratively and sensitively work with individuals with a range of mental health needs, adjusting and adapting approach as necessary
- To use a range of communication methods and being flexible in what is offered - face‑to‑face appointments, video meetings, telephone calls, emails, texts.
- To be creative and innovative in engaging sometimes hard to reach service users
MDT working and stakeholder engagement
- Contribute to the EI Pathway vocational strategy by working closely alongside the team’s Occupational Therapist, Vocational/Employment specialist (IPS worker) and STaR worker
- Working with local providers to identify work experience, volunteering, courses and training that meet the needs of service user’s vocational development
- Working as part of a team, sharing knowledge and expertise, and contributing to team meetings, service development activities and wider networks
Documentation
- Typing clear and concise event entries, entering data onto electronic databases, ensuring that files and systems are always up‑to‑date and accurate.
- Participate in audits and data collection as required
Person specification
Qualifications
- At least 3 years employment in a relevant role or NVQ in relevant area
- Educated to degree level or L4 IAG training / IPS training / benefits training/ mental health training or equivalent would be beneficial but not essential
Experience
- Experience of working in an educational, volunteering or benefits advisory role
- Experience of working with individuals experiencing complex barriers to participating in education, training, or volunteering
- Experience in coaching or mentoring others to meet their goals
- Experience working collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team
- Experience working in a mental health setting
- Experience running groups for service users in particular those with mental health difficulties
- Vocational assessment and profiling skills
Knowledge / Skills
- Knowledge and understanding of link between vocation, purpose, and mental wellbeing
- Good working knowledge of the welfare benefits system
- The ability to form trusting, therapeutic relationships with service users
- Good understanding of Equality and Diversity issues, including knowledge of the Equality Act 2010
- Ability to work independently, prioritise workload and carry out work efficiently and effectively
- Knowledge of Early Intervention in Psychosis interventions and the EI standards.
The Trust is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability and are committed to treating people fairly with compassion, respect and dignity and in promoting equality and human rights.
We aim to put this commitment into practice by:
- Embedding our commitment to tackling inequality, eliminating discrimination and harassment; promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations in our everyday practice
- Ensuring that all our services and all staff understand and support our commitment
- We believe that people who use our services, their carers and our staff, should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity
SLaM is a Stonewall Diversity Champion, Stonewall is the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans (LGBT) rights charity in Europe.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Education and Benefits Worker employer: Maudsley Learning
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust is an exceptional employer, renowned for its commitment to high-quality mental health care and the professional development of its staff. Located in London, the Trust offers a supportive work culture with regular supervision, opportunities for research, and a focus on flexible working arrangements, making it an ideal environment for Psychologists and CBT Therapists to thrive and make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and young people.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Education and Benefits Worker
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Maudsley Learning.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Maudsley Learning!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Maudsley Learning, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Maudsley Learning or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Education and Benefits Worker
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Maudsley Learning:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Maudsley Learning! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Maudsley Learning
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
