IPS Employment Specialist (Early Intervention in Psychosis) in Ipswich, Suffolk

Would you like an opportunity to help people who have mental health needs find work and help sustain employment? Do you currently work or have experience in health or social care, recruitment, employment or education services? If you have transferable skills to enable people to find/sustain employment, this is an excellent opportunity to join our team of Employment Specialists. Our service has the IPS status as a National Centre of Excellence (Centre for Mental Health) and we require an empathetic and driven individual to join our team as an Employment Specialist in Ipswich, Suffolk on a Permanent Contract.

You will be tasked with helping people with mental health needs to realise and achieve their paid employment goals including support with job searching, applications, interview skills and providing support after they have found work. As well as supporting those already in work with sustaining their employment, where their mental health is a contributing factor. You will be driven to build strong and lasting relationships with local employers, championing IPS and the individuals you support.

This is an opportunity to be embedded within the East & Central Suffolk 'Early Intervention in Psychosis' team - the role will see you become a vital part of the recovery planning and processes for this team, providing employment services to their service users.

Main duties of the job

You must have strong communication skills and confidence in order to build up relationships with all relevant stakeholders including employers and businesses. You will be required to directly engage with a range of stakeholders (e.g. DWP, Job Centre +, employment law firms, voluntary organisations etc.) but especially local employers in order to create opportunities for service users and to challenge stigma and discrimination that can at times be associated with mental health needs and employment. You will also be meeting and working with people and stakeholders in their local community.

You will work within multi-disciplinary Mental Health Teams, alongside clinical colleagues and will be expected to 'champion the employment agenda', instilling the belief that people with mental health needs want to work and with the right support can work; and therefore generating referrals to the service. You will work in partnership with individual service users, developing relationships that are enabling and empowering. You will be providing an evidence based supported employment service (called Individual Placement and Support/IPS) which will require you to prepare individuals for employment by assessing needs; identifying strengths, help with benefits, support networks, travel to work plans etc.

About us

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you. Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential. Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks. If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling. We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.

Benefits

• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us.
• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Job responsibilities

You will work to individual targets, i.e. the number of people supported into employment. You will be skilled in managing your own time and working with a high level of autonomy; responsible to the Team Leader via regular supervision and support and accountable to the Service Manager. You will promote best practice within mental health and employment in the Trust and other organisations in the local area.

Please note this may close early if sufficient number of applications are received.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Essential: Good standard of education; NVQ 3 or equivalent.
• Desirable: Educated to degree level; Health and Social care related qualification.

Knowledge

• Essential: Vocational assessment and profiling; Knowledge of good practice in employment; Knowledge of relevant Welfare Benefits and benefits rules.
• Desirable: An understanding of the principles and practice of supported employment; Knowledge of the Equality Act 2010.

Experience

• Essential: Experience of working within health, social care or the voluntary sector with people who have experienced mental health problems; Experience of helping people obtain or sustain employment/training; An understanding of the employment needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems; Literate in IT/Computer Skills; Experience of working with a range of stakeholders (including employers) to support people into employment.
• Desirable: Experience and knowledge of the benefits agency and all disability/employment related benefits.

Personal Qualities/Skills

• Essential: Ability to assess service users' employment skills and needs; Able to construct and review person-centered action plans; Ability to be flexible, open and creative in problem solving; Ability to initiate and develop relationships with employers; Excellent marketing and promotional skills; Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently; Shares the Trust's Beliefs and models this in their attitude and behaviour; Ability to facilitate solutions to difficult situations.
• Desirable: Report writing skills; Ability to analyse, interpret and present monitoring data.

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.