At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals with mental health challenges to find meaningful employment in the community.
- Company: Join Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity making a real difference.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with a focus on diversity and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on people's lives while growing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in recruitment or employment support, and strong relationship-building skills.
The predicted salary is between 31049 - 31049 £ per year.
Would you like to work for a leading mental health charity? Do you want a rewarding career where you can make a real difference to someone’s life? If yes, join us here at Rethink Mental Illness. We have an exciting opportunity at our Coventry & Warwickshire IPS Employment service, where you will join our friendly and inspiring team as an IPS Employment Specialist. Your role will be a permanent position working 37.5 hours per week in a field-based role, based in the community of South Warwickshire. A good working local knowledge of all areas of South Warwickshire would be ideal.
You will be integrated into the NHS to provide employment support for people experiencing severe mental illness with the aim of gaining employment. You will attend 6 meetings per week with local employers to build relationships and engage them regarding our service. In addition, you will meet your clients each week to provide them with face-to-face support. Key to this role will also be to undertake administration duties such as producing letters, spreadsheets, and keeping various systems up to date. As part of the role, you will receive System 1 training from the NHS which will be made up of a series of 10 online sessions and a final assessment. You will also be expected to operate Rethink's internal CRM systems on a daily basis; full training will be provided.
Who are we? We’re Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity provider of mental health services in England. We support thousands of people through our groups, services, policy, campaigns and advice and information. Our work supports us in delivering on our mission: “A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.” In everything we do, we seek to demonstrate our values: Passion, Commitment, Openness, Hope, Expertise and understanding. If these values resonate with you, we would love to hear from you.
What will you be doing?
- Manage a caseload of between 20-30 service users at any one time who are currently off work/unemployed, receiving specialist mental health services and who wish to return to work, pro rata.
- Build relationships with clinical teams to generate referrals and create collaborative working partnerships with NHS clinicians where employment support is integrated into mental health treatment and forms part of the Transformation plan.
- Build a multi-disciplinary approach to the return to work, involving clinical staff (where relevant) in managing symptoms at work, liaising with DWP and other stakeholder groups.
- 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, 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, with 6 face-to-face contacts per week in the community.
Do you have what we are looking for?
- A basic understanding of IPS (Individual Placement Support) gained through experience or self-conducted research.
- Experience in recruitment or employment along with advice and guidance on employment needs.
- Ability to engage with employers and build close, trusting, and productive relationships with people.
- Good understanding of the local area and its employers.
- Strong IT skills with the competency to use a range of complex systems and software.
- Good understanding of the principles and practice of supported employment.
- Experience of working in supported employment services is desirable.
- Good time management, diary organisation, adaptability/flexibility as no two days are the same, and ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Experience of working with people with mental health problems or a similar service user group is desirable.
- As you will be working within the community, you must hold a full UK driving licence.
What will you receive?
You will have plenty of opportunities to enhance your abilities with the opportunity to make a real difference every day. In addition, you will have excellent development opportunities including funded training, career development and a range of e-learns. You will also receive:
- Starting salary of £31,049 per annum.
- Contributory pension scheme.
- Life assurance and employee assistance programme.
- 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days plus bank holidays.
- Your "Rethink Day" - 1 day’s additional leave (pro rata) on your Birthday.
At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe that when you feel supported, you can make the biggest difference. That’s why we offer a range of benefits to help you thrive:
- Inclusive Culture: Join staff networks that champion diversity and inclusion.
- Wellbeing Support: Access our Wellbeing Hub, Employee Assistance Programme, and the Unmind mental health app.
- Recognition & Rewards: Enjoy discounts, cashback offers, and celebrate achievements through our PULSE platform.
- Flexible Working & Generous Leave: Starting at 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays and your birthday off), with options to buy or sell extra days.
- Learning & Development: Grow your career with structured onboarding and training opportunities.
- Financial & Family Support: Contributory pension scheme, enhanced family leave, and travel benefits like season ticket loans and cycle-to-work schemes.
- Referral Bonus: Earn up to £300 for introducing someone to our team.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion: Diversity is important to us, and we appreciate difference through inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. We actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience of mental illness, those who are LGBTQIA+, neurodiverse, have a health condition, or a disability or hidden disability, and people from an ethnically diverse background.
Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation: We have an ambition of becoming a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider. We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrates our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.
IPS Employment Specialist in Coventry employer: Rethink Mental Illness
Join our dedicated team in Durham as an Apprentice Health and Wellbeing Coach, where you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of individuals transitioning from prison to community life. Our supportive work culture fosters personal and professional growth, offering you a nationally recognised qualification while you gain hands-on experience in a meaningful role. With a focus on person-centred support and collaboration with healthcare professionals, this apprenticeship is not just a job; it's a pathway to a rewarding career in health and wellbeing.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land IPS Employment Specialist in Coventry
✨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 Rethink Mental Illness.
✨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 Rethink Mental Illness!
✨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 Rethink Mental Illness, 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 Rethink Mental Illness 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 IPS Employment Specialist in Coventry
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 Rethink Mental Illness:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Rethink Mental Illness! 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 Rethink Mental Illness
✨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.
