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- Tasks: Help clients with mental health needs secure sustainable employment and improve their wellbeing.
- Company: Community-focused organisation dedicated to supporting individuals on their employment journey.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and community impact.
- Why this job: Empower others while building relationships with local employers and enhancing social inclusion.
- Qualifications: Experience with mental health support and strong interpersonal skills required.
The predicted salary is between 29556 - 35413 £ per year.
Position: Employment Specialist
Location: Basingstoke
Salary: £29,556 - £35,413
Type: Permanent
This role will be covering Basingstoke and is community based working and site based work in clinical settings. Working with clients, health professionals, service providers and employers, IPS Employment Specialists are focused on making sure a person's journey into employment, with associated improved social inclusion and wellbeing is as easy as possible. You will work with clients (managing a caseload) who have mental health support needs, to assist them in securing sustainable paid employment in line with their preferences.
Your role will be to deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach (for which training will be given); providing person centred advice and guidance to clients, whilst building positive relationships with local employers to enable clients to move into suitable employment.
The Role
You will work with people on their individual employment journey from vocational profiling to the point where they no longer require face to face in work support. The six key stages on a typical journey are: outreach/referral; vocational profiling; action planning; job search activities (including working on a one to one basis with employers to match people with appropriate employment); job placement and coordinating support whilst in employment; managing withdrawal of support as the in work support is no longer required.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Manage a caseload of around 20 clients who have mental health support needs who are motivated to start/return to work.
- Deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach for which training will be given.
- Meet and support clients to understand their key skills, aspirations and goals through completing a Vocational Profile and produce an Action Plan to help them obtain and sustain competitive employment. This includes support with their job search, CV production, application forms, interview techniques and career development.
- Assess client's support needs related to work which may include benefits/welfare advice, disclosure of mental health symptoms etc., and provide support & guidance.
- Attend weekly clinical team meetings as an embedded IPS practitioner.
- Source job opportunities for clients through tailored job search and regular contact with local employers to explore hidden as well as advertised employment opportunities.
- 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.
- Build relationships with colleagues in clinical teams to engage and generate referrals and create collaborative working partnerships with clinical staff (promoting employment as a positive intervention in the recovery journey).
- Once employment has been secured continue to provide quality service through conducting regular visits, effective monitoring and in-work support to clients and employers to help sustain employment.
- Spend time getting to know local employers, in order to negotiate job opportunities that meet each individual's strengths, needs, abilities and preferences.
- To challenge inequalities experienced by clients and address existing discrimination, whilst ensuring a process of learning for the organisation.
- Work with employers to promote the service, identify job opportunities and ensure appropriate strategies are in place to reduce barriers in the work place – this can include exploring 'job carving' i.e. carving small slices of work from the duties other staff do not have time to do.
Required Skills and Experience
- Experience/understanding of working with people with mental health support needs, or a similar client group within health, social services or the voluntary sector.
- Experience of working with someone on a one-to-one basis.
- Proven experience of meeting and exceeding outcomes and targets.
- Experience of managing multiple tasks at any one time.
- Previous experience of working assertively to influence decision makers.
- Experience of supporting people to obtain or keep work.
- Experience of working within mental health services.
- Previous experience of delivering a service using the IPS model.
Employment Specialist in Basingstoke employer: Sovereign & Bale
Contact Detail:
Sovereign & Bale Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Employment Specialist in Basingstoke
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the local employers in your area! We should spend time building relationships with them, as this can open doors for our clients. The more we understand their needs, the better we can match our clients to suitable job opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Networking is key! We need to attend local events and connect with other professionals in the field. This not only helps us stay updated on job openings but also allows us to share insights and strategies that can benefit our clients.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of a good action plan! We should work closely with our clients to create tailored plans that highlight their skills and aspirations. This will make their job search more focused and effective.
✨Tip Number 4
Encourage our clients to be proactive in their job search! We can help them practice interview techniques and refine their CVs. The more prepared they are, the better their chances of landing that perfect job!
We think you need these skills to ace Employment Specialist in Basingstoke
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Employment Specialist role. Highlight your experience with mental health support needs and any relevant skills that align with the IPS approach. We want to see how you can make a difference!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about helping clients secure employment and how your background makes you a great fit for our team. Keep it personal and engaging!
Showcase Your Experience: In your application, be sure to showcase any previous experience working one-on-one with clients or in mental health services. We love seeing how you've made an impact in similar roles, so don’t hold back!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Let’s get started on this journey together!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sovereign & Bale
✨Know Your IPS Inside Out
Make sure you understand the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach thoroughly. Familiarise yourself with its key stages and how it benefits clients with mental health support needs. This will show your potential employer that you're not just aware of the model, but that you're ready to implement it effectively.
✨Showcase Your Client-Centric Approach
Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully supported clients on their employment journey. Highlight how you tailored your approach to meet individual needs, as this role is all about person-centred advice and guidance.
✨Build Relationships with Employers
Think about how you would engage with local employers to create job opportunities for clients. Be ready to discuss strategies you've used in the past to build positive relationships and negotiate job placements, as this is a crucial part of the role.
✨Demonstrate Your Understanding of Mental Health
Be prepared to discuss your experience working with individuals who have mental health support needs. Show empathy and understanding, and be ready to talk about how you can help clients overcome barriers to employment while promoting their wellbeing.