Job overview

Southdown’s Work & Wellbeing Service helps people accessing treatment for mental health support, back into employment. As an Employment Specialist, you’ll be working in partnership with Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust and co-located within the Neighbourhood Mental Health Team, with some remote and community-based working.

Perks and benefits:

  • Health cost cash-back scheme: access to our health insurance scheme which covers dental, optical, physical therapies and other medical treatments with the option to add greater levels of cover.
  • Interest-free loans: assistance with larger costs that arise such as tenancy deposits, season travel tickets or buying a car.
  • Access to the Easit Network: discounts and incentives on train, bus and car journeys such as 15% off eligible daily and season rail tickets.
  • Blue Light card: access to discount services for the social care sector with savings across thousands of online shops, restaurants, and high-street vendors.
  • Free advice and counselling service: confidential emotional support and practical guidance from our independent telephone service.
  • 25 days paid holiday plus bank holidays.

Role

Location: Lewes, East Sussex

Base Salary: £28,640 per year
Technical Premium*: 5% additional to salary of £1,432 per year (based on base salary) reviewed annually (The technical premium is paid in addition to the base salary in recognition of the external benchmarking for the role) Conditions apply.

Essential

  • Car User Allowance: £1,000 per year
  • Hours: 37 per week

What you’ll be doing:

Southdown’s Work & Wellbeing Service helps people accessing treatment for mental health support, back into employment. As an Employment Specialist, you’ll be working in partnership with Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust and co-located within the Neighbourhood Mental Health Team, with some remote and community-based working.

Working as part of the Secondary Mental Health Care team, you’ll support clients in treatment for varied mental health issues, assisting them in securing sustainable paid employment in line with their preferences. You will deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model; providing person centred guidance to clients, whilst building positive relationships with local employers to enable clients to move into suitable employment.

Do you understand the importance of work and the vital role it can play in the lives of those with mental health conditions? Here’s a short video about a day in the life of our mental health Employment Specialist: A day in the life of an IPS Employment Specialist

We welcome applications from candidates with previous experience such as Employability Practitioner, Employment Specialist, Recruiter, Employment Advisor, Employment Support Officer, Career Specialist or Job Coach. Or you may be looking for a new challenge and believe you have the transferable skills to support individuals to fulfill their employment goals.

Responsibilities

Support clients to access the service by processing referrals and completing initial assessments.

Effective and timely risk management

Psychological and physical safety of yourself, clients and colleagues

Support clients to find fulfilling employment through person-centred coaching to identify goals, complete applications and overcome barriers

Build client knowledge through signposting, resources and guidance, for example on reasonable adjustments and employment law

Enable clients to retain employment through in-work support

Maintain client safety by assessing and managing risk, co-creating safety plans, and de-escalating mental health crises

Provide an excellent service through up-to-date knowledge of delivery models, employment and HR policies, and recruitment practices

Advocate for clients by negotiating with employers

Deliver a successful service by engaging in multiagency work: coordinate client progress and risk management

Meet commissioner and contract requirements by aligning with the
Fidelity Scale and ensuring good quality referrals

Continuously improve the service through suggestions for service development, promoting client involvement, and acting on feedback

Build a evidence base for commissioners and ensure compliance through record-keeping, collating feedback and developing case studies

Develop practice through peer support and reflective practice sessions, as well as shadowing and mentoring new staff

The person

See full job description