Employment Support Coordinator

Job content

Job Summary

A recent evaluation of the role of employment support in NHS talking therapies, has shown improved mental health for patients where there is a combined offer of employment support and psychological treatment. In light of these outcomes we are excited to confirm our plan to recruit an Employment Support Co-ordinator to join our already established workforce.

The employment support coordinator role will involve working alongside a team of therapists to ensure that a personalised package of combined psychological treatment and employment support is available to all patients who require support with remaining in employment, returning to employment following a period of absence or seeking new employment.

We have 1 full time position available and we are looking for an enthusiastic person who has a commitment to our local services. The service covers a large geographical area and we strive to maintain a strong and healthy team culture. This post will be based around the Torbay and South Devon locality within the service. We welcome applications from positive and motivated individuals who have a keen interest to contribute towards developing and shaping the employment support offer within our service.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will provide both job retention and supported employment in line with evidence based best practice in VRS. The postholder will provide advice, support and mentoring around vocational matters to the NHS Talking Therapies practitioners to ensure people who are using the services are given accurate and timely vocational advice and information and are appropriately signposted to employment and/or learning resources. In addition the postholder will provided specialised assessment of individuals work needs and manage a caseload of people who are referred from the TALKWORKS practitioners and wish to return to, remain in or enter work for the first time. The postholder will also provide specialised advice, information and support to the individuals employer or learning provider as required. The postholder is responsible for establishing and maintaining links with relevant organisations, employers and individuals to enable people who have mental ill health can access work opportunities.

About Us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people’s recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Job Description Job Responsibilities

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

• Work in partnership with TALKWORKS practitioners to ensure that patients are given accurate, timely and appropriate vocational assessment and advice.
• Facilitate appropriate applications to other employment providers.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships between the TALKWORKS team and learning and work providers, especially Jobcentre Plus, Work Choice and Work Programme providers
• Work closely with other Employment Support Co-ordinators (ESCs) to ensure parity of provision across the Devon area.
• Support employers, placement providers and learning and work organisations to enable the patient to sustain their job. This will involve regular communication with these others to provide advice, guidance and training on how to manage a particular situation.
• Promote and publicise TALKWORKS Employment Service to learning and work providers and the wider community by giving talks or presentations as agreed with service manager.
• Keep the TALKWORKS team informed of current work to ensure continuity of work at times of absence.
• Liaise regularly with TALKWORKS practitioners, people who use services and carers groups and other health related agencies over learning and work issues
  
  

Analytical And Judgemental Skills

• The postholder will need to be able to respond to changing requirements and demands which come from the NHS Talking Therapies employment service according to TALKWORKS service needs as the latter continues to evolve.
• As this is a highly specialised post working single handed the postholder will be required to make daily judgements about the most effective interventions to offer to patients.
  
  

Planning And Organisational Skills

• Take an active part in developing the employment provision linked to NHS Talking Therapies across Devon
• Be responsible for organising and planning own caseload and managing clinical/non clinical time effectively to fit with service needs and demands
• Ensure effective use of resources within own work and signpost work to other agencies when more appropriate.
• As requested by service manager, prepare, organise and run training for TALKWORKS practitioners, employers, others in learning and work organisations about learning, work and mental health issues.
  
  

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

• Provide specialised vocational assessment for individuals referred.
• Develop, monitor and evaluate action plans in order to measure progress and effectiveness of
• Interventions. Regularly review the agreed action plan with the patient and when appropriate
• seek to assist patients to progress into more advanced learning or work opportunities
• Identify specific learning and work opportunities for individuals referred
• Work pro-actively with the patient with the ultimate goal of helping them find or retain paid work. Work with the patients to explore their areas of strength, development needs,
• learning and work aspirations and opportunities and draw up a plan of action with their next best step.
• Provide interventions to assist the individual in problem solving, confidence building and improving work related skills
• Provide, or ensure, support in the work or learning environment for each patient to enable them to have the best possible chance of succeeding in the position.
  
  

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation

• Keep the TALKWORKS team informed of current VR and Welfare issues and keep up to date with examples of good practice and government initiatives and mandates.
• Ensure there is easily accessible written and electronic information for all the TALKWORKS team and patients about learning and work related issues and services.
• To produce documents of good practice about the employment of people with mental health difficulties.
• Increase engagement of employers through providing:
• Support for employers in recruitment & retention of staff with MH
• Guidelines for NHS staff in dealing with employers
• Guidelines for employers in recruitment and retention of people with MH
• Tangible methods through which to secure responses from employers
• Dissemination of examples of dealings with employers
• Network with peers to maintain professional links across the Trust.
  
  

Responsibility For Finance, Equipment And Other Resources

• The postholder will manage any delegated equipment or resources effectively and within required limits.
• The postholder will ensure best value for money in their work at all times
  
  

Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management

• The postholder will take a lead in agreed aspects of service leadership and development depending on their individual development needs and interests and service priorities.
• To provide training in employment related matters to the TALKWORKS team.
• Subject to experience, the post holders may undertake supervision with EAs
  
  

Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties

• Maintain up to date and accurate statistics, records of applicants, service deficits, training given, outcomes of contact, and any other information needed for the on-going evaluation of the ESC role.
• Ensure that statistics required for the TALKWORKS provision on employment are accurately collected and recorded on the IAPTus system.
  
  

Responsibility for Research and Development

• For Job Retention ensure up to date knowledge of, and adherence to, the case management approach to job retention.
  
  

Freedom to Act

• This post is for an autonomous practitioner, who works within codes of practice, guidelines and is the sole employment specialist within a TALKWORKS team.
• The postholder will be responsible for a caseload of patients referred from the TALKWORKS practitioners
  
  

Any Other Specific Tasks Required

• Have regular professional, clinical and managerial supervision of work
• Have yearly personal development and review meetings and six monthly reviews.
  
  

Skills

Person Specification Analytical & Judgemental Skills Essential

• Problem solving and lateral thinking skills
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries
• Research and project development skills
• Able to analyse information and develop effective solutions
  
  

Experience Essential

• Substantial experience of working in a specialist mental health or Employment specialist role.
• Some experience of specifically assisting people to find and/or retain learning and work opportunities
  
  

Desirable

• Has practised the case management approach to job retention or the IPS approach to supported employment
• Experience of working in a range of jobs
• Experience of public relations and promotional activities
• Personal experience of mental health issues
  
  

Qualifications Essential

• Degree in occupational therapy (or equivalent) or Vocational Rehabilitation or similar
• Evidence of relevant post graduate courses
• Commitment to CPD
  
  

Desirable

• NVQ 4 in Advice and Guidance
• Certificate in Coaching skills
• Diploma or equivalent in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• ECDL or equivalent
  
  

Skills Essential

• Report writing skills
• Presentation skills
• Training/facilitation skills
• Arbitration/mediation skills
• Ability to negotiate and influence others
• Ability to demonstrate good verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent all round interpersonal and networking skills
• Motivational interviewing skills
• Able to be appropriately directive
• Encouraging and affirming
• Supervisory skills
• The ability to recognise distress and know how to act
• IT Skills
  
  

Planning & Organisational Skills Desirable

• Excellent organisational skills
• Good self-management skills
• Ability to plan services according to needs
  
  

Physical Skills Essential

• Independently mobile across the county
  
  

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .

Employer details Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Sherborne House

Kingsteignton Road

Newton Abbot

Devon

TQ12 2PF

Employer’s website

https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)