Employment Specialist, West Sussex

You will be working in partnership with Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust and co-located within clinical teams, with some remote and community-based working.

• Are you an Employability Practitioner or someone who has experience in providing 1-1 support? Are you looking for a new challenge or believe you have the transferable skills to support individuals to fulfil their employment goals?
• Do you understand the importance of work and the vital role it can play in the lives of those with mental health conditions?

If you answered ‘yes’ to either of the above, then we would love to hear from you.

Role Summary:

You will manage a caseload of clients in structured treatment for varied mental health issues to assist 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. You will work as part of the Secondary Mental Health Care team in the adult treatment service, maintaining positive and integrated relationships, fostering a holistic approach to recovery through employment.

You will need exceptional communication skills, be reactive to the differing needs of the client and be able to adapt your approach as appropriate. This is a rewarding role, with employment playing an important part in the path to recovery.

Here is 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

Southdown is a psychologically informed organisation where the well-being and happiness of our employees matter. We’re committed to creating a positive and compassionate work environment where employees feel valued, respected and inspired to do their best. In addition, we’re a family-friendly employer that recognises the importance of a work-life balance. If you share our values and want to work for an organisation that helps change lives for the better, we want to hear from you.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and are fully committed to supporting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and welcome applications from all candidates that meet our job specifications.  If you feel there is a barrier that potentially prevents you from applying, do get in contact with us at jobs@southdown.org  as we are always happy to discuss (or arrange a discussion with the recruiting manager) to explore if any reasonable adjustments can be made to support your application.

The salary for this role will increase to £27,128 from 1st February 2025.

Closing date for applications: 1st December 2024

Interviews will be held:  9th December 2024