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Employment Specialist

Salary: £27,942

Hours: 37

Location: West Sussex

Closing Date: 28/04/2025

Job Description:

Southdown’s Work & Wellbeing Service in West Sussex helps people accessing treatment for mental health support, back into employment.  You will 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.

 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

Key Responsibilities

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

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

  • Employment needs and challenges for people experiencing MH issues
  • How to undertake risk assessments, including dynamic risk assessments, and manage risk effectively
  • The principles of co-production and the personalised care approach

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.
Application closing date is 28th April and interviews will be held on 12th May.
Please note, if we receive a large number of applications then this position may close before the advertised application closing date. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.  

About Southdown

Contact information:

Our online careers page has a list of helpful FAQs that you can view here. If you have any further questions, please get in touch with recruitment via email at jobs@southdown.org

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, 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.

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