“Employment support bridges a gap”

“I have to think outside the box. I like that. I like to think how to do things better. It’s working smart, not hard. Although I do also work very hard!

My name’s Amy and I’m an Employment Specialist in West Sussex. I’ve been in this role for about two years, and before that I was a Covid Employment Specialist for a year.

What I like about my job is being able to offer and provide IPS Employment Support while working with the Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS). I am currently integrated across three teams – Assessment and Treatment Service (ATS) in Shoreham, Early Intervention Service in Worthing, and Southdown’s Work and Wellbeing service covering West Sussex.

My main goal is to support clients on their employment journey, effectively putting my arms around them and giving them a toolbox of different skills so when they’re ready for work, they have all the tools they need.

I work with people aged 18 through to post-retirement who have either a mental health diagnosis or disability. Part of my role is encouraging them to see that they can work with their condition and that there can be positive effects of working while building their confidence around this.

I do this job because I get to guide them on their journey. I see the impact of support and employment on a client. When I used to work in recruitment, I was never able to follow people through their work journey.

When I’m speaking to a client, I explain that I’m here to support and empower them to find and sustain employment. I work flexibly and collaboratively to support clients and offer them the tools to fulfil their passions, goals, and dreams.

We can do everything from building their confidence, writing their CV, helping with job boards, interview techniques and preparation, explaining how to get reasonable adjustments in the workplace, attending job fairs and job coach meetings, alongside signposting them to other support services.

Employment support bridges a gap and offers integrative support. It shows the process isn’t as scary as it can seem. It’s often about breaking things down for someone and bringing their awareness to the skills they already have. Sometimes I’ll encourage clients to look at voluntary work to build their knowledge, confidence, and rapport with people, and getting them used to routine and structure.  

We also help clients retain their employment. This service is very much client-led so if they want us to contact their employer, we can. If they don’t, then we can give clients tools for them to take ownership of what they need. We’re there to empower and encourage.

We can support someone for up to three years. I had a client I met only once as he wanted to close his case after he got a job soon after, and others I’ve supported long-term through different jobs.

Another aspect of my role is employer engagement where I meet and speak with employers so I can build relationships with them, understand their interview processes, and can pass opportunities onto clients.

Relationship building is so powerful. I love speaking to people. I love talking to employers. If I see an ad in a window or online that says they’re looking for someone, I’ll go inside and ask about who they’re looking for, what the interview process is like, and if I’d be allowed to sit in an interview silently as an Employment Specialist.

Our service helps businesses by filling jobs and offering support to employers. We can also help them understand their employees’ needs because sometimes employers who don’t understand mental health or disabilities, or even how to approach a question about them, avoid the conversation. But I believe everybody should be allowed to do whatever job or course they want to do, and we can help build better understanding.

All of the Southdown values resonate with me – I live them every day in my role, and I’m excited about the direction Southdown is moving in to be more psychologically-informed with the Southdown Beacon framework. It’s about recognising people’s individuality, the experiences they’re coming to us with, what makes them feel safe, their strengths and potential.

I want the best for clients. I always listen to what they want and I’m understanding and mindful of who they are as a person. I like to create a safe space and we’ll identify where a client is comfortable meeting.I’ll allow them time and space and I won’t push – people share their stories so many times to services, so it’s important to be client-led.

I like building honest, supportive relationships with clients and with employers. You never know when your client will be an employer, or an employer will be a client. Every relationship is valuable and powerful.

The best thing about my job is my job! Watching a client fulfil dreams that they thought they couldn’t do because of their mental health or disability. It’s so lovely to see a transition for someone, see their successes, and their confidence increase. It makes my belly feel warm and fuzzy. That’s why I love this job.”