Job summary
To provide an effective Employment Advice service for people with mental health conditions. To support people with mental health conditions to obtain and sustain paid employment. To develop partnerships with local providers and services to ensure that the employment support needs of clients are met.

Main duties of the job
The Lewisham NHS Talking Therapies Employment team takes clients on to a caseload and supports them in their employment goals, networking with local providers and employers to source suitable opportunities or to maintain and resolve issues within the workplace. Being able to build rapport with clients in a professional and approachable way to build confidence, skills and empower for the future.

Building and working closely with the clinicians in the team that offer a variety of therapies and encouraging referrals to meet expectations set by the DWP who funds the post.

About us
The Lewisham NHS Talking Therapies Employment Team is a very busy team working with clients who have mild to moderate Mental Health concerns to find work, remain in work or start moving towards work. We are here to support clients towards their chosen goals as a signposting and advice service whilst building confidence and skills for the world of work.

The role will be based across the Lewisham Borough currently Hybrid but this could be subject to change in the future.

Job responsibilities

• Helping clients to identify and consider options for returning to work and set their own personal career goals.
• Using coaching techniques to help clients overcome practical and psychological barriers to employment.
• Supporting clients to undertake training, volunteering, and paid employment opportunities, and supporting employers where necessary.
• Identifying a range of support needs (e.g. housing, benefits, health, etc) and signposting clients to access support from internal and external agencies.
• Teaching employability skills to clients on a one-to-one basis and in group workshops (e.g., CVs, interview skills, etc).
• Communicating with clients and clinicians regularly in-person or by Teams, telephone, email, text.
• Writing clear and concise session notes, entering data onto a range of databases.
• Keeping up to date with local and national labour market trends, education/training opportunities, welfare benefit changes, and employment law in relation to people with mental health conditions.
• Promoting the service to clinical team in order to generate referrals and maintain service integration.
• Working independently to manage own workload and keep track of own progress towards targets, continually reflecting on own performance to improve and develop in the role.
• Working as part of a team, sharing knowledge and expertise, and contributing to team meetings and service development activities.
• Following service policies, procedures, and manuals to ensure that quality standards are met.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Qualifications Relevant degree level qualification in a related field (e.g. Advice and Guidance, human resources), or equivalent knowledge acquired through experience.

Desirable

• IAG Qualification

Experience
Essential

• Experience of providing one-to-one advice, guidance or support.
• Experience of networking and building relationships.
• Experience of delivering Practical Job searching and /or Retention support

Desirable

• Lived experience of mental health problems or caring for someone with mental health problems.

Knowledge
Essential

• Understanding of the employment barriers faced by people with mental health conditions.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the Equality Act in relation to the employment of people with disabilities and mental health problems.
• Knowledge of the UK Welfare Benefits system.

Skills
Essential

• Ability to manage time effectively and prioritise tasks to meet deadline, project targets and maintain the required standards.
• A high standard of verbal and written English, including excellent grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to express empathy and understanding to others
• Self-motivated and works proactively independently or as part of a team.
• High standard of ICT skills including Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.

Desirable

• Experience in producing and facilitating workshops and Webinars.
• Experience acting as an advocate for an individual with a Third Party.

Personal Attributes
Essential

• Strong commitment to challenging stigma and discrimination of people with mental health conditions in employment.
• Pragmatic and positive approach to problem solving and committed to taking initiative.

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.

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).