Job summary
Are you looking for an opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of people with Mental Health challenges & believe you have the skills to support people into employment?
If so, this role may be just what you're looking for!
For people with Mental Health challenges getting into paid work is a vital step in their recovery. Evidence shows that working leads to improved Mental Health, so we are looking for people to join our Individual Placement & Support in Primary Care Service (IPSPC) as Specialist Support Workers.
This rewarding role will transform lives, giving hope, direction, & support in participant recovery. This role is challenging, so you'll need to be resilient, empathetic, & dedicated to supporting participants as they enter the workforce. As a people person, you will build rapport & relationships with participants & employers to provide support and guidance. As this is currently a fixed-term project, we are looking for people who will show this service to be the invaluable resource that we believe it will be, providing accurate data to evidence that this service should become a part of statutory mental health services.
We welcome people from a range of backgrounds & experiences, particularly those who have lived experience of Mental Health services. We will train you on the IPSPC approach, providing you with all the tools and training you need.
You will be a key part of the service, helping us to develop & shape it to suit the needs of the population.
Main duties of the job
This post is fixed term/secondment for 2 years to meet the needs of the service.
Under the supervision of the Operational Manager the post will be an opportunity to develop wider support to people who experience mental health problems and wish to engage in vocational activity using the IPS-PC model. This includes the provision of initial assessment, vocational profiling and on-going support to people who have experienced mental health problems to gain and retain employment. Close liaison with relevant agencies including Job Centre Plus, Job Brokers, local education establishments, training providers, voluntary sector groups, User Groups and clinical teams throughout the Adult Mental Health Service will be required.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.
About us
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 17,000 staff, providing over 100 specialist services. Working across 6 hospital sites, we have a diverse range of career opportunities to offer. Serving over 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst working with our partners to develop regional services. Together we are committed to improving health outcomes for everyone, delivering excellent care and support.
Our mission is"Living Well, Caring Well, Working Together", and our vision is that every person's chance of leading a healthy life should be equal. Our 10-year transformation and improvement strategy, Shaping Our Future Wellbeing, is our chance to work collaboratively with the public and our workforce to make our health board more sustainable for the future.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Identify participants who have vocational needs through close liaison with support staff.
- Manage a caseload of people who have experienced mental health problems, who are looking to return to vocational activity using the IPS-PC model.
- To develop support to people to who have experienced mental health problems and wish to engage in vocational activity, principally paid work.
- Raise the profile of the importance of employment / employment related activity with relevant agencies such as CMHTs.
- Meet regularly where relevant with Care Coordinators to ensure that vocational activity is integrated into the overall care plan, the requirements of CPA and is risk assessed.
- Attend relevant meetings e.g. with employers.
- To provide individualised (as per the model) support to individuals to maintain employment / employment related activity.
- Provide practical support with needs related to work, which may typically include help with benefits, travel training etc.
- Develop links in the community which will maximise access to ordinary employment / education / training resources.
- To maintain routine and longer-term contact with employers to ensure that clients are able to progress in their careers and that any problems that arise are dealt with promptly and effectively.
- To work flexibly according to individual need, this may involve evenings and weekends by prior arrangement.
- To maintain professional relationships with clients and other involved parties paying particular attention to confidentiality and the maintenance of boundaries.
- Keep informed of government policies relating to benefits, employment etc.
- To engage in supervision, training and personal development activities consistent with the requirements of the post and individual career goals.
- To contribute to the development of new initiatives and actively participate in team meetings and development events.
- Support administrative systems which record the progress of individuals and maintain accurate and complete records.
- To participate in the collection and collation of activity data to inform service delivery and evaluation.
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Job Coach Training
- NVQ level 3, BTEC or equivalent or a commitment to achieve IPS qualification
- Experience in a related environment
Experience
Essential
- Working with people who have experienced serious mental illnesses
- Supporting and promoting the independence and social inclusion of people who have experienced serious mental illnesses
- Liaising effectively between organisations and/or individuals to ensure good communication and/or deal with conflict
Desirable
- Supporting people who have experienced serious mental illnesses into paid, open employment or employment-related activity
- Experience of mental health problems either personally or as a carer
- Involvement with carers and families
Skills
Essential
- Self-management of workload and the ability to work on own initiative
- Effective communication skills (written and verbal).
- Ability to adapt personal presentation according to different workplaces and situations.
- Diplomatic negotiation skills to resolve conflict and arrive at satisfactory
Desirable
Special Knowledge
Essential
- How serious mental illnesses impact upon clients' ability to function socially and in employment
- Systems and structures within the mental health service to ensure rapid access to services when necessary
Desirable
- Disability Discrimination Act and Health & Safety at Work Act
- The constraints and priorities of a range of employers, their expectations of you, your service and the people you represent
- Welfare benefits system
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.
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 .
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 .
Employer details
Employer name
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Address
University Hospital Llandough
Penarth
CF64 2XX