Position: Employment Adviser
Location: West London
Salary: £30,000
The Role
Employment Advisers will understand their communities and the wide range of services available within them. They are passionate about getting it right, able communicators and focused on using their experience to connect people with the help they need in their own communities.
This role is perfect for individuals who have experience either in the employment advice field or as practitioners within a health and social care, community mental health and/or wellbeing setting, but who are open to additional training and support. In all cases, a practical understanding of health and social care, coupled with the ability to champion and embrace change would be helpful. The successful candidate will have a solution focussed approach, be highly organised and be able to deliver to agreed service specifications and outcomes.
You will work with and manage a caseload of clients who are either young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and/or vulnerable adults with a disability to assist them in securing sustainable paid employment in line with their preferences. Our programme also innovatively also extends to support the employability needs of their direct inactive family/carers.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
o Manage a caseload of around 20 clients who have a variety of support needs who are motivated to start/return to work
o Deliver the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach for which training will be given
o Meet and support clients to understand their key skills, aspirations and goals through completing a Vocational Profile and produce an Action Plan to help them obtain and sustain competitive employment. This includes support with their job search, CV production, application forms, interview techniques and career development
o Assess client's support needs related to work which may include benefits/welfare advice, disclosure of health conditions etc., and provide support & guidance
o Source job opportunities for clients through tailored job search and regular contact with local employers to explore hidden as well as advertised employment opportunities
o Provide education and support to employers, as agreed with the individual, which may include negotiating adjustments, return to work strategy and on-going contact with the employer to ensure job retention
o Build relationships with external colleagues in wider teams to engage and generate referrals and create collaborative working partnerships promoting employment as a positive intervention
o Once employment has been secured continue to provide quality service through conducting regular visits, effective monitoring and in-work support to clients and employers to help sustain employment
Skills & Experience
o Minimum of SVQ/NVQ level 3 or equivalent education or experience
o Trained in IPS approach
o Experience of working with a caseload of clients who are either young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and/or vulnerable adults with a disability or a similar client group within health, social services or the voluntary sector
o Experience of supporting people to obtain or keep work
o Experience of working with someone on a one-to-one basis
o Proven experience of meeting and exceeding outcomes and targets
o Experience of managing multiple tasks at any one time
o Previous experience of working assertively to influence decision makers
o Previous experience of delivering a service using the IPS model
o Excellent IT skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Office software and previous experience of working with databases
o Ability to facilitate, engage, motivate and support clients and their carers where appropriate
o Apply skills & techniques (verbal & non-verbal to resolve distress & anger)
o Able to support & empower clients to form their own decisions
o A motivational, flexible and problem solving approach
o Positive attitude to mental health, community connect
o Embraces change and drives continuous improvement