Ips Employment Specialist - West Berkshire

Job summary 2 FULL TIME ROLES AVAILABLE - READING & NEWBURY AREAS People with severe mental health issues face huge barriers when it comes to employment.
Over 80 per cent of them would like paid work, but only 8 per cent achieve it.
Could you be part of the team that's dedicated to addressing this injustice?
Berkshire Healthcare's Individual Placement and Support (IPS) employment service, now in its eighth year, are looking for employment specialists to champion our mission and support people with severe mental health issues - your clients - to gain, sustain and retain paid work.
Ours is a diverse team and brings many strengths and skills together.
We'll train you in the IPS approach, giving you the tools you need to provide expert support and advice to clients, while also building positive relationships with employers, opening doors, and changing perceptions around mental health.
Previous experience working in supported employment and with people with severe mental health issues is an advantage.
But above all you'll need empathy, hope and tenacity when working alongside your clients.
We have 2 full time roles available ( hours) one within our Reading CMHT Team, based at Prospect Park and one within our Newbury CMHT Team based at Hillcroft House.
It's a highly varied job where you'll spend most of your week in the community, meeting clients and employers, and making a vital contribution to the team's activities.
Main duties of the job You'll support a caseload of up to 20 people with severe mental health issues who are unemployed or struggling in the workplace.
Working directly with all relevant stakeholders - including clients, clinicians, consultant psychiatrists and employers and Job Centre Plus - you'll aim to enable your clients to gain, sustain and retain paid employment.
You'll have the opportunity to transform the lives of your clients, to give them hope, direction and support their recovery journey.
It's also challenging, so you'll need to be able to demonstrate perseverance, whilst being empathic and dedicated to finding clients a role that's right for them.
Find out more about more about the role directly from one of our employment specialists by watching this short video: Gurpreet on working for the IPS employment service About us Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust.
Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire.
As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are: Caring for and about you is our top priority Committed to providing good quality, safe services Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions Your wellbeing is important to us.
Some of the benefits of working for us include: Flexible working options to support work-life balance 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell Generous NHS pension scheme Excellent learning and career development opportunities 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave Free parking across Trust sites Job description Job responsibilities The must haves for this role: Degree or equivalent experience Experience of working with and supporting people who have mental health issues (or other disadvantaged groups) into employment Able to demonstrate empathy, tenacity and hope when working alongside people with severe mental health issues Excellent motivational, communication and listening skills A high level of organisation and perseverance For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award.
Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have.
Please dont hesitate to call our Team Lead Miranda Jeeawock on 07500 994253, or Claire Blanton on 079879815017.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person Specification Education/qualifications/training Essential Degree or equivalent experience Continuous professional development Desirable A good understanding of the principles and practice of supported employment Trained in the IPS approach Additional employability/careers counselling qualification, such as: Level 3 Diploma in Employability Services Sector Qualification, QCF in Advice & Guidance (Level 3) Previous experience Essential Experience of working with and supporting people who have mental health issues (or other unemployed disadvantaged groups) into employment Experience of supporting individuals on a one-to-one basis Proven experience of meeting and exceeding outcomes and targets Desirable Experience of carrying out assessments (eg vocational, health, occupational) Experience of partnership working, negotiation and liaison with other agencies Experience of opening up job opportunities with a range of employers Experience of working alongside clinical teams within mental health Knowledge, skills and abilities Essential Able to demonstrate empathy, tenacity and hope when working alongside people with severe mental health issues Knowledge of policy, practice and legislation in relation to employment, disability, equalities and mental health Good numeracy and information management skills Able to demonstrate a high level of perseverance; committed to seeing plans through to their conclusion within agreed timescales Excellent motivational, communication and listening skills; able to build rapport and trust with a range of people, especially clients and employers Well organised and confident working independently with own caseload and using initiative to identify and make the most of new opportunities Able to use Microsoft packages to advanced level Desirable Able to collaborate successfully within a mixed-disciplinary team Good knowledge of the local employment market Understanding of work-related benefits Understanding of successful job search strategies - eg creating a compelling CV, presenting clients to hiring managers, preparing for interviews Additional requirements Essential Willing to travel within your locality and across Berkshire where required Desirable Personal experience of mental health issues