Employment Specialist
About Shaw Trust
At Shaw Trust we believe everyone has the right to live a decent and dignified life and an opportunity for rewarding work. We are a social purpose organisation challenging inequality and breaking down barriers to enable social mobility.
Having grown from humble beginnings in 1982 in the village of Shaw in Wiltshire, finding jobs for disabled people, today we are a complex and diverse charity committed to employment as the core pathway to a better life. For us being part of the solution is about creating the conditions for this to happen, advocating and delivering services that make a real difference. Working in partnership not competition, we are part of an eco-system of purpose-led organisations, striving for a fairer, more equal society centred on opportunity for all.
Role Purpose
Working within East London NHS Trust’s Recovery Teams, to support people who have experienced mental health problems to gain competitive paid employment.
To work directly with employers to secure employment opportunities, and subsequently to provide ongoing support according to both the employee’s and the employer’s needs
To hold specific responsibility and autonomy for the delivering of contract performance targets within an allocated Recovery Team
To promote contracted services, the Individual Placement and Support model and Shaw Trust to external agencies and the wider community
You’re the person who can help people access the right job for them at the right time with the right support built around them, all key elements in transforming the lives of people with severe and enduring mental health conditions.
Working daily with clients, health professionals, volunteers and service providers; Employment Specialists are focused on making sure a person’s journey into employment, with associated improved social inclusion and well-being, is as easy as possible.
Our Employment Specialists will need to understand the needs of project clients and employers and work creatively and sympathetically to make appropriate client/employer matches. Support will continue through a programme of in work support led by the Employment Specialist and continuing to address the needs of client and employer for up to a year.
As an Employment Specialist, you will need to be an able communicator, passionate about getting it right and focused on transforming individual lives through sustainable solutions.
You will work with people on their individual employment journey from initial assessment to the point where they no longer require face to face in work support. Key milestones on a typical journey are: initial assessment; vocational profiling, action planning; review and progress measurement; job brokerage, working on a one to one basis with employers to match people with appropriate employment; planning, providing and coordinating support whilst in employment; managing withdrawal of support as the in work support period comes to an end.
This role is perfect for individuals who have experience either in the employment advice field or as practitioners within a community mental health and/or wellbeing setting, but who are open to additional training and support where required. In all cases, a practical understanding of secondary 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.
Download the Job Description for full details and Person Specification.
Shaw Trust is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment, where every employee, regardless of their background or lived experience, feels that they belong and can progress in their career. We are Disability Confident Leaders, support the guaranteed interview scheme and use of the government’s Access to Work scheme. Living our values we are keen to reflect the diversity of UK society at every level within our organisation. We welcome applications from all sections of the community including from people with lived-experience and/or knowledge of disability or social exclusion. If you have accessibility requirements and would like information in a different format, email: HRService.Centre@shaw-trust.org.uk to make alternative arrangements.
Shaw Trust reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received.