Expression of Interest - New Employment Support Team

WHO WE ARE

We are a leading mental health charity on a mission to support Londoners with mental health challenges find and remain in good employment as part of their mental health recovery journey. We have been changing lives for almost 30 years and we are currently awaiting the outcome of a large bid, submitted in partnership with Shaw Trust and Smart London, to provide Employment Advisors to support NHS Talking Therapy teams across West London.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Should we be successful, we need to swiftly build a team of around 20 Employment Advisors and Senior Employment Advisors, as well as one Service Lead to manage the team. The new team will be guided and supported by Twining’s established and experienced Senior Leadership Team and Trustees.

We are now inviting people to express an interest in these opportunities, subject to the bid outcome due in the coming weeks. This is an incredibly exciting time to join a thriving organisation at the beginning of an innovative mental health support service.

THE OFFER

In return we offer a friendly and supportive working environment, flexible working, career development opportunities, a comprehensive training and induction programme, a generous holiday entitlement and competitive financial rewards. We also practice what we preach in terms of creating a positive working environment to support our own employee’s wellbeing.

TEAM ROLES

Employment Advisors

The new Employment Advisors (EAs) will work within the West London NHS Talking Therapies provision. They will work one-to-one with a caseload of clients referred by NHS Talking Therapies therapists to find employment, remain in existing work if they are struggling, improve their working environment, return to work following sickness or positively leave or retire from work.

You will primarily fulfil these duties by providing information, as well as advice and guidance to clients who choose to receive employment support. The work should empower clients to make better decisions about their working lives, as well as communicate better with colleagues and managers in existing roles. You will also signpost clients to other relevant support agencies, as appropriate.

This role would suit someone with a background in employment support, psychology, counselling, human resources or recruitment.

Senior Employment Advisors

Senior Employment Advisors (SEAs) will manage a team of Employment Advisers to provide supervision, training, caseload management, and role modelling best practice approaches to job retention. The SEA will play a pivotal role in managing a high-quality service that meets the exacting standards of our commissioners and delivers positive outcomes for service users.

Providing vision and direction, you will lead the development of our network of relationships, building capacity and ensuring the success of our job retention services across all providers. Making sure our clients receive the best service to meet their needs, you will be comfortable in managing contracts against our agreed service objectives and performance outcomes. Uppermost in your mind, will be building strong collaborative working relationships in your community with our partners.

This role would ideally suit someone experienced in employment support and managing a small team, however, we will consider applicants with transferable skills from relevant fields (e.g. psychology, counselling, human resources or recruitment).

Service Lead

You will be responsible for the ongoing day to day leadership and management of the EAs and SEAs in Talking Therapies service across Ealing, Harrow and Hounslow.

You will liaise with managers, clinicians and GPs across the NHS primary care pathways to ensure that services are coordinated and pathways into, and out of, the service are managed effectively and efficiently.

You will ensure the service operates in line with national guidance related to Employment Advisors in Talking Therapies and gives consideration to wider disability employment and retention support models, whilst striving to achieve and maintain national best practice in this field.

You will ensure the team develops in a manner that facilitates clients being referred to the service quickly, so they do not remain unsupported whilst on sick leave, and then support them to return to work swiftly (where appropriate), or to follow the destination that is best suited to their circumstances, enabling individuals to achieve positive service experience outcomes.

You will work in partnership with key stakeholders and contract managers.

This role will require someone experienced in leading the delivery of a mental health support programme, whilst managing and meeting commissioner performance expectations.

THE PEOPLE

All roles will receive comprehensive training at induction and ongoing career development and support as part of a structured performance programme thereafter.

Full job descriptions for each role will be provided to candidates invited for interview. However, as a minimum, all roles will require candidates to:

1.      Pass a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an Enhanced level.

2.      Possess excellent IT skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Office software, as well as experience updating and maintaining databases.

3.      Maintain accurate and up to date records of activity and outcomes in line with service performance requirements, ensuring the IT database is up to date and paperwork compliant.

4.      Receive regular supervision and training to meet individual, team and organization’s needs.

5.      Regularly attend team and other meetings as reasonably expected.

6.      Contribute to the development of a service that is locally responsive and supports minority/disadvantaged communities.

7.      Comply with and actively promote all Twining policies and procedures including Equality and Diversity, Safeguarding and Data Protection.

8.      Perform other tasks as required by your manager.

HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST

Please email [email removed - click apply for more details] with:

·      an up-to-date and tailored copy of your CV;

·      a covering letter stating what role/s you are applying for and how you feel your skills and experience meet the high-level role descriptions provided.  Where possible, please provide clear examples to demonstrate your experience. We will not accept generic cover letters.

·      please also state if you have a strong location preference for either Ealing, Harrow or Hounslow.

The deadline for applications is: On-going.

We will interview successful applicants in April should we have positive news regarding our bid.