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Job overview

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 an employment specialist 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 1 full time role available (37.5 hours) within our EIP (Early intervention in Psychosis) Team, and you would be expected to travel across West Berkshire, to include Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire 
 
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. 

Working for our organisation

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. 

We value diversity and are proud to be a Stonewall Top 100 Employer. We work hard to create an inclusive environment where you’ll be supported by friendly and professional colleagues to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.

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

If you share our values and would like to come and work for us, please submit your application as soon as possible as we'll occasionally close roles early that have a high number of applications.

At Berkshire Healthcare, we foster an inclusive workplace where everyone belongs.

Watch our careers video to learn more.

We welcome talent from all backgrounds and offer guaranteed interviews to disabled applicants and armed forces community members who meet the minimum criteria.

Applicants that require sponsorship will be considered alongside other applications for eligible skilled worker roles.

Please note we may close positions before the advertised date.

If you need help with your application, please contact us on [email protected]

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