Mental Health Employment Outreach Worker

TOUCHSTONE – LEEDS

JOB DESCRIPTION

MENTAL HEALTH EMPLOYMENT OUTREACH WORKER STEP CHANGE

Hours: 18.5 hrs Service: Step Change Grade: Scale 6 + 1 points (NJC points 26 – 29) Salary: £22,221 - £24, 646 (pro rata) Location: Community Support Team, Dyson Building, Buslingthorpe Lane, Leeds, LS7 2DB Annual Leave: 28 days rising to 31 after 2 years( pro rata), + 8 statutory bank holidays (pro-rata) Probationary Period: All posts are subject to a six month probationary period. Responsible to: Community Support Team Manager Employing body: Touchstone – Board of Trustees

This post is for a fixed period upto December 2014.

INTRODUCTION

The Step Change Project aims to support offenders/ex-offenders with mental health problems to access mainstream employment related vocational activities and employment opportunities. The Project is available across West Yorkshire to individuals who have mental health difficulties and who have a history of offending. The successful applicant will work closely with the Mental Health lead, (also 18.5 hours), to deliver this service.

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

This post will be part of a partnership with West Yorkshire Probation Trust delivering employment support services across West Yorkshire to offenders with mental health difficulties to reduce their offending and increase their participation in meaningful activity.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Service Users

1. In partnership with Offender Managers, to identify the employment and other needs of service users to achieve all stakeholder hard and soft outcomes.

2. To support a caseload of service users and deliver ongoing employability support. 3. To support caseload of service users to identify and achieve appropriate employability goals eg, (training, further education, work placements, volunteering and employment).

4. To support service users to develop appropriate job seeking skills.

5. To arrange suitable work placements for service users and provide continued support including post employment support as required.

6. To deliver presentations/training to service users, employers and partner organisations.

7. To prepare and deliver vocational and non vocational training to service users.

NETWORKING AND EMPLOYERS

1. To regularly communicate with Offender Managers on progress against agreed outcomes, as specified in the contract and/or Individual Action Plan.

2. To contribute to a marketing campaign to promote Step Change within the project areas and this will include delivering presentations to probation staff, including to Approved Premises and the Leeds Local Delivery Unit, to generate referrals

3. To liaise with voluntary, statutory and private sector employers and partners to establish appropriate work placement and job opportunities.

4. To network with other agencies involved in mental health and offender employment, training and education around West Yorkshire.

5. To contribute towards delivering services in partnership with other employment providers, mental health and offender providers and other agencies

ADMINISTRATION

1. To maintain accurate records and statistics of work undertaken in consultation with the Step Change management lead.

2. To maintain accurate, up to date service user files including documentation evidencing interactions and outcomes.

3. To continually monitor progress against Step Change project targets and to produce monthly update reports.

4. To produce evaluation and ad hoc reports as required, in consultation with the Step Change management lead. 5. Manage service user resources/finance in line with organisation policy & practice.

6. Attend performance management meetings, as required.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

1. To promote Equal Opportunities policy and practices in all aspects of your work.

2. To ensure project compliance with Touchstone Equal Opportunities policy and practices.

3. To ensure service user empowerment is central to all areas of your practice.

4. To involve service users at all levels in the project.

ORGANISATIONAL

1. To attend and participate in regular supervision with the Step Change management lead.

2. To be appraised and trained in line with the organisation’s policies and procedures.

3. To attend and participate in relevant meetings and team supervision.

4. To promote the values, ethos and philosophy of Touchstone and West Yorkshire Probation Trust at all times.

5. To undertake out of hours and weekend work as required by service needs

6. To engage with CPD (Continuous Professional Development) in line with identified targets and objectives (individual and service)

7. To carry out the policies and practices and comply with the aims of Touchstone at all times, including Touchstone’s Health and Safety procedures.

8. The post holder will be part of the Step Change Project, but may be required to carry out similar duties in other parts of Touchstone to contribute to the effective operation of the Organisation.

9. To undertake other tasks and responsibilities commensurate with the salary level of this post, as requested by the service manager.