Hello! We are the VitaMinds Kent & Medway - from April 2024 we will be the lead provider of NHS Talking Therapies services in the area and deliver mental health support to clients to support individuals aged 16+ in Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley and Swale.

We have an excellent opportunity in our Kent and Medway NHS Talking Therapies service for an Employment Advisor. This is a key role providing support and advice to our service users to help them gain, return to or retain employment.

You will work closely with mental health clinicians and develop good working partnerships with a variety of stakeholders including employers, job centres, trade unions and employment agencies.

You will have demonstrable experience of supporting people who are experiencing mental ill health, to overcoming barriers to return to work from sickness, remain in current employment by overcoming concerns and gaining new employment.

Travel will be required within the Kent and Medway region two days a week to deliver employment support via approved venues and at employer locations as required. This will be based on patient demand but also requirement to create locality based partnerships including with Talking Therapies clinicians through working from Vita base(s).

It will be a rewarding role and a great opportunity to build on your experience and develop your career in a fast-growing company.

Previous applicants do not need to apply.

Skills and Experience:

Essential:

• NVQ level 3 minimum or equivalent in Customer Service / Advice and Guidance OR equivalent experience gained through work in the field
• Evidence of further study in vocational training, careers advice and job retention
• Experience building new relationships that are strategically relevant to the service
• Excellent coordination, planning and organisational skills
• IT literate - intermediate level minimum
• Excellent customer service and inter-personal skills

Desirable:

• Relationship / account management experience
• Experience of working in a healthcare environment
• Experience of supporting people with mental health conditions into vocational/employment activities
• Understanding of Talking Therapies and integrated care

Why Vita Health Group?

Vita Health Group celebrates life. Improving lives physically and mentally drives everything we do.

We are physical and mental health specialists with over 30 years of experience.  We work in partnership with the NHS, are engaged by insurers and some of the UK’s largest corporate companies to support their workforce and provide a full range of physiotherapy services to private customers.

To achieve our mission of making people better, we recognise the importance of investing in our staff. In addition to a competitive salary, we also offer the opportunity of a flexible work life balance and a comprehensive benefits package which you can view here: https://www.vitahealthgroup.co.uk/join-us/careers/

To progress your skills and enable career development we provide Continued Professional Development opportunities including secondments, management training, a mentoring scheme and regular events and webinars across a range of clinical disciplines.

Vita Health Group is proud to be an equal opportunities employer.  We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion best practice and positively encourage applications from candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion/belief, marital status, or pregnancy/maternity.  To support this we have a dedicated team of EDI specialists and run a range of active in-house diversity networks.

We are actively seeking to increase the diversity of our workforce, to ensure we are representative of the communities we serve at all levels. We therefore welcome applications from candidates with a wide range of lived experience.

We are committed to equitably support the wellbeing of all employees as demonstrated by:

• Our association with the MINDFUL EMPLOYER Charter for Employers who are Positive About Mental Health.
• Our status as a Disability Confident Employer dedicated to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process. All disabled candidates that meet the minimum essential criteria will be invited to interview.
• Our Ethnicity Matters Scheme where all applicants for senior roles (£40,000+) from a minority ethnic group that meet the essential criteria will be invited for interview.
• Our sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant.
• Our status as a Menopause Friendly Committed employer.
• Our sign up to the Employer with Heart Charter.
• Our commitment to meet the standards outlined in the NHS Equality Delivery System (EDS). Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) and Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES).
• The provision of access to health and wellbeing services for colleagues which includes a team of trained Mental Health Advocates and an Employee Assistance Programme.
• An embedded “speaking up” culture facilitated by Freedom to Speak Up Guardians.

Should you wish to discuss any adjustment or assistance you might need in the application or interview process please contact recruitment@vhg.co.uk and we will arrange.

VHG is committed to supporting transgender individuals with dignity and recognises the potential complications that may arise when taking references. We encourage applicants to contact HR at hr@vhg.co.uk to discuss or amend how we manage reference requests.

Please note, all applicants must be legally entitled to accept and perform work in the UK and all positions are subject to a DBS check. 

Any data which you share with us throughout the hiring process will be stored securely within the UK and is accessible only by staff who require it. Should your application be unsuccessful, your data will be securely destroyed after 6 months. 

Vita Health Group reserves the right to close this job when sufficient applications have been received.