Support needed to sustain a job
Once a person with mental health problems has
got a job they are faced with retaining that job and flourishing in
it. They may need different amounts of support. Many
may require no support, others need the implementation of
‘reasonable adjustments’, whilst others need more support. It
cannot automatically be assumed that those who need little or no
additional support to get a job also need little support to keep
it. Also, those who need much support to get a job may not
need a high level of support to keep it.
Examples of additional support that may be
needed are given in the following links.
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Job
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- Liaison with Jobcentre Plus and
Pathways/New Deal providers.
- Assistance to attend Work Focused
Interviews that from part of the requirements of the person’s
benefits.
- Development and implementation of
an action plan (in conjunction with Pathways/New Deal provider as
appropriate).
- Identification of skills,
preferences, challenges.
- Matching of jobs and individual
employment assets based on client preferences.
- Information on job
availability.
- Approaching employers as
necessary.
- Analysis of challenges a person
faces and how these might be overcome.
- Identification of preparation
needs and how these will be met.
- Assistance to obtain time-limited
work experience/internship if necessary.
- Identification of likely initial
support needs/adjustments that the person may need to work
successfully and how these might be provided.
- Assistance with application,
preparation for interview including practice interviews.
- Help to negotiate with employer
where alternatives/additions to traditional selection procedures
may be required (e.g. work trials).
- Welfare benefits advice
(including supported permitted work to enable the person to build
up their hours gradually).
- Assistance with understanding the
pros and cons of disclosure.
- General support and encouragement
when doubts/challenges arise.
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Assistance in transition to work
- Help to think about re-organisation of life around
work.
- Welfare benefits/tax credits advice and
application.
- Help to draw up self-management plan
- Help to develop a plan for keeping on an even keel
at work and managing ups and downs at work (identifying triggers
and early warning signs and how the person and their employing
manager might address these).
- Draw up a plan for what the person/their employing
manager might do to assist the person/support them if a crisis
occurs.
- Help person and employer to decide what the person
will need to work successfully (including ‘reasonable adjustments’)
and additional support they may be required by employee or
employer.
- Agree initial support plan to settle into work
with the person and their employer as appropriate.
- Agree an initial Employment Support Plan to help
the person and their employer during the initial stages of
employment and how this support will be provided.
- General support and encouragement when
doubts/challenges arise.
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Ongoing support in work
- Regular contact to find solutions to challenges
that might jeopardise work performance.
- Additional support to employee during fluctuations
of mental health difficulties.
- Additional advice and support to employer during
fluctuations.
- Practical help to get to work/in work during
fluctuations in mental health condition.
- Help to negotiate changes in duties/hours/working
from home during fluctuations in mental health difficulties.
- Help to access health/social support during
fluctuations in mental health condition.
- Help to plan and execute graded return to
work.
- Temporary replacement cover during longer periods
of mental health related sickness absence.
- Support to access further training and development
and progress in career.
- Help to change jobs as necessary.
- General support and encouragement when
doubts/challenges arise.
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Developing and
supporting a return to work plan
Please note that we are unable to offer advice on individual cases. Please see our
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