Advice for an advisor looking for new company to join
Hi, I am new to the site and was hoping to get some advice on the best direction for an employment advisor since the new changes within w2w. I have been working within w2w for about a year now and now that it is where I want to be for a while. I enjoy my role as an advisor and found that I am very good with clients and particularly good at motivating clients and inspiring them to raise their aspirations. I get very strong results getting mandatory clients to engage on the programme; colleagues have said that this is because I focus on psychological methods, like showing clients how their negative beliefs are affecting them negatively and how they can replace it with productive and effective thoughts to produce more productive attitudes.
However, I have found that the employment advisor role does not allow much time to really work on the client to challenge and change that attitudes obviously because we need to get the client into work as quickly as possible.
I have managed to always hit and sometimes exceeded my targets but I now want to move company and wondering if there were any companies that embraces the style or who may have roles which may be titled something else?
Also where's the best place for an advisor to be at the moment with all the current changes?
It sounds like you're looking for a role that gives you more time with individual clients, i.e. a smaller caseload. In the immediate future, there's going to be a strain on the more intensive support programmes caused by lower unit costs of delivery. You might want to give some of the ESF or disability programmes a bash as they usually allow for more time with each customer. I don't include Pathways in that, as it's based around only four or five (half-hour?) interviews, with additional support as a bolt-on.
You could also look at a tutoring role. You might want to watch the rest of Benefit Busters to see if any of the staff roles are ones you'd enjoy.
I've been asked to attend an interview by Working Links.Has anyone experienced working for this prime??
Types of courses they provide etc...
Targets they are expected to achieve...
In an ideal world, I would like to work with people who have mental health issues but unsure who is providing this type of service.
Lottie - Try looking at their website there is lot's of info about their courses.
Google 'Working Links'
Also google 'Fexiable New Deal'as they have some intersting stuff in there too
Good luck with your interview
Lottie, this may seem a bit obvious but make sure you know what type of provision you'll be delivering. I've talked elsewhere on the site about the difference between personalised advice and group support. Prepare for the right one! Also, as with any interview, make sure you can back up all your claims with concrete experiences and achievements (e.g. 'from the 74 people who've been with me longer than 13 weeks, 46 have found work and 35 are still in employment now', 'I helped a patient with condition X by discussing their needs both generally and resulting from the condition, agreeing action plan with key points A, B, C to support job entry and sustainment, and then supporting the person into work. They're still working now')
People with mental health needs are likely to hit all types of course as more harder to help people are being pushed into JSA following failed ESA claims. However, FND is flat payment and may not have the resource to help them properly. Pathways to Work, ESF provisions, and possibly Work Choice will have more room for targeted mental health support. Also, see this government announcement which claims a network of mental health professionals will be set up in Jobcentres. Remember the pinch of salt though - many things can change when a new government comes in.
Thanks Daniel, I have been watching Benefit Busters, Its very interesting. The tutoring role seems quite interesting...
I hear also that Calder is recruiting and they will be using quite a different model that allows advisors to focus on just getting clients job ready. This might allow for more time with clients if the account managers are taking care of finding vacancies for clients.
I forgot about Calder! Their delivery model uses a therapeutic / counselling type of approach with strong CBT elements, if I remember correctly.
yes,
A colleague went to an interview with them about 3 weeks ago and they are apparently paying so little to staff. Its unusually lower than what others are paying advisors. Its quite shocking!
Workdirections pays about 30K
Reed, I think pays 26K plus bonus
Calder is apparently only offering 23K and that's without bonuses
Does any one know the group well?
Considering that the advisor role is very challenging, will Calder attract a strong team?
Help
I attended XXXXX and was not impressed at all. If throwing someone a handout is called teaching then I'll eat my hat!
Please Please can someone point me in the right direction. I have 13yrs experience working in Mental Health & Learning Disability sector, 4yrs working as an advocate for people with Mental health, good hons degree, level 4 literacy cert, PGCE. Oh and a whole bunch of other stuff...
All I want to do is work/teach (lit or num)to people who have profound or Moderate Mental health issues into education then into work. How hard can it be to find an employer ? Do I need to set up on my own fgs.
I know more about social exclusion/inclusion ,community regeneration than most people working in welfare to work industry.
Suggestions please
[Moderation - borderline case, but it's just too easy to badmouth someone when there's no way of confirming what you're saying or comparing to other providers]
with that attitude I can gues why the above comment doesn't get a job. Knowing about social exclusion and being able to actually do something to reduce it's impact are two very different things.
As with a small minority of people, it looks like you are a career academic.
If you want to work with people with mental health issues...start with some volunteering.
Then when you temper your god complex a little bit people might take you on!
Why can't we all just get along and love one another?
Firefly
I am sure you have mis-read my comments!
I have worked with people who have mental health issues for many years.It's frustrating how few services are avaliable for these people.If you've had mental health issues yourself then you would know , but obviously you don't!
I have done voluntary work most of my life. In fact, I am currently doing voluntary work with someone now...long term unemployed
As for career academic or god complex you mention, that doesn't deserve a comment!! although it is laughable!
Anonymous, I suspect that claiming to know more about exclusion / inclusion than most people in the welfare to work industry could get people's backs up regardless of whether it's true or not.
The important thing in the context of this discussion is what company or job might fit your background. Contracts specifically aimed at people with disabilities are an obvious angle to take. These include Pathways to Work, NDDP, Work Choice, some ESF-funded projects, and the contracts that Work Choice is due to replace (WORKSTEP, Work Preparation). There may also be some projects funded by Local Authorities or other bodies. You can find your local providers of these contracts with a bit of searching on this site.
yes, you should be directing your attention at local authorities, specialist third sector organisations who have pulled in additional funding for specialist projects - a lot coming out of european-funding just now.
Can the person looking to work within the Employment and Mental Health service sector say what geographical area they want to find work in. Thanks
Hi im new to this site. I have been working for a large training provider for 3 years. Just waiting to see what is happening to Programme centres in December. Just a worker so not kept in the loop.
pippy
As an active Programme Centre "customer" myself I can only assume on my part I will go round the loop again if the idel staff in Edinburgh branch dont get their finger out and give their Costa breaks a miss and start getting us guys a job!!!
I was at the [provider] office [local] iap section.I thought the people working there were all on work experience from school,it was a complete waste of time.
[Moderation - violation of site terms]
Paul J: I'm in Edinburgh, are you referring to A4e or Ingeus?
[Moderation - Don't answer this Paul. Trashing individual providers is unhelpful, impossible to verify, and potentially libellous. Sorry Gerry]
That's okay, Moderator.