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Employment
Client Advisory Group
Would you like to be part
of the Employment Project's Client Advisory Group?
The work of the Client Advisory Group is for members
to:
- Tell the Employment
Project (including the Jobs at Risk Project) about
their experience of the service and of all aspects
relating to employment, volunteer work and training,
to ensure that the service remains responsive to clients'
needs.
- Advise Employment
Project staff on specific procedures, initiatives
and developments as they arise
- Provide ideas
and suggestions
- Monitor the quality
of the service being provided
The Client Advisory Group meets every two months from
12 noon to 1:00pm.
We take all attendees out for a paid lunch after the
meeting to thank you for your participation.
If you are interested, please contact Hannah
Lewis on 020 7561 5289
How we help
Fancy learning something new?
You can train
in almost anything. Courses are available in basic skills,
vocational training, further education and professional
qualifications and degrees - or you could do one just
for fun. We have details on hundreds of courses all
over London. Benefits are not affected if you train
for under 16 hours per week, and lots of courses offer
concessions for people on benefits. We can also help
you get funding for materials needed for college.
Voluntary
work
There's a
wide range of voluntary work available these days. Opportunities
include:
- all types of office work
- catering
- advice and support work
- archaeology
- environmental work
- animal care
- the arts
- driving
You can also
work with specific groups of people such as children,
the elderly, people with learning disabilities; and
much more. Voluntary work is a great way to keep yourself
busy, learn new skills, try out different work options
and meet new people. You can volunteer from two hours
per week and choose the days you wish to volunteer.
Expenses are often paid and your benefits will not be
affected.
Benefits
Advice
The biggest obstacle to entering college
or work is often benefit worries. We can offer advice
about benefit entitlement, both in and out of work.
There are a number of benefits to which you are entitled
whilst in work, and also ways of trying out full-time
work without losing money if you have to go back on
to benefits. We may also be able to help with fundraising
to pay for college courses.
Counselling
and Support
We offer pre-vocational counselling around such issues
as:
- looking at choices
- dealing with disclosure issues
- building confidence and assertiveness
We are happy
to listen to any concerns you may have. We offer support
throughout your chosen training, voluntary or paid work,
as required.
Job
Search Skills
We can support you in all aspects of job search, including
preparing CVs, completing applications and preparing
for interviews if you require it. We have a wide range
of employment search material, including newspapers,
job bulletins and internet access. If you need that
extra little bit of support on the day, we can even
come with you to your interviews.
Paid
Work
For some people, the ultimate goal is paid employment.
Voluntary work and training can often be stepping stones
to get back into paid work. We can support you in building
towards getting back into paid work if this is your
goal. We also offer optional support whilst you are
in employment. Such support may includer liaising directly
with the employer, or providing employment counselling
and advocacy. If necessary we can also educate employers
about mental health issues.
Referral
You can be referred to this service by your community
Mental Health Team or you can refer yourself by writing
to us or giving us a call.
Contact
Julie Proudley on 020 7561 5289 or julie.proudley@islingtonmind.org.uk.
Or you can send a letter to our usual
address
Jobs at Risk
The Islington MIND Jobs at Risk Project is designed
to offer clients a professionally integrated service
which provides support, information and guidance to
those who are suffering stress and/or mental health
issues which are directly affecting their employment.
The service provides clients with a jointly agreed,
holistically supportive strategy with the primary objective
of retaining their employment. It is also a component
part of the service to explore alternative employment
and complementary training programmes if the client
desires a change of career.
The aims and objectives of the Jobs at Risk Project
are:
- To offer professional guidance
and advice around job retention issues, helping the
client to formulate a realistic action plan and individual
goals
- To provide emotional support and
advocacy for clients when jointly agreed and necessary
- Investigating possible adjustments
in the work environment (this may involve contact
with the client's employer)
- To advocate on behalf of the client
to his or her employing body and other associated
professional bodies
- To interpret and advise the client
around the relevant employment legislation including
the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
- To provide local employing bodies
with the relevant information regarding their implied
duties under the purview of existing employment legislation
- To educate and inform local employing
bodies concerning the potential of those people suffering
stress and/or mental health issues, reinforcing the
contribution the client can make to their organisation
- To provide a job search and CV-building
service for those clients who wish to consider another
career path
Confidentiality
The Islington MIND Jobs at Risk Project is designed
to offer the very highest degree of confidentiality
pertaining to all personal and private matters, either
verbal or documented, which are passed between the client
and their designated support worker. All the processes
of the job retention service are intended to be transparent,
client led and focussed on the needs of the individual,
which are paramount and built in as a component part
of the service. The Islington MIND Jobs at Risk Project
will ensure that the client is consulted and agrees
with what is being undertaken on their behalf throughout
the various stages of the process and can, on request,
view all documentation and files pertaining to their
case.
Contact
David Leigh on 020 7561 5289 or david.leigh@islingtonmind.org.uk.
Or you can send a letter to our usual
address
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