- Darren Clifford, Senior Employment Advisor at NHS East Riding Talking Therapies
A key role of NHS Talking Therapies is employment support to help people with common mental health conditions find and stay in work. Talking Therapies employment advisors can help with a wide range of activities and issues including CV writing and job applications, interview preparation, coping with workplace stress, training advice, returning to work, and conversations with the employer. Support is free and confidential.
Senior Employment Advisor Darren Clifford (pictured) introduces his role at NHS East Riding Talking Therapies and explains how he and his team help people of all ages find and stay in work.
‘Our role is to support people with finding, remaining in or returning to work. It may be you’ve been off work for a while or you’ve had a period of sickness. Or you may want to find a new job because you’re in a role which doesn’t have that spark any longer. Perhaps you’re looking for your first job, or additional training. We can help people in a wide range of employment situations, throughout their working lives.
‘Work is important to all of us throughout our careers as it provides the financial, intellectual and social basis to build and maintain our lives and relationships. It gives us a purpose on both a daily and long-term basis which challenges and rewards us, where we meet and interact with people who have similar interests to ourselves. It’s part of our wellbeing and is something we should look forward to each day. As employment advisors we are here to help you when problems arise in your employment status and get you back on track.
‘People can refer themselves to an NHS Talking Therapies service, or be referred by their GP. At their initial assessment or during treatment, the therapist may invite them to have a follow-up appointment with an employment advisor. The benefit of this dual approach is the therapist will give them tools and techniques over a number of sessions to manage issues such as anxiety or low mood, while the employment advisor can support their work-related issues.
‘So, the therapist will support the client with their feelings, thoughts and behaviours and give them the tools and techniques to manage their wellbeing. The employment advisor will complement this by focusing on the client’s employment and work with them until they’re in a job they enjoy and where they have the tools and techniques to support their wellbeing for the long-term. This is usually over six appointments, but we can extend this if needed.
‘Usually, I begin by discussing with the client what their employment situation is, their needs and difficulties, and then agree a plan of how I can help. We’re flexible as a service and this first appointment might be in-person, over the phone, webcam or Silvercloud which is a text-based online system.
‘Clients may seek Talking Therapies employment support in a wide range of situations. They may have been off work for a period and anxious about resuming contact with their employer. We’ll discuss whether reasonable adjustments could be made to support their return to work. Or it may be they seek a phased return and we can help the client establish contact with their workplace.
‘We support people throughout their careers and the client might be a school- or college-leaver looking for their first job. We’d discuss with them the benefits of apprenticeships, offer training in interview skills, perhaps suggest volunteering to help build their CV. We can tackle the anxiety they might be experiencing by explaining how online applications work and provide roleplay practice where needed. Another group may be clients who’ve been in post for 20 or 30 years who are looking at changing their lifestyle or work-life balance as they get closer to retirement.
‘If you would like help and advice on finding a new role, progressing in your career, or help and support with staying in work, or dealing with an issue, reach out to NHS Talking Therapies and mention you’d like employment support.’
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- With thanks to Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust.
