Introduction
Our employment services support people with health conditions find work.
We offer employment services across the West Midlands but predominantly in Dudley, Walsall, Sandwell and Wolverhampton. We also offer opportunities via our IPS Employment and Retention, Talking Therapies Employment Advisors or WorkWell programmes.
Take a look at the drop-down menus below to find out more.
Or visit our website for the latest news, events and updates www.blackcountryjobsupport.com.
What does the service offer?
Vocational Support, Voluntary Work and Employment.
Who is the service accessible to?
The Bridge Project is a service for adults 18 years or over, unemployed, and living in the Black Country (Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton)
How to refer:
Complete referral form electronically or via Telephone on 01922 608500
Where to contact for further information:
Email bchft.bridgeproject@nhs.net or telephone 01922 608500
Additional Information:
The service offers one to one individually tailored employment and vocational support to help you move closer to your goals, whilst taking your health and wellbeing needs into account.
What does the service offer?
Support via face to face, telephone, video, to overcome social isolation and loneliness.
Who is the service accessible to?
Anyone aged 18+ within Walsall, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Dudley
How to refer:
Professional referrals. Client can self-refer via telephone number or email
Where to contact for further information:
Tel: 01922 608500/01922 922443
Email: Bchft.letstalk@nhs.net
Additional Information:
Lets Talk professionals will provide six 1-1 sessions, with an aim to build confidence and social networks, encouraging participants to join in with activities and signposting them to other services and groups.
What does this service offer?
One to one community related support.
Who is the service accessible to?
Adults over 18 with complex emotional needs often associated with diagnosis of personality disorders
How to refer:
Referrals received through healthcare professionals through the CEN pathway
Where to contact for further information:
Tel: 01922 608500
Email: bchft.cenwellbeingservice@nhs.net
Additional Information:
Rise practitioners will provide one to one community related support to help individuals with their recovery goals which can include building confidence and emotional resilience, managing anxiety, accessing other services and support in order to build and maintain a meaningful future.
Helping people who experience mental health issues to stay in work, or return to work following a period of absence.
What does the service offer?
The employment retention service in the Black Country can help support people who are currently in employment and accessing secondary mental health services by providing advice and support to clients to help them retain their jobs.
· Help you understand your rights and employment law.
· Open conversations with your employers to discuss your mental health if you consent to this.
· Discuss reasonable adjustments.
· Attend workplace meetings.
· Negotiate and support return to work plans.
· Advice on how to leave with dignity if too unwell.
Who is eligible for the service?
Anyone under secondary care can be referred to the employment retention service. By secondary care, we mean:
· Specialist services provided to support individuals with their mental health examples include: hospitals such as (Penn, Bushey Fields, Dorothy Pattison, Hallam Street etc.)
· Individuals under the care of a psychiatrist, psychologist or a care co-ordinator such as a community psychiatric nurse or an occupational therapist.
How to get in touch
You can contact our teams using the following telephone numbers:
- Dudley - 07825 843 741
- Sandwell - 07557 215 306
- Walsall - 07909 937 124
- Wolverhampton - 07909 936 845
Email: bchft.employmentretentionservice@nhs.net
To visit our website, please click here.
The IPS Employment Service provides support across the Black Country to individuals who wish to enter some form of paid employment (part or full-time) or those who wish to change their employment to better suit their needs.
Who can access this service?
We support individuals who are open to secondary care mental health services in the Black Country. This applies to anyone who is under the care of a psychiatrist and may have a care co-ordinator such as a community psychiatric nurse or an occupational therapist.
How can the service help you?
Our vocational specialists will provide you with 1:1 support to achieve your job goal. We can help you identify the job you want, search and apply for jobs, offer guidance, and support you in your place of work.
Who to contact for more information
Dudley Team
Telephone: 07826 890696
Email: bchft.dudley.employmentservices@nhs.net
Sandwell Team
Address: Quayside House, Round Greens Road, Oldbury, B69 2DG
Telephone: 07557 178 671
Email: bchft.sandwellemploymentsupport@nhs.net
Walsall Team
Address: Mossley Unit, Sneyd Lane, Bloxwich, WS3 2LW
Telephone: 07766 925 212
Email: bchft.walsall.employmentservice@nhs.net
Wolverhampton Team
Address: Penn Hospital, Penn Road, Wolverhampton, WV4 5HN
Telephone: 07557 178 764
Email: bchft.wolverhampton.employmentsupport@nhs.net
What happens to next?
Once we receive your details, we will arrange to contact you and complete an initial assessment in relation to the support you need. A vocational specialist will then contact you regularly and support you to achieve your goals.
The NHS Talking Therapies Employment Service provides support across the Black Country to individuals who are looking for a job, or need help staying in their current employment.
Who can access this service?
We support individuals who are currently receiving support from an NHS Talking Therapies team across the Black Country.
How can the service help you?
Our employment advisors will provide you with one to one tailored support for your employment journey, including:
- Job hunting
- Staying employed
- Getting back to work
We can support with help with CVs and applications, job search and interview preparation. Our employment advisors can create wellness action plans, discuss workplace adjustments, support with return to work plans and much more.
For more information please contact the team on:
Dudley
Email:bchft.dudleyemploymentadvisorstalkingtherapies@nhs.net
Telephone: 07584 509177
Sandwell
Email:bchft.sandwellemploymentadvisorstalkingtherapy@nhs.net
Telephone: 07570 722126
Walsall
Email:bchft.walsalleploymentadvisorstalkingtherapies@nhs.net
Telephone: 07435994187
Wolverhampton
Email:bchft.wolvesemploymentadvisorstalkingtherapies@nhs.net
Telephone: 07552 864781
What is WorkWell
WorkWell is a new service that helps participants with disabilities and health conditions access early intervention light-touch holistic support for their health-related barriers to employment. It will focus on three main goals depending on an individual participant needs:
- Returning to work
- Finding & Accessing work
- Signposting & referrals into support services within the participants local area
WorkWell will work alongside organisations in Black Country communities to deliver a joined-up view and gateway into the services that are available locally, to manage their specific needs regardless of whether or not they are claiming benefits.
Support
Once referred, an introduction to the participant’s allocated Work and Health Coach as well as an initial assessment of the participants needs, will be carried out. Following this assessment the Work and Health coach will work together with participants to either:
- Work with their current employer to find reasonable adjustments to support the participant to stay in their job.
- Support participant to find employment that suits their current employment needs, understanding any barriers caused by physical conditions/disabilities.
- Provide information, support to find, refer and access local services within the participant’s community to better support their needs i.e. benefit support, financial advice, training and life skills support, social isolation support etc.
How to refer
We will be working closely with primary care, job centres, voluntary sector, community organisations, social organisations, faith organisations and occupational health organisations who will be able to refer participants in on request or self-referrals can be made.
You can refer into the service using our eReferral form.
If you have any queries please contact the WorkWell team on bchft.workwellteam@nhs.net
You can find out more about WorkWell, including meet the team who are delivering the service by visiting www.blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk/workwell.