:: Action Mental Health - Employment Options ::

AMH aims to source and support employment, work experience and further training opportunities for people attending AMH New Horizons, AMH Accept and AMH The Junction.

AMH Employment Options offers employers the chance to help individuals who have a wide variety of skills, experience and enthusiasm for returning to work.

Any Human Resource Manager will tell you that matching the right person to the right job is the key to success. AMH has in place a range of quality assurance methods and practices to make that match work including:

Assessment
When clients are first referred to the service their needs are assessed during an informal interview, which reviews their aspirations and work experience to date.

Action Planning
An action plan is put in place to assist the client to meet his or her goals. Part of this plan may include work sampling or training. Many clients will have completed accredited training courses relevant to their future careers.

Accredited Training
AMH offers its clients Employment Preparation Training. This programme considers the barriers and benefits to work, CV preparation, job searching and interview techniques. The course is accredited by the Open College Network.

Ongoing Support
Once in a work setting the client and the employer can receive ongoing support for up to 12 months. This is to ensure that not only do clients access work and training but remain in their chosen course or occupation.

Work is essential to the recovery of people with mental health needs as it offers them a source of self-esteem, provides social contact and structure to a day. AMH advocates a “person centred” approach in assisting clients to return to work or further education. There are seven options in total available to employers and clients:

Work Experience
This option is often the first step back into the world of work. The work experience can take place in a variety of settings and lasts up to 12 weeks.

Permitted Work Scheme
Under this government scheme the client is paid by the employer for working less than 16 hours per week.

Voluntary Work
This offers clients the chance to help a range of voluntary and public sector organisations. Progress is reviewed every 6 months and placements are between one to five days per week.

Employment Support
AMH is the sole provider of this government scheme for people recovering from a mental illness. Under this scheme the employer pays a proportion of the wage according to the ability of the employee. This is assessed by the Department for Employment & Learning’s Employment Assessment Unit.

New Deal for Disabled People—Job Broking Service
AMH in partnership with Mencap, offers the NDDP programme to individuals on certain disability benefits. The Job Broking Service helps people to get into paid work with ongoing support for up to 52 weeks.

Open Employment
This is the ultimate aim of AMH when clients are able to secure full or part time work in the open competitive job market.

Further Training & Education
Some clients may decide to return to full or part-time education or take part in government training schemes such as the New Deal programme.

For further information and guidance please contact your local Employment Officer in one of our AMH New Horizons or AMH Accept offices.