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Support With Employment

Support With Employment

Finding work and retaining a paid job can play a significant part in your recovery from mental health problems. The benefits of being in employment include having a daily structure, an expansion of your social and support networks, an increase in disposable income and a sense of an identity other than that of a mental health service user. 

Finding a job can be a daunting process, especially if you have been out of work for a while. This page has been developed with service users and carers to offer some tips and information to help you in your journey to find work.

Four diverse work colleagues casually have a break

Employment Stories

Coffee Cup in Hands

It's Given me a Sense of Focus and Pride

Lap Top with female

I've not Only Survived - I've Thrived
Two Women Talking

Volunteering has Given me Purpose

How to Explain a Gap in Your Employment

  • Disclosing health issues during an application process is a personal decision
  • If you have a gap in employment on your CV you may be asked about this
  • You don’t need to be specific about the health issues you have had
  • Instead discuss the steps you have taken to prepare yourself for returning to work
  • Examples could be volunteering, peer support

How to Turn Your Lived Experience into an Asset During an Interview

  • You have an understanding of how services work and what can be done to improve them
  • You can discuss challenges you have faced and how you have over come them
  • Any volunteering or peer support is relevant experience

It is very common to feel anxious before an interview

  • Preparing well for interviews can help with anxiety
  • Research the company and job description so you know all about them
  • Practice travelling to the venue before the interview
  • Practice talking about your experience and why you want the job
  • Have the clothes ready that you want to wear ahead of the interview day
  • Give yourself plenty of time to travel to the interview

What if I get stressed and forget the question I was asked?

  • If remembering questions is difficult, ask if you can take notes
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for a question to be repeated
  • Take a breath and think about how to answer the question before speaking
  • Remember to include examples from your previous experiences
     

Individual Placement and Support (IPS) supports ELFT service users with severe mental health difficulties into employment. Employment Specialists within IPS can offer one-to-one support; they work as an integral part of your clinical support team and negotiate with local employers on your behalf and with your permission.  In addition, they are there to help you as long as you need them after you start work.

Bedfordshire and Luton
Bedfordshire and Luton IPS Employment Service

City and Hackney Back to Work projects/organisations

Newham IPS Service

Tower Hamlets Service

 

This section provides some brief information on the impact entering work may have on the benefits you currently claim. To find out what benefits you are entitled to you can check on the 'entitledto website: www.entitledto.co.uk

SICKNESS AND DISABILITY BENEFITS

Some benefits cover some of the extra costs of living if you’re sick or disabled. These are not affected by your income. These include:

•Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
•Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

VOLUNTEERING

You can volunteer while receiving benefits as long as you continue to meet all the conditions of your benefits. You will need to inform your benefits office if you start volunteering. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/volunteering-and-claiming-benefits

IMPACT OF PAID WORK ON BENEFITS

Always inform the job centre or benefits office to any change in circumstance.  You may be able to do some work if you have a disability or health condition and still be able to keep your benefits. For more information please see this factsheet

Universal Credit Once you earn more than your work allowance your Universal Credit payments will be reduced. For every £1 you earn over your work allowance (if you are eligible for one) your Universal Credit will be reduced by 55p

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-work-allowances/universal-credit-work-allowances

ESA: You can usually work while you are claiming ESA if you work less than 16 hours a week and you do not earn more than £143 a week. You can volunteer more that 16 hours a week or if this is ‘supported permitted work’ for example as part  of a treatment programme under medical supervision. You still cannot earn over £143 a week

https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/working-while-you-claim

Further information can be found here:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/while-youre-getting-esa/working-while-getting-esa/

 

Note this information is correct as of November 2023 and will be reviewed annually.