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VA Portsmouth

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Description of Service

The Portsmouth Vocational Advice service helps people with severe and enduring mental health problems to access or remain in work. Dedicated Vocational Advisors work on a 1-2-1 basis, offering advice, information and support to individuals, their Care Co-ordinators and where necessary to employers. Services are tailored to suit the individual, but could include:

  • Personalised job hunting e.g. speculative approach to employers, CVs, job applications preparing for interviews
  • Accessing benefit advice, going to the JobCentre and seeing the Disability Employment Advisor
  • Vocational assessment to help identify suitable work and the steps needed to achieve this
  • Looking at education and training opportunities
  • Liaising with employers to find work and in-work support
  • Looking for voluntary work and work placements
  • A “sounding board” for work related issues
  • Linking with other services who can give advice in specific areas beyond our expertise

Operating Times

9.00am - 5.00pm Monday to Thursday, 9.00am - 4.30pm Friday

Eligibility

Clients should meet the following criteria:-

  • Have a Mental Heath Key Worker/Care Co-ordinator
  • Want to consider employment, voluntary work or education opportunities
  • Have experience of severe mental ill-health as defined by health and social services
  • Be between the ages of 16-64
AND
  • Want to return to employment Or
  • Want to remain in employment Or
  • Want to change jobs

Referral Procedure

The Vocational Advice service in Portsmouth is open to people who are thinking about finding work or who need support to keep a job. We welcome referrals from:

  • Service Users (self referral)
  • Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT's), and other Primary Care Trust (PCT) or Portsmouth City Council (PCC) departments connected with Adult Mental Health e.g. Resettlement, Mendos, Rehab & Recovery, Early Intervention
  • Voluntary and community sector organisations
We have simple paperwork to be completed by the individual User and a brief medical form for Mental Health Workers/Care Co-ordinators to complete enabling sharing of risk screening information.

Cost

There is no charge for the Portsmouth Vocational Advice service.

Contact Details

Sara Taylor AND Ingrid Scammell
Solent Mind Vocational Advice Service (Portsmouth)
Ground Floor, Campion Place
44-46 Elm Grove
Southsea PO5 1JX
Telephone: 023 9273 7106 (Switchboard)
Email :
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