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from The Mental Health Employment Network

"Working with Employers"   

        Report by David Marsden of our July 15 meeting

The meeting took place at the offices of Hillingdon Mind Enterprises in Uxbridge, and eleven groups were represented. The areas of discussion and issues raised for discussion at later meetings were as follows:

Work Placements
Includes paid and voluntary, full- and part-time, short 'tasters' and longer-term work experience placements in open employment settings.
How to approach employers to create placements
What to say and what not to say
Potential for exploitation
How different are voluntary and paid placements?
'Preparation for work' courses
Barriers to Employment
Prejudice and discrimination in recruitment practices
against mental health service users
and of course the benefits trap
Supported Employment
Including support and supervision of the employee (and employer)
in or out of the workplace in open employment settings.
Assessment processes (Australian model) and forms
Disclosure of health situation
Job retention
'Choose, Get, Keep' model
User involvement in peer group support
The job 'cycle' (volunteering, short-term, long-term,
sheltered, supported, open employment, etc.)
Mental Health Promotion in the Workplace
(Including working with and involving employers
in mentally healthy employment practices).
Mental Health Awareness training for employers
Marketing the potential benefits to the employer of work placements and supported employment
Combating discrimination
Development Opportunities
New Deal for Disabled People
Job Broker status
Intermediate Labour Markets