Have you or a loved one used a Rethink Mental Illness service? If so, we'd like to hear about your experiences. Take our user experience survey today.

East Kent IPS Employment Service

Employment and training


East Kent
Kent

View on map

07483 332506

Last updated: 10/03/23

Monday - Friday :
9.00am - 5.00pm
Saturday - Sunday :
Closed

A free employment support service for any person suffering with any form of mental health condition (diagnosed or undiagnosed) looking for paid employment of 4-hours per week and live in the East Kent areas of Thanet, Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh.

What does the service do?

IPS Employment support helps people with any kind of mental illness to find and sustain paid employment. We do not provide support for accessing volunteering.

The support is rapid with job search starting within four weeks, even if a person has been off work for years.

The support is individualised, person-centered, trauma-informed and time unlimited.

We provide support in person or via whatsapp, email, text, phone and video calls.

We accept referrals from other organisations and we also accept self referrals from people who want to contact us direct.

You can download our publicity materials here

You can also download our referral form.

We deliver this service as part of Live Well Kent and Medway (LWKM) which is delivered on behalf of Kent County Council and the NHS by Porchlight and Shaw Trust. Our East Kent IPS Employment Service is a Live Well Kent and Medway service provided by Rethink Mental Illness on behalf of Kent County Council and the NHS.

Who is the Service open to?

A free employment support service for people aged 16+ who have any kind of mental health issue (diagnosed or undiagnosed) who live in the East Kent areas of Thanet, Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh areas.

How can you help me? 

The first few sessions of support we provide for you, will involve us creating a Vocational Profile with you looking at employment history, job preferences and strengths and skills. This will lead to a Vocational Action Plan.

121 support will then include:

  • Benefits support and better off in work calculations
  • Support to create targeted CV’s
  • Support to complete application forms and cover letters
  • Support with job searching and registering with jobsites or agencies
  • Interview techniques and mock interview practice
  • Support to discuss your mental health / gaps in CV with employers
  • Support to access permitted work while retaining benefits
  • Support to apply for Access to Work funding
  • Support to create a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) focussed on the workplace
  • Support for the transition into the workplace including managing day one and ongoing anxieties
  • Support with managing travel and social demands of being in work
  • In work wellbeing support with 6 monthly reviews
  • Signposting to other organisations to help you with other areas of your life

 

In addition to the 121 support, we also provide weekly Job Clubs co-facilitated by staff and Peer Volunteers. These groups are safe spaces for support with barriers and triggers in the workplace and self management tools and peer support.

How do I contact your Service?

You can call us on - 07483 332506

You can email us at - eastkentips@rethink.org

Find us on Facebook

Like and follow us on Facebook to find out what’s happening in and around your local area.

You can visit our facebook page by clicking here 

Useful Resources and Factsheets

We have collated information on a range of useful factsheets about employment and benefits

This includes

  • Work and Mental Illness
  • What's reasonable at work?
  • Criminal Records Checks
  • Criminal Convictions

You can view them by clicking here

Useful Links to Job websites