The Calderdale vocational team specialise in supporting adults experiencing mental ill-health to achieve their vocational goals.
What are vocational goals?
In the vocational team we use this term to describe activities that give a person
meaning or purpose – perhaps finding voluntary work, training and/or educational courses, returning to your workplace after a period of absence, or remaining in work
Our team can help you overcome barriers to achieving your vocational goals. Barriers will be unique to each person but may include managing difficulties with anxiety or low self-esteem or challenging the stigma associated with mental ill-health. We offer occupational therapy-led assessments to identify what vocational support can help you towards your goals. The vocational team can advise on and offer therapeutic coping strategies or interventions to help achieve these goals.
Our Values
We believe everyone has the potential to fulfil their vocational goals with the right support and a commitment from the individual. We are firm believers in the important role vocational activities can play in living well and furthering the recovery journey.
What we require from you:
• You must be between the ages of 18–65-years-old and supported by secondary care mental health services (such as the core pathway, enhanced teams, and early intervention in psychosis service) and be registered with a GP in Calderdale
• Have an interest in accessing volunteering, training or educational courses or wish to access support to retain or remain in work
If you are interested in a referral to the team, please talk with your health care professional or clinical team member who can complete a referral for you.
We also welcome self-referrals using the electronic ‘expression of interest’ facility found under ‘referrals’ below.
Staff you may meet
Administrative staff provide essential support to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. This can be in a variety of different settings, with administrators working as a receptionist in a clinic or a clerk on a ward. They may also be working closely with a consultant as a medical secretary.
Occupational therapy is the assessment and treatment of physical and psychiatric conditions using specific, purposeful activity to prevent disability and promote independent function in all aspects of daily life.
Why a professional should choose the service
The Calderdale vocational team supports individuals under the care of secondary care mental health services (such as the core pathway, enhanced teams, and early intervention in psychosis service).
Following an initial assessment completed by an occupational therapist, care plans will be collaboratively formulated to support individuals to achieve their vocational goals. Standardised outcome measures are used to measure the efficacy of the support provided.
Support offered
The team will work with the individual to develop their uniquely tailored vocational plan by supporting them, as appropriate, to:
• Identify their goals alongside their strengths, abilities, skills, and support needs
• Overcome barriers and develop coping strategies to achieve their vocational goals
• Identify suitable voluntary work in the community and provide support to access this
• Identify and apply for education and/or training courses
• Support to build confidence whilst improving self-esteem and resilience
• Signpost onto additional vocational support as required
For individuals experiencing difficulties in work or who are returning to work after a period of absence, we can provide:
• Support and advice for the individual to remain well in work
• Development of strategies to maintain positive mental wellbeing and reduce absences
• Support to return to work after a period of absence through a graded return to work plan
• Development of a Wellness and Recovery Action Plan for work (WRAP), a wellbeing tool recognising strategies to help a person stay well in work
• Liaison and education with employers including advice/information about mental health, wellbeing in the workplace and particular support an employer can provide to help individuals remain well at work
Referral criteria:
To access our service, you need to be between the ages of 18 – 65 years, supported by secondary care mental health services (such as the core pathway, enhanced teams or early intervention in psychosis service) and be registered with a GP in Calderdale.
If you are interested in a referral to the Calderdale vocational team, please talk with your health care professional or clinical team member who can complete a referral form with you
We also welcome self-referrals using the ‘expression of interest’ facility below.
The vocational team will then contact you directly to arrange an initial appointment to discuss and collaboratively create a vocational plan.