The Eastern Development Centre leads the Mental Health and Employment programme which hosts the East of England Regional Employment Team.

East of England Regional Employment Team

The Regional Employment Team has developed a regional partnership with key regional organisations.  The partnership now has a Regional Statement of Priorities and Action Plan that aim to increase opportunities for people with mental health problems to gain and retain employment.

The Action Plan is designed to support:

• Employers to promote and support the mental health of their workforces and to employ, retain and train members of staff who have experience of mental health problems
• Public sector organisations working towards improving their corporate social responsibility by becoming exemplar employers for people who have mental health problems
• Individuals who have/have had experience of mental health problems (either personally or as carers) who are working or want to work
• Public service commissioners of services for people who have mental health problems
• Providers of services to support access to and success in employment and learning and skills for people who have/have had mental health problems
• The work of the EoE Regional Employment Team.

Key Contacts:

Jennette Fields - Programme Manager for Regional Employment Team

Office: 01206 287595 (Care of Kevin Whiteley).  Mobile: 07920 451985.
Email: jennette.fields@easterndc.org.uk

Kevin Whiteley - Programme Support Officer

Office: 01206 287595.  Email: kevin.whiteley@easterndc.org.uk

The vision

The RET’s vision for the East of England is that:

• People with mental health conditions have the necessary information to be able to access the best therapies, workplace support and vocational services to enable them to gain or retain employment.
• Employers are supported to understand the benefits, resources and training available to enable them to retain/employ people with mental health conditions.
• Opportunities to ensure effective commissioning processes are explored across partnership organisations (Health, Social Care, Learning & Skills Council (LSC) and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) which recognise the importance of a joint approach in order to achieve value for money and a shared understanding of partners’ agendas.
• Commissioners are supported to shape new and existing services which include employment, learning and skills as a key enabler in an individual’s recovery.
• Mechanisms are developed for gathering, retaining and disseminating information that will ensure effective communication of relevant information including PSA 16, Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT), LSC and DWP targets across the RET partnership that will support shared agendas.
• Intermediaries (i.e. Pathways to Work, Jobcentre Plus (JCP) Advisors, Voluntary sector employment support services and learning providers) have access to information, training and resources to enable them to effectively provide support for employers and employees.
• Mental Health Trusts are supported Introduction to develop an Individual Placement and Support, or similar vocational service, in line with the Department of Health commissioning guidance.