In Kent and Medway, employment and vocational services aim to make sure that people with mental health needs have the same opportunities to find and keep jobs as anyone else.

Services provide tailored support to find and keep a job that is right for you. They work with employers and health professionals such as GPs, community psychiatric nurses and social workers. The ongoing support they provide may help you retain a job and progress and develop in that job role. They can also help you ensure you get the right benefits.

Chaucer Homecare

Chaucer Homecare’s vocational service team provide employment support for individuals with mental health needs who wish to access competitive employment opportunities. We also provide support around education and training opportunities to help people attain their employment goals. Once in employment we offer support to both individual and employer to assist with staying well in the workplace and staying in work. The Recovery Star is provided as a means of helping people identify where they are in their overall journey towards wellbeing. The star identifies and supports the steps people might wish to take toward improving their quality of life in all areas including work.

Chaucer Homecare, 1a & 1b Craddock Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1YP

Tel: 01227 451834
Email: enquiries@chaucerhomecare.co.uk

Creating Bridges - Service User Employment service

Creating Bridges is a service run by Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) to provide information, advice and practical support for people whose mental health affects their ability to find or remain in employment, training, education and voluntary work.

Creating Bridges Laurel House, 41 Old Dover Road, Canterbury, Kent

Tel: 01227 597111 x 254
Email: Lynn.Marchant@kmpt.nhs.uk

Kent Supported Employment

Kent Supported Employment supports people with disabilities to have the same chance to get jobs as non-disabled people. It does this by providing the right help and support so that both the employer and the employee have a positive experience of employment. People are provided with a named advisor who will meet regularly with them to provide tailored help to prepare them for work and to find and keep paid employment.

Tel: 01227 598 500

Tel: 01303 253476
Fax: 01303 220751

Tel: 01474 328664
Fax: 01474 320741

Tel: 01622 691640
Fax: 01622 691135

Tel: 01843 229909
Fax: 01843 230871

Tel: 01732 525006

mcch – Employment, Health and Wellbeing service (North Kent)

mcch is a charitable organisation that supports people with mental health needs across the South East of England. Its Employment, Health and Wellbeing Service covers North and East Kent. Services are free and support people with mental health needs to stay in their job or return to work, if recently unemployed.

Tel: 01322 223335
Mobile: 07538 446 458
email: khoare@mcch.co.uk

Tel: 01303 210376
Fax: 01303 210378
email: Folkestone@mcch.org.uk

mcch – Wellbeing at Work service (Maidstone and the Weald)

mcch is a charitable organisation that supports people with mental health needs across the South East of England. Its Wellbeing at Work service is part of a nationwide Employment Advisor Pilot programme and is available to people who live in Maidstone and the Weald area. The service is free and supports people with mental health needs to return to work or stay in their job.

Tel: 01622 688003
Fax: 01622 677661
email: compasshouse@mcch.org.uk
Website: www.mcch.co.uk

One Stop Shop

The One Stop Shop is a service offered by a number of organisations which work together to help people with severe and enduring mental health needs in Maidstone and the Weald find and stay in work.

Organisations involved in the One Stop Shop include Kent County Council Adult Social Services, mcch, The Blackthorn Trust, The Winfield Trust and Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT).

If you receive support from one of the community mental health teams in Maidstone, you may be eligible to receive this service. Each community mental health team has a vocational adviser who can refer you to the One Stop Shop for support.

Tel: 01622 688003

For referrals, contact the vocational advisor at:

Kingswood Community Mental Health Centre Tel: 01622 766900
Pagoda Community Mental Health Centre Tel: 01622 724200.

For advice on employment and vocational support available, contact the employment development worker at:

mcch Tel: 01622 688003
Blackthorn Trust Tel: 01622 722218.

For information on information technology (IT) training contact:

The Winfield Trust Tel: 01622 769950.

RBLI, Employment Solutions

Employment Solutions is a division of Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) which delivers employment-related services to people with health conditions and disabilities across Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and in the North East and South West of England. Employment Solutions offers a Pathways to Work Programme in partnership with other organisations to help people with disabilities, including mental health needs, find and stay in work.

Tel: 01622 795900
Fax: 01622 882195
email: enquiries@rbli.co.uk

For information about RBLI’s Pathways to Work programme contact the RBLI Customer Contact Team on freephone: 0800 319 6841 (if you live in Kent) or 0800 319 6842 (if you live in Surrey or Sussex)

Shaw Trust

Shaw Trust is a national charity which supports disabled and disadvantaged people to prepare for work, find jobs and live more independently. It runs a range of employment and vocational services across Kent.

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