Month: March 2019

This month we’ve been doing a lot of CV work with our participants. In some cases we have had to help build a CV for people who have never worked, and in others we have had to condense twenty or thirty years of broad experience into a relevant, targeted document.

Very often a CV is viewed by its creator as a chance to tell a prospective employer everything they can about everything they’ve ever done, but as someone who has read quite a few in my time I can tell you that’s the wrong approach. There are loads of great (and free) templates online, or through Microsoft Word or Google Docs for example. Don’t be tempted to go too fancy, just choose a clear format and provide relevant information. Of course, we’re here to help…

Not every job application requires a CV, but they are very useful if you attend a job fair and want to impress recruiters there. We’ve been to two in February- one in Colchester and one in Harlow. At both we’ve been able to introduce participants to employers to help them overcome their initial anxiety, with positive results for all involved. If you want to find work, but are unclear about what you’re looking for, job fairs are a great place to start. You’ll find a range of businesses as well as other sources of information to help you decide your next step. And you never know, you might bump into HeadsUp…

The HeadsUp Team are excited with their recent success in HeadsUp achieving the shortlist for the finals of the HSJ Value Awards 2019 for the “Primary Care Initiative of the Year”! This is a national awards programme and one that receives a high number of applications from across the healthcare sector so making the shortlist is a major achievement.

Sally Morris, Chief Executive at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) said: “Congratulations to the HeadsUp team for being shortlisted for this year’s HSJ Awards. I do hope they go on to win as they do an excellent job in helping people with mental health problems get back into work. We know that being in employment has a positive effect on mental health and general wellbeing, so well done to the team that provides such a vital support to local residents.”

The HSJ Value Awards recognises excellent use of resources, and also seeks out examples of demonstrable improvements to services through new initiatives. The HeadsUp team and programmes funders are delighted that their work in this area has been recognised nationally.

James Harcourt, England Director at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “It is excellent news that HeadsUp Essex has been shortlisted for an HSJ Value Award in the Primary Care Initiative of the Year category. HeadsUp provides important support and guidance to people with mental health problems looking to get back in to work in Essex, and it is a testament to the great work it is doing that it has been shortlisted for this prestigious award.”

The final round of judging will take place in April when shortlisted organisations will present their projects to the panel of experts and NHS leaders. Winners will be announced on May 23rd in Manchester.