Supported employment service

R is diagnosed with autism which causes him extreme anxiety and mental health issues. 

His work coach at the local job centre informed him about a possible cleaning vacancy. Our Supported Employment Co-ordinator, Chris then supported R in the following ways:

• supported R to attend his job centre appointments 
• helped him to make contact with the employer for an informal chat and complete the job application
• since R was very anxious about attending an interview, Chris supported him to the interview

R was successful in his interview and was offered the job. R’s anxiety increased as his first day approached, so Chris went along with him to offer support. Once his anxiety passed, R attended work independently, travelling on the bus with his bus pass that Chris had previously helped him to obtain.

J was referred to the supported employment service after he had been out of work for eight months. He was struggling with his mental health, suffering with anxiety and depression, which in turn affected his confidence and self-esteem.

J wanted to find paid work in either engineering or labouring. He recognised the importance of employment and how it would help him regain his independence, confidence and be a part of his recovery.

Alongside his Supported Employment Co-ordinator, John, J worked on his supported employment plan. They agreed that the main areas of support needed was to help him to write a new CV, along with job searching and job retention. As a result J:

• completed his new CV and uploaded it to various job sites
• applied for a variety of roles

After finding a paid part-time labouring role, John supported J for a further six weeks to make sure that he made a smooth transition into paid work. John’s support ended shortly after this when J felt confident in his new role.

Mr N had a varied employment record, with mainly short-term work placements and jobs, although he hadn’t been in paid employment for three to four years. He wanted to return to paid part-time employment. 

Mr N initially struggled with his job hunting as he:

• did not know where to look for work
• did not have an up-to-date CV
• required one-to-one support with searching, applying for work and preparing for a job interview

Eamonn, our Supported Employment Co-ordinator, created an action plan for Mr N which included updating his CV and helping him with how to search for a job. Mr N then began looking for local and suitable part-time job vacancies himself.

Mr N had a small number of job interviews and assessments over the next few months. Before each interview, Eamonn supported Mr N with interview preparation.

Eventually Mr N secured a part-time job as an assistant grounds maintenance worker. Eamonn then supported him in the following ways:

• kept in regular contact with Mr N and his employer when his employment start date was delayed due to COVID-19
• assisted with completing the employer’s required paperwork
• provided support to Mr. N when he needed to inform the job centre about their change in circumstances with regards to their joint Universal Credit and housing benefit claims
• monitored Mr N to see how he was coping with his new working routine
• assisted Mr N with any adjustments needed during his probationary period

Three months later, Mr N was performing very well in his role. The employer was delighted with his effort, commitment and attitude. He is now developing his skills set, learning new tasks and working successfully with his grounds maintenance supervisor.

J worked in a warehouse for a large store before becoming ill. He had physical health issues which affected his mental health. J was not feeling physically well enough to return to work, but his employer wanted to discuss his return. This caused J great anxiety.

Alison, our Supported Employment Co-ordinator, supported J at his work meetings and negotiated a phased return to work for when he was ready. 

The employer accepted this phased return. This enabled J to start work initially for six hours per week over two days, and he gradually built his hours back up to 18 hours over a six-week period.

Alison kept in contact with J as he returned to work. J is now working independently and no longer requires our support.