Job Centres have specially trained employment advisors that can support people with disabilities. They can help you find out what sort of job you would like and help you to apply for it.

GOV.UK - Looking for work if you're disabled

Pursuing employment and benefits

The Department for Works and Pension (DWP) operate the Jobcentre Plus

They are there to help you find employment, by:

• giving you access to a Disability Employment Adviser to help support you, even if you are not claiming any benefits – please ask for an appointment at your local Jobcentre
• ensuring that you are aware of training and job opportunities
• Job Help a website with help with disabilities, mental health and long-term health conditions
• where to look for jobs Find a job - GOV.UK
• they can inform you of local Disability confident employers (those employers who have signed up to the Government’s Disability Confident scheme
• help insure you have the best chance of getting the job by:
  • having a good CV
  • having the right skills for the jobs you want
  • supporting you in moving closer to the job market

They also make sure:

• you have income while you are looking for or unable to work
• benefits you can have to top up part time employment, if on a low income
• funds to help with reasonable adjustments at work – Access to Work Access to work - Easy Read

To find your local Jobcentre Plus, you can search on this section of the Government website:  Jobcentre Plus Local Office Search

The Supported Employment Service is funded by Public Health and Worcestershire County Council and can support:

Unemployed adults,18 years of age and above who live in Worcestershire

(who are motivated to participate in work activity and employment and could be available at least part of two days per week)

and

a) have a learning disability and are in receipt of adult social care.

or

b) are known to social care whose circumstances make them vulnerable due to social isolation, disability, health issues and there is potential to increase skills and independence through work activities.

The Supported Employment Service supports people to access work activity and employment, helping to increase life skills, independence, involvement in the community and stronger networks.

The service works with organisations, business, and employers to develop how they can offer accessible work opportunities, recruit, employ and support people with disabilities in a work setting.

The service works alongside people and their employers, families, carers, and professionals, to support the persons journey in to work and to maintain their work.

The service can also provide advice and links to other organisations that can offer other work-related support and guidance.

You can read all about how the Supported Employment Service helped D with their job at The Flyford (PDF).

You can read more about Supported Employment on the BASE (British Association of Supported Employment) website: What is Supported Employment.

There are places other than the Job Centre which can help you look for work and we have listed two below, but it’s worth looking at the Skills 4 Worcestershire website for more ideas and information: Employment and volunteering options.

The Disability Jobsite is an official website which helps people with a disability to participate actively in employment and plays a critical role in supporting people with a disability on the pathway to work.

The Careers with Disabilities is a website with jobs and resources for Disabled Jobseekers.

The Hive, in Worcester, has a careers Youth hub, with dedicated careers advisors, and help to find jobs, the service is not specifically for young people with SEND. You can find out more here: Careers Worcs Youth Hub - The Hive (thehiveworcester.org).