Support Team

Too often, clients with severe disabilities, having secured employment, struggle in their job and end up becoming unemployed again. This can be due to a variety of reasons, including lack of confidence, the need for inordinate supervision, inability to cope with the demands of employment and employers' uncertainty regarding the employee's disability/ability.

A Support Team was introduced not only to assist such clients find a job, but to ensure that they remained in employment. The team works with all people with disabilities that may require additional support to find and retain work. This includes people with brain injuries, physical disabilities, sensory impairments, learning difficulties or mental health problems. Staff provide clients with on-going support regarding job search and negotiating jobs with employers. The Support Worker provides support from initial contact through to monitoring of clients once appropriate employment has been obtained.

Once initial contact is made between the Support Worker and client, a Vocational Profile is completed. The Vocational Profile is an assessment tool, which details the individual's strengths and identifies areas which require assistance. It allows the Support Worker to gain information on the individual's abilities; the Support Worker can then look to obtain an appropriate job match. Once the Support Worker has gained sufficient details they will contact employers to gain information on particular jobs and if suitable marry the two together. The employer and employee continue to receive appropriate assistance. At first the individual may need weekly visits, but as the person becomes more able to cope with the work, the Support Worker will arrange to reduce the level of their input. This would be agreed between the client, employer and Support Worker.

To continue to develop this innovative approach, the Employment Unit has formed partnerships with local Psychiatric Units, Hospitals and Social Work Departments, which have been able to provide additional support with the client's rehabilitation into employment.

The Support Team offers clients that extra bit of help they need to find, and keep, a job. Moreover, employers also need support and guidance. The approach adopted by the Unit is being viewed by social work, medical professionals, Jobcentre Plus and a variety of organisations as a model of good practice to assist people with disabilities into employment.

The Manager of the EU is a former Chairperson of the Scottish Union of Supported Employment (SUSE) and is currently the Chairperson of the European Union of Supported Employment (EUSE).

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