Employment Project

Supported Employment

People with learning disabilities face many barriers in the process of recruitment, selection and long term paid employment for many reasons. The most common of these are the employer’s lack of understanding of the capabilities of people with learning disabilities.

Yarrow’s employment project aims to eliminate some of these barriers by providing information, support and advice to employers to help make their recruitment, selection and job roles more accessible by people with learning disabilities, in line with the Disability Discrimination Act.

To people with learning disabilities, the employment project offers an individualised supported employment programme. Support provided aims to develop service users’ skills, confidence and increase their employment prospects. Work preparation training includes assertiveness training, job searching, filling application forms, attending interviews, travel training and on-going job coaching and support.

Talking about her job at Mencap, Emma said, “I really like my job because it is interesting and people respect me. I hope to use this work experience to help get a paid job either as a receptionist, a secretary or doing work with children”.

We will work closely with Emma and her employers to develop her skills in the areas necessary to move on to a paid job, and will support her in the job until she is comfortable in doing it independently.

Commenting on her experience of working with Emma, her manager said, “Emma has made a huge difference to the office and I don’t know how we would manage without her, She has really grown with the job, becoming more confident and taking on more responsibility. On one of the days she works, Emma effectively runs the office.”

Some of the other companies currently employing people who received services from Yarrow include the Metropolitan Police, New Scotland Yard, Hilton Hotels, Richard Rogers Architects and London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

Commenting on Edward’s role at New Scotland Yard, Head Chef Andrew Hayward said:

“We run a vast operation and have a lot of contact with customers. Edward is good at dealing with the public because he is pleasant, friendly and polite. He is also very reliable, he hardly ever takes a day off and he always starts work early.

“When Edward came to work for us there were, as with all new staff, challenges that had to be overcome. I work with people who have a whole variety of backgrounds and skills but, what I have learnt is, if you provide the right support, you get results.”

If you want further information on how you can recruit enthusiastic, reliable and skilled staff, and diversify your work force, please contact Jessica Howey or Arlo Yates at Yarrow Housing on 020 8740-4735 or email to jessica.howey@yarrowhousing.org.uk or arlo.yates@yarrowhousing.org.uk

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