Employment support

We support people who have a disability and who need extra support to move towards and into paid employment. Once in work we will continue to monitor your training and development needs and support you to become independent at work.

Our service can provide you with a bespoke one to one service. This can include the following support, advice and guidance:

  • Working with you to build your confidence and self esteem
  • Signposting to training, from basic skills to vocational and professional qualifications
  • Looking for a job
  • Completing application forms
  • Building a CV (Curriculum Vitae)
  • Advice and guidance to match you with the right job to suit your experience and skills
  • Support with interviews and interview techniques
  • Sourcing structured work trials so you can try a particular job and gain valuable experience
  • 'On the job' help to guide and support you through the early stages
  • Continuous development planning, in order to ensure employment is sustainable
  • Engaging with employers to negotiate training and reasonable adjustments
  • Signposting and liaising with other providers to support you with travel training
  • Support you to keep your job if you become disabled or are finding work difficult with your existing disability

Eligibility and referral criteria

We support people with physical disabilities, sensory impairments, learning disabilities and with autism/ASD. We can also support people with mental health issues.

To be eligible for our service you must have agreed to be referred for support and be

  • of working age
  • committed to gaining paid employment
  • willing to meet regularly in local venues such as libraries or job centres
  • flexible in terms of availability for employment

We accept referrals from Lancashire County Council social care teams.

After we have received a referral to our service, we will make contact with the person referred to arrange a meeting at a time and place that is mutually suitable.

Lancashire County Council Employment service, also works in partnership with the Department of Works and Pension (DWP) to deliver the Local Supported Employment initiative (LSE)

This Initiative will help the growth of local authority (LA) led Supported Employment. And is part funded by the DWP

In order to receive support, the eligibility criteria for Participants is as follows:

  • individuals who have a learning disability, autism or both meeting the Equality Act definition of disability and are known to Adult Social Care.
  • individuals who have a learning disability, autism or both as defined by the Equality Act known to LAs with the same level of employment support needs as those above.
  • may or may not be in receipt of DWP benefits
  • must not be on another programme or provision
  • must be of Working Age (England 18 years)/(Wales 16 years) or over
  • wants to benefit from participating in LSE to find and sustain paid work
  • must be economically inactive (not in paid employment)

Lancashire County Council is a disability confident employer. Disability Confident Employer logo

Contact

If you would like more information about our service and whether we can help you get paid employment please contact us on:

Tel: 01772 537 468
Email: employment.services@lancashire.gov.uk

Resources and further information

Access to Work – grants to pay for practical support if you have a disability, health or mental health condition to help you start working, stay in work or move into self-employment. If you get support from our employment support service your employment officer will be happy to help you complete your application.

Prospects.ac.uk - help writing CVs and cover letters

Mind - work and mental health

Jobcentre Plus – find your local Jobcentre

National Government – about looking for work if you're disabled