Employment support for people with learning disabilities

Warwickshire Employment Support Team (WEST)

We provide a countywide service for people with a learning disability or who are on the Autistic Spectrum, who want to work. We help them to find employment:

in the public sector
in the private sector
full-time or part-time

We will enable people with a learning disability, Autism or Aspergers Syndrome to access and sustain paid employment by providing:

expertise on disability employment and benefit issues
personal profiling and job matching
ongoing support to employers and employees

What we provide

We specialise in recruitment and provide a professional service to employers who offer employment or work experience to people with learning disabilities and who are on the Autistic Spectrum or Asperger’s Syndrome.

We provide:

job profiling
selective recruitment
support with application forms
support at a job interview
an intensive induction package
one to one job coaching
an advocate for the customer with work related issues
information or training to employers about disability, equality and diversity
intervention and referral to other professionals, if required
regular and ongoing support and reviews of our customers
a full review of the effects of employment on customers’ benefits
support permitted work through the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)

How to use us

The process involves:

an initial referral to WEST
an assessment and vocational profiling by an Employment Officer
an agreement of a working contract between our service, customer and the family or carer
an allocation of a named, key worker
creating opportunities for employment
working in partnership with employers, customers, parents and carers

Eligibility

You must:

be aged 18 years or above
live in Warwickshire
want to go into paid employment

Accelerate is a Building Better Opportunities Project funded by the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund and the European Social Fund, managed by Coventry and Warwickshire CDA.