Empowering People

Changing Lives

What is educational and in-work support?

Employment support services that help disabled people find and keep competitive, integrated jobs in the general workforce is known as in-work support. This can be also carefully planned and integrate throughout a student’s education via career and employment coaching, like mentoring. Some important things about in work-support:

The person’s career coach helps them find good jobs by getting to know their skills and interests. The coach gives lessons and ongoing help, including relevant work experience.

It’s important to focus on skills and finding the right job, not just any job. Our goal is to have competitive jobs that pay at least the minimum wage and give people the chance to move up.

Support is given for as long as the person needs it, not just for a certain amount of time. For this reason, the person can keep their good job.

Jobs require interacting with co-workers who don’t have disabilities and being social. The disabled worker is seen as an important employee.

Unique planning and help for each person based on their strengths, skills, interests, and needs. This method focuses on the person.

This model has helped a lot of people with disabilities, autism, and mental health problems find jobs that are meaningful to them and fit their skills and goals. Inclusion in the workplace and financial independence are pushed by it.

Person in a wheelchair entering a modern office conference room where three people are sitting at a table.

The 12 Core Values of in-work support

  • Large orange number one painted on a textured white wall with a glass partition reflecting light.

    Positive Contribution

    Understand the positive contribution people can make in the working environment.

  • Number 2 painted in white on a red running track.

    Real Jobs

    Real roles, real purpose, real need and real wages makes for meaningful, fulfilling work, and has a positive impact on all.

  • A black and white photo of a large number 3 sign attached to a chain-link fence.

    All Are Welcome

    Using a Zero Rejection Policy to build an ethos that with the right support all who want to work can.

  • White painted number 4 on a dark brick wall

    Job Training

    ‘Work Readiness’ is not always a useful concept to apply to all; better still ‘place, train & retain’.

  • Sign with the number 5 illuminated in the ceiling of a building.

    Get Moving!

    Job suitability and searches should begin at the earliest opportunity.

  • A black double door with a large white number six painted on it, surrounded by brick walls. The door has a small window at the top, a lock, and a handle.

    Choice & Control

    …is encouraged for workers to achieve their career aspirations. Support is individualised and effective.

  • Number 7 on a large, rough stone with moss and small leaves around it.

    Partnership

    The person, their family carers, employers and support workers all partner in a successful placement.

  • Reflected black billiard ball with white circle and the number 8 in the center on a white background.

    Full Inclusion

    People are supported to be full and active members of their workforces and wider communities; socially and economically.

  • Street art of a smiley face painted with white bricks on a brick building wall.

    Employer as Customer

    It is important to recognise the employer as a customer of in-work support in their own right with requirements that need to be satisfied.

  • Close-up of a wooden spoon with the number 10 painted in black on it, placed in a clear glass jar, with a blurred green and gray background.

    Social Roles

    Support work recognises that employment is a valued social role and becoming employed can help reverse societal devaluation.

  • Metal house number '11' mounted on a weathered blue wooden wall.

    Removes Barriers

    The removal of discrimination requires a change of approach and thinking in the way in which society is organised, in this case removing barriers to employment.

  • White number '12' painted on a dark green wooden surface.

    Development

    In-work support should encourage the career development of individuals by promoting training opportunities and seeking increased responsibility.

How Does In-Work Support
Help People to Stay in Jobs

  • Career Coaching

    A career coach meets with the person on a regular basis to help them learn how to do their job, deal with problems at work, and manage their relationships with other people at work. This stops problems before they get worse and helps people learn skills that will last.

  • Accommodations

    We work with the employer to make reasonable adjustments that meet the person’s needs. For example, the employer might write down job instructions, change the person’s work schedule, or change the way they are trained, helping people who have functional limitations to get by.

  • Maintenance Skills

    Career coaches help employees develop areas that will help their careers grow, like getting vocational training, changing their work hours or level of responsibility, looking for internal job openings, and learning new skills that match their interests and abilities as they change. 

  • Support Coordination

    The coach sets up support teams for the person that may include a vocational counsellor, healthcare providers, carers, employment agencies, and other professionals who can help them in all areas of their life.This level of care makes it easier to get and keep jobs, which is key to inclusion.

The 5 Stages of Supported Employment

  • Stage 1: Client Engagement

  • Stage 2: Vocational Profiling

  • Stage 3: Job Finding

  • Stage 4: Employer Engagement

  • Stage 5: On and Off the Job Support

Flowchart showing the steps for developing a career through employee-employer relationship, starting from understanding needs, getting to know the person, agreeing on a plan together, getting the right worker or support, and finally developing a career.