Unity Works’ person-centred supported employment programmes for people with a learning disability are well established and provide all round support that enables individuals to move into and sustain employment. Here we speak to Grace, Employment Advisor, whose inclusive working practices ensure that people with a learning disability are finding and sustaining paid work.
Why do you like being an Employment Advisor at Unity Works?
I like being an Employment Advisor at Unity Works because of the great people I get to work with every day. I enjoy working with such a diverse group of people who show me different perspectives and experiences. My job allows me to be creative and think outside of the box when working with the people we support, and everyone I work with has different needs and strengths, which means each day is not the same.
What sort of activities do you do as an employment advisor?
As an Employment Advisor I manage a small caseload of adults with a learning who want to find work. My work involves conducting 1:1 appointments, assessing client skills, creating CVs and portfolios and reaching out to employers. I also support people to apply for jobs, support clients at interview, attend jobs fairs and employer engagement events as well as plan and deliver employment related group sessions for the people I work with. I negotiate reasonable adjustments at work for people we support and work with employers to engage them to employ people with a learning disability and/or autism.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I enjoy being part of the Unity Works team because everyone is so supportive and great at what they do. I also enjoy the flexibility of the role which allows me to adapt my approach for the different people we support, for example, supporting individuals on trips to meet employers or to visit a new workplace. This means I don’t spend every day in the office and I get the opportunity to visit a range of places and meet new people.
How can employers benefit from hiring candidates from our supported employment programmes?
Employers can benefit from hiring candidates from our supported employment programmes because we take time to assess candidates unique skills and abilities before matching them to roles. We also provide ongoing in work support for the people we support to ensure that they settle into the role well and employers feel supported too.
Are you ready to start making a difference to bridging the learning disability employment gap?
Find out more about our opportunities to join our supported employment team