Disability Services for Employers

What can the Jobcentre Plus Disability Support do for me as an employer?

We provide information and advice to employers to support them in the adoption of good employment policies and practices in the recruitment, retention, training and career development of disabled people.

How is this support provided?

It’s provided through Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs) and Access to Work (AtW). DEAs are employment specialists, who are usually based in Jobcentre Plus offices or Jobcentres and who work in partnership with external organisations of and for disabled people. Access to Work Advisers have specialist knowledge of the Access to Work programme. Access to Work provides support to disabled people and their employers to help overcome work related obstacles associated with disability.

What type of service can DEAs provide?

They can:

• give you information about the Work Preparation programme. You may be able to offer a work placement to a disabled person enabling them to sample many types of work in a real working environment. Work placements are usually arranged through Jobcentre Plus Work Preparation Contractors and may last from a few days up to a maximum of 13 weeks.
• tell you about the Job Introduction Scheme (JIS) which can provide a weekly grant towards the employment or training costs for the first few weeks of employing a disabled person
• provide advice on adopting the Disability Symbol, which has been developed so employers can show their commitment to good practice in the employment and retention of disabled people.
• give information on WORKSTEP which enables people with more complex employment barriers to work effectively with the right support alongside non disabled colleagues
• give you advice on job retention if you or your disabled employee are concerned about them losing their job because of disability.

What kind of help can an Access to Work Adviser provide?

Access to Work (AtW) Advisers have specialist knowledge of the Access to Work programme which can provide practical and financial support in the workplace to overcome work related obstacles resulting from disability

Where can I find out more information?

Contact the DEA in your local Jobcentre Plus office or Jobcentre, or contact your local Access to Work Business Centre who can put you in touch with an AtW Adviser.

Mencap - Useful Guides

Mencap has produced a useful guide - "Making it Work for Employers" - which gives detailed information and guidance to employers wishing to consider employing a person with a learning disability.