Candidate Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Considering employment can be daunting so it’s understandable if you have some questions or concerns. We hope our handy FAQs will help put your mind at ease, however if we haven’t answered your question below, please contact us and a member of our team will be in touch with you.
A. You will need to fulfil all the following criteria:
Aged 18 or over.
Living in Essex (exc. Southend and Thurrock).
Diagnosed with a learning disability and/or autism.
Want to find paid work.
A. You can either contact us yourself or you can ask a family, friend, carer, teacher, or social worker to contact us on your behalf. You do not need a referral from the NHS or social care.
Our contact details are:
Telephone: 03330 135 438
Website: www.ecl.org/contact
A. We can help you to get ready for employment by helping you find an internship or by referring you to our Community Connector team, who can assist you to get voluntary work or build your confidence and independence by engaging in community-based activities. We can also signpost you to our partner organisations for further education or training.
A. When we first meet you, we will complete a vocational profile with you. This will tell us what type of work you would like to do and what sort of job will best match your needs, skills, and strengths.
A. You do not necessarily have to work full-time hours; we will help you find a job that offers hours to suit your needs. Jobs can be for as little as a couple of hours a week up to full-time, depending on the employer and the employee.
A. We adopt a tailored approach and seek employers who have job opportunities that match the personal skills and attributes of each candidate. To raise awareness and encourage employers to embrace inclusive employment we build positive relationships with companies, network extensively, attend job fairs, hold face-to-face meetings, and even lobby local Members of Parliament to support the Inclusive Employment programme. We are now in the fortunate position of having several reputable organisations that employ multiple candidates from ECL and regularly contact us to request more job applicants. We also have employers who have had an extremely positive experience of inclusive employment and who actively promote and recommend the programme to other potential employers.
A. You probably will need a CV. We will do a vocational profile with you to establish what type of role would suit you and the skills, talents, and experience you have to offer. From this we can help you to create an impactful and professional CV. We can also help you to fill in job application forms where appropriate.
A. You may need to attend interviews, but we will help you to prepare for them and can be present during the interview if you and the employer would welcome that. If interviews are a major barrier for you, we will explore whether you can do a job trial to demonstrate that you have the skills to do the job.
A. It is a legal requirement that employers make reasonable adjustments to avoid putting disabled people at a disadvantage. The Inclusive Employment team look for proactive employers who recognise the advantages of a diverse workforce and we advise them on any adjustments you may need. We work closely with potential employers to ensure you have an equal opportunity of being selected for the job and if you are successful in getting the job, that you can thrive in the role.
A. We will ensure that any job you apply for is within a comfortable travelling distance. We can practise your journey with you, making sure you are safe and confident with the route. We can also refer you to Essex County Council for travel training. If appropriate, we can help you apply to Access to Work funding to help with the cost of travel.
A. The support you receive will be personalised to meet your needs. On starting your job, you may require support with any onboarding paperwork and induction training. We can also provide job coaching which may involve breaking down your job into easy to follow steps and writing them down or producing visual guides for you. We can work by your side and practise your job with you until you feel confident to do your work independently.
A. A three-way partnership approach between ECL, your employer, and you, are important to ensuring that you and your employer enjoy a long and happy working relationship.The Inclusive Employment job coaches can provide on-the-job coaching for an agreed settling in period to help you become comfortable with your role. Even once you are working independently, we will stay in contact with you and your employer to make sure things are progressing well. If there are changes to your role, support from ECL can be reinstated to support you and the employer to navigate those changes.
A. Yes, we have had instances where individuals have had interviews or job start dates agreed but needed a little extra support to see it through.
A. You may find that once you start working you need less support elsewhere and your care package may be reviewed to reflect your changing needs. However, it does not mean that all other support is discontinued just because you are working a few hours a week.
A. No, income from employment should not be considered when assessing the contribution you need to make for your care.
A. No, a person with a learning disability must be paid the same as other employees for the same work. The National Minimum Wage must be paid as a minimum.
A. Our service is funded by Essex County Council and is free to individuals who are 18 or over, have a diagnosed learning disability and/or autism, and live in Essex (excluding Southend and Thurrock).
There may be some costs incurred such as getting to and from work, or if specialist equipment or technology is required to enable you to do your job. However, the Inclusive Employment team work closely with schemes such as Access to Work, which is a publicly funded programme that can provide practical and financial support. For more information visit: https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work
A. The impact of earnings from employment varies depending on the type of benefit:
Disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) should not be affected by employment as they are not means tested. However, starting work would be considered a change in circumstance so you will need to inform the Department for Work and Pensions.
Means tested benefits such as Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance often allow individuals living with a disability to earn up to a certain amount before affecting benefit payments.
Visit these pages below for up-to-date information:
https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit
https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/working-while-you-claim
A. If you stop working, you are eligible to be reassessed for support from social care. Any benefits that were affected by your income would be reinstated.