Preparing for Adulthood - Employment (Local Offer)

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Preparing for adulthood - Employment

Employment is a very important part of life. When people have a job, they feel part of society, they have a purpose, make new friends plus have money in their pockets to buy the things they want.

There are a number of ways that young people with special educational needs and disabilities can access the world of work.  These include:

  • Supported Internships
  • Apprenticeships
  • Traineeships
  • Volunteering

And these are discussed below.

Parents have asked for a comprehensive guide to transitions and we have worked with Family Voice to produce the Preparing for Adulthood - A Parents Guide

Employer Toolkit - produced by the Papworth Trust

This tool kit offers practical help and advice to employers, managers and employees when working with young people with additional needs. The tool kit includes:

  • Helpful and supportive inclusive practices
  • Benefits of taking a person on with additional needs and the productivity this has for your organisation.
  • Details of rights and responsibilities for employers and employees
  • Guidance for line managers on how to make quick reasonable adjustments.
  • Taking Positive action in recruitment, advertisement
  • Financial assistance available for employers and employees following inclusive practice.

The following two videos contain some pest practice and inspirational progress regarding giving young people a chance to work:

Finding a job

City College Peterborough

City College Peterborough Day Opportunities Service provides a range of supported employment services and enterprises run in partnership with adults with disabilities.

The College Employment Team provides support to gain sustainable work and volunteer placements through their team of experienced advisers, job coaches and support staff.  They help people with learning disabilities and autism. The pdf below 'Employment Hub' provides more information.

You can also find out more information on the Local offer pages here Peterborough City College Day Opportunities page.

National Development Team for Inclusion

More information about Preparing for Adulthood can be found on the National Development Team for Inclusion website. 

National Careers Service - Futures 

Futures unlock the potential in people of all ages, backgrounds and barriers. They are future thinking, focused on leading a change in careers, advice, skills and training. They support you to meet your goals in life

Careers Advice

Let’s Be Clear (So Employers Know What You Are Asking For)

This brief document Employment Guide seeks to add some clarity about what we mean when we are approaching employers for work opportunities for young people with special educational needs or a disability (SEND).

Gov.UK The Education Hub

The Education Hub is a site for parents, pupils, education professionals and the media that captures all you need to know about the education system. You’ll find accessible, straightforward information on popular topics, Q&As, interviews, case studies, and more. View the Gov.UK Education Hub webpage for more details.

City College Peterborough

City College Peterborough host the National Careers Service base in Peterborough.

If you would like to talk to one of their qualified advisors, please email:

Rob Doran – rdoran@citycollegepeterborough.ac.uk

Telephone: 01733 58835

Andy Mitchell – amitchell@citycollegepeterborough.ac.uk

Telephone: 01733 588353

You can also visit the National Careers Service website.

Peterborough College - Jobsmart

Peterborough College has its very own employment service, Jobsmart, where you can benefit from weekly vacancy listings, CV advice, access to a wide range of training courses and a dedicated vacancy matching service.

Telephone: 01733 863068

jobsmart@peterborough.ac.uk

Peterborough College - Career Coach

For Careers Advice: careers@peterborough.ac.uk

For Work Experience:  work.experience@peterborough.ac.uk

Digital Skills Course for young people aged 16-25 - YES project

The YES Project from Leonard Cheshire is aimed at groups of disabled young adults aged 16-25.  The course delivers digital and work skills for disabled young adults.

The course is delivered using an engaging combination of remote and in-person sessions and delivery is flexible in terms of time for sessions.

The course is facilitated and delivered by a Leonard Cheshire staff member and tailored to the disability needs of learners.

Find out more on their website.

Talentino - Career Coaching

Talentino offer free mentoring to young people with special needs under the age of 25 years old. It’s a mentoring program of 6 1hr sessions covering things like what is a job, why it is good to have a job and similar topics. The mentoring groups can be in schools, groups, communities, churches and similar, it just needs to be a group of up to 10 people that have special needs and are aged under 25 years old.

This mentoring program is fully funded so there is no charge to the venue or attendees,

Talentino have a group of mentors DBS checked and trained ready to go, but nowhere to go to. So if you are or know of any groups that would benefit please email Hazell Cottrell.

hazel@creativecontent.company 

Telephone 0800 298 0178

National Careers Service - Peterborough

The National Careers Service - Peterborough offer free careers advice and guidance. You can view more details on their website Futures for you

Supporting young people who have not found a job

19- to 25-year-olds who make a benefit claim will be invited to meet a work coach at the Jobcentre. For those claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance (JSA), this will be as soon as possible. For those claiming Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and presenting a fit note, this will be within 4 to 6 weeks of their claim. At the Jobcentre, the work coach will discuss the young person’s needs and any barriers to work. They’ll then agree a plan of action (a ‘claimants’ commitment’) detailing their plans to find work.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) offers specialist employment programmes to support people into work. These include the Work Programme, Work Choice and the Specialist Employment Service. Work coaches will also signpost claimants to other local options. An Access to Work grant provides support to those with a disability or health condition who need help to work. Those with a longer term disability or health condition will have a Work Capability Assessment.

Supported Internships

Helping disabled young people to get a job

Supported Internships can help disabled young people to get a job.  They are a type of Study Programme.  What makes them different is that most of the learning is done at work and some in college.  This means young people can 'learn on the job'. 

Supported internships are for young people aged 16-24 years old and they generally last for 6 monthts to one year.  

City College Peterborough (CCP) and Peterborough College have set up Supported Internship programmes to help young people with additional needs get into work. 

This programme gives 16-24 year olds with an Education, Health and Care Plan the opportunity to complete long-term work experience whilst accessing any relevant courses at college. A Job coach will be assigned and support the student and employer throughout their placement.

Both colleges currently work with a number of business around Peterborough, although they are always looking for new partnerships with local businesses. They recognise that there are many benefits to hosting a Supported Internship, including access to specialist job-matching services, Disability Awareness training, improving image and external reputations and many others. 

If you would like further information, please contact:

City College Peterborough - Supported Internships

Email:  SPRecruitment@citycollegepeterborough.ac.uk.

Peterborough College

Email:  supported.internships@peterborough.ac.uk

Finding your future - A campaign by the National SEND Employment Forum

You can view a video as part of the National Send Employment forum campaign - 

The video features Rachel Morris who gives tips on how to stay on track with your employment goals

Access to Work grant scheme

Access to Work is a government grant scheme which supports disabled people in work. Access to Work might pay for:

  • a British Sign Language interpreter
  • specialist equipment
  • extra transport costs, such as a taxi where no public transport is available

Access to Work can also pay for assessments to see what you need at work. You can apply for Access to Work up to 6 weeks before you start work.

Find lots more information on the SCOPE website

You can also view te Gov.uk webpage - Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are where you work and learn at the same time.

As an apprentice you will work with experienced staff.  You will learn new skills.  You will earn money.  You will get time to study.  Apprenticeships can last for one to four years.

Into Apprenticeships  - A Guide For Disabled People

Produced by Disability Rights UK 'Into Apprenticeships' is a guide for disabled people, parents and key advisers about applying for apprenticeships in England. It deals with common questions such as how to find an apprenticeship, whether the training will be accessible and what support is available in the workplace.

How do apprenticeships support young people with SEND?

Special Needs Jungle is a parent-led information, resources and informed opinion website for children and young people aged 0 to 25.  This page has specific information about how apprenticeships support young people with SEN.

Peterborough College offer apprenticeships.

Stamford College offer apprenticeships.

Video about apprenticeships at City College Peterborough

You can search for apprenticeships on the government website.

GOV.UK Toolkit: Apprenticeships that work for all

The new toolkit is designed to provide employers, training providers and apprenticeship practitioners with tailored guidance on developing inclusive apprenticeship programmes that fulfil their potential as tools of social mobility.

The document points employers to guidance that will help them to:

  • remove barriers to accessing apprenticeships for people from lower socio-economic backgrounds
  • increase the socio-economic diversity of their apprenticeship intake
  • support all apprentices to complete their qualification, regardless of socio-economic background

View the Apprenticeships that work for all: A practical toolkit for employers, training providers and apprenticeship practitioner

Traineeships

From 1 August 2023, traineeships are no longer delivered through the national traineeships programme. Traineeships can continue to be offered by providers locally.

Access to Work grant scheme

Access to Work is a government grant scheme which supports disabled people in work. Access to Work might pay for:

  • a British Sign Language interpreter
  • specialist equipment
  • extra transport costs, such as a taxi where no public transport is available

Access to Work can also pay for assessments to see what you need at work. You can apply for Access to Work up to 6 weeks before you start work.

Find lots more information on the SCOPE website

You can also view the Gov.uk webpage - Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition

Volunteering

Peterborough Council for Voluntary Services Volunteering Centre

Peterborough Volunteering Centre acts as the hub for volunteering activity in the City, working with both organisations and volunteers.

Volunteering can help provide you with valuable experience, in lots of different ways such as:

  • You can gain new skills
  • You can meet new people and make friends whilst doing something you are interested in
  • You can build self-esteem and confidence and have a feeling of achievement knowing you have given something back
  • You can help your own community to grow and develop. Volunteering gives you a chance to give back to your community by sharing your own skills and knowledge
  • Volunteering is a great way to bridge gaps in your CV and also gives you a recent reference for employers to contact
Vocational Profiling

Identifying personal aspirations

A vocational profile is developed with a person who has additional learning needs, disabilities and or difficulties, or a health condition to help identify their personal aspirations.

This might be for work - paid, voluntary or work experience.  It can also include interests, current skills and experiences, barriers to gaining employment and anything else a person wants to say about themselves to help them to gain meaningful employment in an areas of interest to them.

Vocational profiles can be done from Year 9 onwards or after leaving school.

You can find out more about vocational profiles on the National Development Team for Inclusion - vocational profiles website.

Resources for access to work, better off in work, benefits calculator and Employment and Support Allowance

Resources

Preparing for Adulthood - Better off in work guide for young people with a learnng disability

Many people think that people with learning disabilities can’t work and have low expectations about what they are able to achieve.  This is wrong.

We need to change how people think so that many more people with learning disabilities get a job, and we need to make sure people with learning disabilities understand they will be better off with work.

People with learning disabilities should have the same rights and opportunities as everybody else.  You can read the Preparing for Adulthood - Better off in Work guide 

Finding your future - A campaign by the National SEND Employment Forum

The SEND Employment Forum have produced 8 videos that are designed to help you decide about your future plans.

You can link to the videos from here 

Government support

Access to Work

If you’re disabled or have a physical or mental health condition that makes it hard for you to do your job, you can:

  • talk to your employer about changes they must make in your workplace
  • get extra help from Access to Work, including mental health support

Find out more on the government website.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.

Find out more on the government website.

Looking for work if you're disabled

When you’re looking for work, look on adverts and application forms for the ‘disability confident’ symbol.

This symbol means:

  • the employer is committed to employing disabled people
  • you’ll be guaranteed an interview if you meet the basic conditions for the job

Find out more on the government website.

Benefits calculator

About 7% of our young adults on Supported Internships refuse an offer of employment possibly for fear of it affecting the benefits to their family. You can use an independent benefits calculator to find out:

  • what benefits you could get
  • how to claim
  • how your benefits will be affected if you start work

Use one of the following calculators:

  • Turn2us - for information on income-related benefits, tax credits, Council Tax Reduction, Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit and how your benefits will be affected if you start work or change your working hours
  • entitledto - for information on income-related benefits, tax credits, contribution-based benefits, Council Tax Reduction, Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit and how your benefits will be affected if you start work

You can find more detailed information by viewing the GOV.UK  Benefits calculators webpage

Claiming benefits in their own right as a young adult

Many young disabled people have the option of claiming Universal Credit as a young disabled adult. Normally you need to be at least 18 years old to claim Universal Credit, but some 16 and 17-year-olds can also claim. This includes a 16 or 17-year-old who is submitting medical certificates from their GP. 

Most young people who are receiving education cannot get Universal Credit, although certain groups can. For example, those who study part-time or those who remain in full-time non-advanced education beyond the August after their 19th birthday.

If your child gets Universal Credit, you will lose any benefits you get for them as part of your family. Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit, but if your son or daughter claims it, the Department for Work and Pensions will only look at their income and capital and not yours. 

Find lots more advice on the Contact for families with disabled children website

Free courses

Free courses for young people over the age of 19

If you are aged 19 or over you could access a course for free, as part of the help available from the government to help you access the skills you need to get the job you want - whatever your stage of life.

The free courses include level 3 qualifications and Skills Bootcamps. The government pays the course fees.

Free qualifications for adults

If you are 19 or over and do not already have a level 3 qualification or higher, you can access a free level 3 qualification. Level 3 is equivalent to an advanced technical certificate or diploma, or A levels.

Some of these qualifications are available to study online or part-time.

You may be able to get help to pay for childcare, travel and other costs.

The qualifications could help you:

  • gain skills that employers value
  • improve your job prospects
  • earn a good wage

View the GOV.uk webpage  - Guidance, Free courses for jobs for more details

Consultation and co-production with young people

Preparing for Adulthood - Young Persons Consultation Spring 2021

In response to our consultation with young people and a continuation of that dialogue with them, we have produced an online learning resource.

The Preparing for Adulthood - Young Persons Consultation Spring 2021 learning resource may also be useful to parents and staff who need some training in SEND and PfA. The target age group is 13-25. (Please note the voiceovers and videos don't work on the presentation - if you want a copy of the original powerpoint presentation please email Marya Ali ( marya.ali@peterborough.gov.uk) or Elizabeth Sullivan Ash (elizabeth.sullivan@peterborough.gov.uk).

Preparing for Adulthood (Local Offer)

The learning resource has also been replicated in several pages on our Local Offer for Young People website

Videos

Supported Internships at Peterborough Regional College
Apprenticeships at City College Peterborough
Finding Your Future Episode 1 | Rachel Morris on tips to stay on track with your employment goals
Finding Your Future Episode 2 | Bruce O'Neil on knowledge and learning new transferable skills
Finding Your Future Episode 3 | Work out with Jack Gibson from Fitness Worx
Finding Your Future Episode 5 | Victoria Turnbull on how to work in your dream industry
Finding Your Future Episode 7 | Joe Hill from 3D Joe and Max talks about his street art and career
Finding Your Future Episode 4 | Taurai Horton's path to success

Related Pages

  1. Preparing for Adulthood (Local Offer)
  2. City College Peterborough Day Opportunities (Adults)
  3. Learning, work and volunteering (Adults)
  4. Preparing for Adulthood - Good Health (Local Offer)
  5. Preparing for Adulthood - Independent Living (Local Offer)
  6. Preparing for Adulthood - Friends, Relationships & Community (Local Offer)
  7. Compliments, comments and complaints (Adults)
  8. Go-ViP Volunteer in Peterborough (Adults and Local Offer)

External Links

  1. Mencap UK work placements
  2. Apprenticeships - Real stories
  3. Special Needs Jungle - How do apprenticeships support young people with SEN?
  4. City College Peterborough Day Opportunities
  5. Harry Spectors - Inspirational employer for people with SEND
  6. The Skills Service
  7. Access to Work
  8. EmployAbility
  9. E4S
  10. Finding Your Future Episode 4 | Taurai Horton's path to success
  11. Finding Your Future Episode 6 | Gillian Kearney
  12. Digital skills course
  13. ARU Peterborough - Disability Support
  14. ARU Peterborough
  15. National Development Team for Inclusion

Downloads

  1. Employment Hub
  2. Employability Peterborough

Related Services

  1. City College Peterborough
  2. City College Peterborough Supported Employment
  3. Peterborough College
  4. Stamford College
  5. Supported internship programme at Peterborough College
  6. CP Learning Trust
  7. The Right Place - Royal Mencap
  8. Peterborough JobCentre Plus
  9. Employments 4 Students
  10. icould
  11. NCS
  12. BASE
  13. Shaw Trust

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