Are you looking for support to get a job?
We have asked people and organisations across Wales how they can help you. We have found that some of the programmes that help people to get a job are available everywhere in Wales. Others are just in some areas for example only in North Wales.
Some of the programmes offer support to help you to increase your skills, build a CV, prepare for and apply for jobs. You may have a mentor who will get to know you and work with you to do this. We call this Employment Support.
Some of the programmes offer Supported Employment.
An expert job coach will work with you to get to know you. They will find out about your hopes for the future, your support needs, your skills, your experiences, and the jobs you would like to do. The job coach will help you find and apply for the type of job that best matches your skills and choices.If you are getting benefit payments the job coach can help you to find out if getting a paid job will change the money you receive.
The job coach will train you to do your job in your workplace. As you become more confident in doing your job, the job coach will support you less and less until you can do the job without their help. The job coach will keep in touch by phone calls and visiting your workplace to make sure everything is going well. They will help if there are any problems.
Choose the type of support that is best for you.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships in Wales are open to a wide range of people. They can give you a fair and equal chance to kick-start your career. There are many types of jobs in different industries available and most apprenticeships can be made accessible. You will get a full package of support, whatever your needs. Apprenticeships allow you to earn money while you learn.
You will be placed with an employer to gain hands-on work experience, learn new skills, and gain a nationally recognised qualification. You will get time to study for your qualification. As an apprentice you will work with experienced staff to develop skills needed for the job. Your employer will work with you to ensure you get tailored support to meet your needs.
There are different levels of Apprenticeships qualifications, starting with a Foundation Level 2 qualification and going up to a Degree Level 6.
If you are disabled, have a learning disability and/or autism you can get expert job coach support to help you to prepare for an apprenticeship. This support will continue throughout your apprenticeship. In mid to south Wales it is provided by ELITE supported employment agency. In mid to north Wales, it is provided by Agoriad Cyf.
https://workingwales.gov.wales/change-your-story/apprenticeships
AutonoMe
AutonoMe is a Social Enterprise working to unlock the potential of neurodiverse people and those with learning disabilities in their employment and independent living aspirations.
Personalised one to one support is provided by a dedicated job coach together with employment related instructional videos accessed by the AuonoMe app. The support helps people to develop skills and overcome barriers to getting and keeping a paid job.
AutonoMe employment works both as a standalone programme and as a compliment to existing employment pathways, programmes and services.
https://autono.me.uk/employment
Communities for Work Plus
Communities for Work+ provides specialist employment advisory support and intensive mentoring. It offers help, support, guidance and training to help you find a job. You must be 20 years old and over, living in Wales and not in education, employment or training and have a complex barrier to employment.
You will have your own mentor who will find out what help you need and will agree next steps. Support can be provided to help build your confidence, gain some work experience, learn new skills or re-write your CV.
Disability Employment Advisor (DEA)
If you have a health condition or a disability that affects your ability to work, you can get assistance and advice on returning to the workplace by speaking to your work coach at your local Jobcentre Plus. For additional support, the work coach can refer to the Disability Employment Advisor (DEA) for advice on health & disability. Whether you have just lost your job or have been out of work for a long time, the DEA is trained to be able to help you to find
work or to gain new skills for a job.
Ask at your local Jobcentre for details
DFN Project SEARCH
(multiple programs across Wales)
A work-based supported internship program aimed at young people with learning disabilities, offering various programs across Wales. For information on programs local to you, take a look at the relevant areas in North and South Wales below.
DWP Local Supported Employment
Provides tailored support for individuals with disabilities to find and maintain employment.
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions
Employment Plus Wales
Helps people to find work and stay in work. Works with local partners and delivers employability contracts. The Salvation Army’s Employment Plus service offers tailored support to help people including those with complex needs to become job-ready. Their aim is to help job seekers to get a job and stay in work.
Employment specialists provide tailored support to help people become job-ready, find and get a job, and stay in work. This includes training courses and addressing problems such as self-esteem, confidence building and motivation.
Offers short-term work-experience placements, which are arranged at a local level, in work support and volunteering.
HFT
Is a national charity offering tailored supported employment to
individuals with learning disabilities and neurodiversity, helping them
gain and maintain employment across Wales.
Coach
Hft work with employers to change the way they do things and make
things fairer for learning disabled people. Our aim is to support learning
disabled people to find employment, achieve their career aspirations,
and become fully active employees within their organisation.
Individualised support is provided to the person with a learning disability
and the organisation they work for, this will be provided by a dedicated
Hft Job Coach. The job coach will support the person looking for work, to
completed a Vocational Profile – this is an assessment of skills,
preferences and experiences to help to make sure that we provide the
right type of help, training and support.
Our Job Coaches will help the person with a learning disability when
they start their job by providing support:
• To ensure they provide information needed for pre-employment checks
• To take part in and successfully complete induction training
• Using Systematic Instruction to help the employee to learn the routines
and tasks of the job
• Identifying adaptations in the work place to support the person to
complete their job
• Offer training for employers and their workforce around learning
disability awareness
Support is provided by the job coach with transport training to get to and
from the place of work.
Hft provided supported employment for the North Wales supported
employment programme in Flintshire and Wrexham counties.
Hft supported employment team provides two supported internships in
the county of Flintshire in partnership with Clwyd Alyn housing, the NHS
and Flintshire County council.
They also provide a supported internship in partnership with Conwy
Council in a local caffi, training and supporting people with a learning
disability, to gain the skills needed for hospitality, before moving on to
find paid employment.
If you would like any further information
Call 07795304758 / 07407 643872
Email Julia.hawkins@hft.org.uk / bryony.dolby@hft.org.uk
Jobs Growth Wales+
This is a learning programme for young people aged 16-19 who are not in full time education, training, or employment. It is a very flexible programme that is designed around you.
You will learn new skills, get qualifications, and will be able to try out jobs you might be interested in. You will be paid a training allowance while you are learning and a real wage when you get employment. Your employer will support you to develop your skills and knowledge further. You can get support in your workplace from an expert job coach if you need it.
In mid to south Wales this is provided by ELITE supported
employment agency. In mid to north Wales this is provided by Agoriad Cyf.
Social Firms Wales
This organisation supports the development of social enterprises to employ people with disabilities across Wales. It also supports people to become self-employed.
Supported Internship
A supported internship is a work programme of up to 1 year for young people with a learning difficulty, learning disability and/or autism, who are aged 16-24. You learn work skills that will help you to get a job. You have to be in full-time education at a school or college and must want to get a job. Work placements are part of the course, so you do not get paid.
Some of the learning will take place in your school or college but most of the learning is done in the workplace. The employer gives you work experience, you are trained to do a job role and learn the skills needed for work. You may be offered a job by the employer when your internship has finished. You are supported in the workplace by an expert job coach.
If you are placed with a big employer like a hospital or local council, you may be able to try 2 or 3 different jobs during the year to help you find the best one for you.
In colleges in Wales a supported internship is Pathway 4 of the
Independent Living Skills course. If you are interested in an internship you can ask your local college.
Working on Wellbeing Wales
Working on Wellbeing is a programme that offers support and training to people who live with a range of disabilities and those with long-term health conditions. This includes people with learning disabilities and/or autism. You have to be aged 16 years and older, live in Wales and be unemployed.
The support offered is one to one and includes help to build your skills, help with writing a CV, interview preparation, and getting a job.
LitC deliver Starting Line, a 7 week pre-employment course to help customers access inclusive opportunities.
Workfit
The Down’s Syndrome Association’s supported employment programme. A tailored service dedicated to training employers about the learning profile of people who have Down’s syndrome so that they can be supported in the workplace. They focus on finding the right employment opportunities for people who have Down’s syndrome and ensuring that they have the support they need to be successful in the workplace.
As well as developing new opportunities, they progress employees in their careers by supporting them to expand their experience and learn new skills through training and opportunities for professional development.
Access Supported Employment (ASE)
Provided by Newport City Council to support people with disabilities in finding appropriate employment. Supported employment provides:
- Assistance from an employment support specialist
- Specialised job training
- On site, hands on training and support for the individual
- Assistance with development plans
- Long-term support and input with reviewing and monitoring
Arts Factory
Supports people who would like help including people with learning disabilities, the local community and businesses. Support is offered to improve self-esteem and confidence, teamwork, social networks, skills and knowledge, independent living skills, and employability.
Mainly covers RCT but will accept referrals from other areas. Referrals can be made directly or by a social worker.
Work based placements are provided in administration, customer service, event support, gardening and grass cutting, cleaning and maintenance, in the warehouse and as a van assistant, at Factory Books. Essential skills training is provided for volunteers.
The Arts Factory also has a community garden, a social enterprise design studio and is opening a café that will provide social employment.
ASCC (Autistic Spectrum Connections Cymru)
Offer into-work employment support, helping people to gain and retain meaningful work. The funding is open to autistic adults aged 16+ across Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Monmouthshire, Newport, The Vale of Glamorgan and Torfaen. Support is offered both remotely and face to face from the Cardiff office.
ASDES
A Swansea based community interest company that aims to explore and maintain meaningful job opportunities for autistic and/or neurodivergent individuals. job coach support is provided with support being tailored to individuals. Depending on circumstances this can be carried out in person or remotely.
Bridgend College
Offers 2 supported internships as part of the Independent Living Skills course Pathway 4. They are both a one year full-time programme for students aged 18-24 with additional learning needs and/or autism. Support is provided by a Job Coach and College tutor.
- A partnership with Project SEARCH and Hft to provide a supported internship programme at PHS Group, the leading provider of hygiene services in the UK, Ireland and Spain.
The programme will take place at the PHS Group head office in Caerphilly, with the working day running from 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday.
Interns will undertake three departmental rotations determined by which skills they need to develop. They will have the chance to explore a variety of career paths, including Finance, Human resources, Marketing, Customer service, Key accounts, Inbound telesales, IT.
- A partnership with Project SEARCH, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and Elite Supported Employment to provide a supported internship programme at Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.
During their time at PoW, interns will undertake three departmental rotations determined which each last 10 weeks. These rotations will help develop different skills and give interns the chance to explore a variety of career paths.
https://www.bridgend.ac.uk/courses/independent-living-skills/
Cardiff People First
A self-advocacy organisation that supports and employs people with learning disabilities to help them to get and administer Access to Work, employing and training Workplace PAs to support self-advocates for them to choose from. Gives opportunities for training and skills.
Info@cardiffpeoplefirst.org.uk
02920 231555
Cardiff & Vale College
Offers three full-time supported internship programmes as part of the Independent Living Skills course Pathway 4. A one year programme for learners aged 18-24 with Additional Learning Needs, learning disabilities or autism. The course runs 5 days a week typically between 9:00am – 4.00pm. Support is provided by a job coach and College tutor.
The students, known as interns, will complete a series of meaningful placements as employees within different departments working in varying roles.
Work Placements are across the region and within a range of host businesses and industries including:
Cardiff University – Cardiff
The Parkgate Hotel – Cardiff
Dow Silicones UK Ltd. – Barry
https://cavc.ac.uk/en/courses/pwll/supported-internship-on-site?occurrence=167443info@cavc.ac.uk
Cardiff Local Supported Employment
The Local Supported Employment (LSE) initiative is provided by Cardiff Council Into Work Advice Service. It aims to support people with learning disabilities, autism, or both who are 18 years and over to move into mainstream employment.
The project provides job coach support to participants to help them find, gain and maintain employment.
Carmarthenshire Local Supported Employment
Provided by the team at Carmarthenshire Working.
Carmarthenshire Working is a funded project that aims to help people build a better life by supporting those that are unemployed
or working less than 16 hours to find long term employment. One to one support is provided to people with learning disabilities and/or autism who are supported to increase their skills and achieve a good job match when gaining paid employment. The project is delivered by a dedicated team, located in the Council Hubs in the 3 main
towns of Carmarthenshire. They offer intensive and wrap around 1-1 support by a team of mentors and Employment Liaison Officers to move people closer to mainstream provision and to gain and retain employment. They can help with:
- A Personal Mentor
- Job Search Support
- Writing CV’s and completing application forms
- Finding local job vacancies to match your skills
- Access to relevant training opportunities
- Volunteering opportunities
- A paid work opportunity with a local employer
Carmarthenshire Local Supported Employment
Provided by the team at Carmarthenshire Working. Carmarthenshire Working is a funded project that aims to help people build a better life by supporting those that are unemployed or working less than 16 hours to find long term employment. One to one support is provided to people with learning disabilities and/or autism who are supported to increase their skills and achieve a good job match when gaining paid employment.
The project is delivered by a dedicated team, located in the Council Hubs in the 3 main towns of Carmarthenshire. They offer intensive and wrap around 1-1 support by a team of mentors and Employment Liaison Officers to move people closer to mainstream provision and to gain and retain employment.
They can help with:
- A Personal Mentor
- Job Search Support
- Writing CV’s and completing application forms
- Finding local job vacancies to match your skills
- Access to relevant training opportunities
- Volunteering opportunities
- A paid work opportunity with a local employer
CELT+
Provided by the Vale of Glamorgan Council. It offers supported employment. The project works with individuals from across the Vale of Glamorgan to support people who have a learning difficulty, learning disability and/or autism to achieve their full potential. Using a person centred approach staff work closely with individuals, their parents, carers and employers to:
- Overcome barriers to employment
- Develop transferable skills
- Offer unpaid work experience
- Provide paid supported employment
- Find volunteering opportunities
- Offer access to supported internships
Ceredigion Local Supported Employment
Support is provided by Ceredigion County Councils Employability Support Team through the Local Supported Employment scheme. The project provides support for people aged 16 and up who have a learning disability, or autism to support them in securing sustainable employment. The employability support team provides a mentoring service in locations across Ceredigion and offers support into employment and self-employment by reducing barriers.
– 1:1 mentoring, this includes creating an employability pathway, creating CVs, application support, interview support
– Provide practical support to build competence and confidence
– Support participants in developing their skills, values, behaviours, and knowledge to move them into, or closer to employment
– Offer qualifications or work relevant certification
– Supported work experience placements, volunteering opportunities and work trials.
https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/jobs-careers/ceredigion-employability-support
Community Support Team, Islwyn Catering, and Islwyn Coffee Shop
Provides employment opportunities and training within the catering and hospitality sectors for people with disabilities in Caerphilly.
This is now open.
Coleg Gwent
Offers supported internships as part of the Independent Living Skills course Pathway 4. A one year full-time programme based at the Cross Keys campus for learners aged 18-24 with Additional Learning Needs, learning disabilities or autism. Learners will work towards securing part-time or full-time employment. Support is provided by a job coach and College tutor.
Interns will attend work placement 3 days a week off-campus (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) with two days on campus (Monday and Friday).
Qualifications will be tailored to the needs of each intern and their planned progression routes.
Coleg Sir Gar Coleg Ceredigion
Stepping into employment offers supported internships as part of the Independent Living Skills course Pathway 4. A one year programme for learners aged 18-24 with Additional Learning Needs, learning disabilities or autism. Support is provided by a Job Coach and College tutor.
Interns will attend college in Ammanford one day a week and attend work placement 2 days a week to gain valuable workplace experience and employability skills. Interns have 3 employment experiences in different work placements. Learners can progress into the workplace with the support given to develop a CV, search for job roles and complete the application process. This may be volunteering opportunities or paid employment.
They will also receive travel training support in order to promote independence.
Coleg y Cymoedd
Engage to Change Gateway to Employment offers supported internships as part of the Independent Living Skills course Pathway 4. This one year full time course has been designed for those with moderate learning difficulties or disabilities working at Pathway/Entry 3 or above in college. Interns will attend college one day a week at the Nantgarw campus and be on a work placement up to 4 days a week in a suitable location. A trained job coach will assist interns at their work placement to ensure they settle in and learn the role.
DFN Project SEARCH
A one-year transition to work programme for young adults with a learning disability or autism spectrum conditions, or both. DFN Project SEARCH work hard to challenge and change cultures, demonstrating how young people with a learning disability can enrich the workforce, bring incredible skills and talent, encourage greater diversity and meet a real business need.
They partner with organisations across the public, private, and voluntary sectors to create supported employment internships for young people in their last year of education, helping them to take positive first steps into the world of work.
Work in partnership with FE colleges and schools across south Wales to deliver supported internship programmes at: Amazon Swansea, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, PHS Group Caerphilly, Prince Charles Hospital Merthyr, Princess of Wales Hospital Bridgend.
02034 323402
Disability Can Do – Working on Wellbeing
A free, bilingual service, delivered by Disability Can Do in partnership with Scope. It is open to people who are:
- Disabled – including those with a physical or sensory impairment, learning difficulty, autism
or mental health condition - Living in the Gwent region (Monmouthshire, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Newport, Caerphilly)
- Aged 16 and over Unemployed.
Through group and one-to-one sessions people are helped to understand their career goals, grow their confidence, assertiveness, and independence, write their CV, develop interview skills, find and apply for volunteering, training, or employment opportunities. Disability Can Do also provide ongoing support, such as guidance if you have concerns over things like pay and asking for reasonable adjustments in the workplace or need help covering costs towards your new career. They can help you understand and assert your rights.
ELITE Supported Employment Agency
Delivers several supported employment programmes:
Supported Shared Apprenticeships offers disabled people the opportunity to undertake an apprenticeship with up to 3 employers, with one-to-one support from a specialist job coach.
Supported Internships in conjunction with an FE college and employer provides one to one support from a specialist job coach, to young people across a range of sites in South Wales.
Supported Jobs Growth Wales Plus support is provided to young people on the Jobs Growth Wales Plus provision, that have complex barriers to work and require one to one job coaching.
- Supported Employment Project support is provided to disabled people who are 18 plus within Rhondda Cynon Taff, to access vocational opportunities and paid work, through one to one job coaching.
- Multiply – training for disabled people to manage finances and budgets.
Employability Bridgend
A local authority led employment programme which currently comprises of 4 projects. All projects support people in their own locality in community venues where possible.
One to one support can be provided by a mentor. The following is provided: building skills and confidence, training, CV development, job search, job applications or job progression, job placements, volunteering. Some job placements are paid with the idea the person will then become employed by the business. Some work related costs can be paid for by the programme such as travel and clothing such as work shoes.
Flexible Supported Employment Pathways (FSEPs)
FSEPs are designed to give pupils with additional learning needs the opportunity to gain real-world workplace experience while they are still in school. These placements take place at employer premises, where pupils work a number of days a week during school term time. With support from teaching assistants, pupils are able to:
- Gain industry-relevant qualifications
- Develop employability skills
- Build practical workplace experience
Gower College
Offers supported internships as part of the Independent Living Skills course Pathway 4. A one year programme designed for post-16 learners with additional learning needs in their final year of College. The programme is person- centred, focusing on individual learner destinations and supporting their transition from College into employment. Learners will be primarily based in the workplace, where they will develop essential employability skills through real-world experience. Support is provided by a Job Coach and College tutor.
The course aims to build confidence, competence, and independence, enabling learners to make a successful transition into the working world. Class-based sessions will complement this experience by providing structured learning opportunities around key themes, with a particular emphasis on employability.
Grow in Powys
This Communities for Work+
This programme supports people to get into work.
Employment Mentors working across Powys provide 1-1 mentoring support tailored to the needs of each individual. They can provide support with:
- Employability skills, including help with CV writing, job applications and interview
preparation, confidence building - Sourcing work placements and volunteering opportunities
- Finding suitable job opportunities
- Funding for training for specific qualifications such as Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), Food Hygiene, Security Industry Authority (SIA).
They can support anyone who is resident in Powys aged 16+, registered unemployed or
economically inactive, in-work poverty (in a low paid, low skilled job(s) and/or working limited hours).
Merthyr College
The Pathway 4 supported internship programme is aimed at learners aged 16 to 25 who have a learning disability and/or autism. Interns will need to have a mature attitude, be willing to learn and develop their skills, and be dedicated to finding employment. It is a work-based programme based at Prince Charles Hospital with placements in areas such as Portering, Housekeeping, Hospitality, Catering, Occupational Therapy and Dietetic. Support is provided by a Job Coach and College tutor.
The interns will have the opportunity to practise and improve their independence skills including independent travel to and from the workplace.
Neath Port Talbot Group of Colleges
(Neath College, Brecon Beacons College, Afan College, Newtown College)
The Gateway to Work – Pathway 4 course is a one year full-time supported internship programme for learners with Additional Learning Needs. It supports learners to gain employment with work experience in real life internship placements. Interns will attend approximately two days in the workplace and one day in the classroom for formal teaching. The intern will work closely with a job coach with the aim being the intern develops many of the skills required to enter the jobs market.
https://www.nptcgroup.ac.uk/courses/entry-level-3-gateway-to-work-pathway-4-full-time/
Pathways to Work
Provides a co-ordinated multi-agency approach to deliver employability and skills provision across Swansea.
Multiple delivery partners bring specialisms together to provide a holistic support offer to individuals and create pathways into work through the provision of employability support, skills and training, job search skills, volunteering and placements opportunities.
Pembrokeshire Supported Employment
Provides job coach support for employment, offers direct employment within local authority social enterprises and support to access jobs with other employers.
As well as offering paid supported employment, it also offers work experience, training, and a work-based day opportunities service that supports people with higher levels of disability to engage in work based activities designed to increase their skills, confidence and independence and to get them ready for work if that’s something they aspire to.
Social enterprises include a factory (Norman Industries), craft workshop, shop (Station Shop, Scolton Manor), sawmill (Talog Coed) and cafes (Social Zone – Milford Haven, Caffi Cyfle @ No 5 and Edies Tearoom) and the associated administration, design and social media communication.
Pembrokeshire College
Offers supported internships as part of the Independent Living Skills course Pathway 4. A one year programme for learners aged 18-24 with Additional Learning Needs, learning disabilities or autism. The programme aims to set learners up for a successful transition into the world of work and future employment. Support is provided by a job coach and College tutor.
It runs over three days a week within the Employability Centre in Withybush. At least one day per week is class based to focus on improving literacy/numeracy and employability skills and up to two days undertaking an independent work placement/supported internship.
The supported internships are identified by working with the learner and their parent or carer. Care is taken through this process to ensure that they are relevant to a learner’s realistic employment aspirations. Examples include placement in construction, care, hospitality, gardening, administration and many more.
Applicants will need to have access to transport to travel to the place of work, either on public transport or support from a family member or carer.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Work and Skills
Have a number of grant funded employment support programmes running across the area,
offering support and advice to all residents over 16, who are looking to get into employment,
training or volunteering. You can also receive support to up-skill when you are in work.
- 1 to 1 support
- Training
- Life skills
- Volunteering and work
placementshttps://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Resident/JobsandTraining/Employerandemploymentsupport/E
mploymentskillsandtraining/EmploymentSkillsandTraining.aspx
Shine Cymru Life Skills
Based in Swansea. Supports young adults with autism and moderate to complex learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Shine Cymru has no upper age limit, but to initially access their service you need to be under the age of 26. The centre provides opportunities to improve confidence, independence, life skills, literacy and numeracy skills, decision making skills and work-related skills. This is provided by in-house activities, community-based activities, education and supported work placements. Each individual will have a needs-based assessment and be given a bespoke, person centered package to help them reach their personal outcomes.
Studio 37
A community interest company that provides inclusive training and employment opportunities for people who are neurodivergent and people with learning disabilities living in Rhondda Cynon Taff. Anyone can make a referral.
They run several small enterprises including catering, commercial cleaning, gardening and woodwork project and a 3D design and printing studio. Placements are also offered in reception and the office, and creating social media content such as videos, posters, leaflets and café menus.
6 week placements are offered where participants shadow existing staff, complete training and get to know the team. This provides the opportunity to see if the placement is right for them and for their support needs to be assessed to ensure the right support is put in place.
A 6 month paid supported employment placement of 15 hours per week, worked over 2 days is offered. Participants will have 1:1 support and mentoring during the placement.
Training offered includes Food Hygiene, Allergen Awareness, First Aid, a level 1 diploma in gardening, garden design and horticulture, manual handling, working at heights, customer service, ICT training and COSHH.
Swansea Working
Offers one to one mentor support including for people over 16 with learning disabilities
and/or autism that includes:
- Personalised employment action plans
- Training to meet your needs
- CV development, help with interview skills and support with job applications
- Work experience, placements, apprenticeships and job opportunities
Once a paid job is gained, support is NOT provided in the workplace to learn the job role.
ValePlus
Supports adults with ALN across the Vale of Glamorgan by providing an extensive programme of learning activities. A variety of courses are offered for differing levels of need. They also offer work experience placements and support people with additional learning needs to find volunteering and employment opportunities.
Work and Skills Team – Newport City Council
Offers employability and skills support to residents of Newport, aged 16 and over who are currently unemployed and looking to develop their skills to seek employment opportunities and employment related training.
The team provides one to one, person centred employability support, including help with CV writing, job applications, interview skills, confidence building, accredited qualifications, and
free employment related courses, help with travel and childcare.
https://www.newport.gov.uk/en/Council-Democracy/Council-jobs/Support-to-find-
Agoriad Cyf
Delivers several supported employment programmes:
Supported Shared Apprenticeships – offers disabled people the opportunity to undertake an apprenticeship with up to 3 employers, with one-to-one support from a specialist job coach.
Supported Internships – in conjunction with an FE college and employer provides one-to-one support from a specialist job coach.
Supported Jobs Growth Wales Plus – support is provided to young people on the Jobs Growth Wales Plus provision, that have complex barriers to work and require one-to-one job coaching.
The North Wales Supported Employment programme.
Agoriad Cyf also has several social enterprise businesses created to benefit local communities, services and to create employment opportunities.
CoOptions
Their Supported Employment Services are tailored to individuals with learning disabilities, providing the support they need to build fulfilling careers. Individualised support is provided by dedicated job coaches. They work with other employers to develop the right job and right conditions of employment. They provide support to enable the development of skills such as independent travel training.
CoOptions deliver supported employment for the North Wales Supported Employment programme.
They also have a collection of social enterprises that together can offer a range of opportunities for people with learning disabilities.
They provide voluntary working opportunities for people in: Small Farming / Arts and Crafts / Catering / Cycling / Recycling / Retailing
Conwy Employment Hub
Provision is based on individual needs and can include the following.
- Confidently You – pre-employment support to help increase wellbeing, confidence,
self-esteem and resilience - 1-2-1 employment and skills support -your own Mentor who will work with you to find out what you want to achieve, why you haven’t achieved it and what needs to happen to reach your goal.
- They will help you to develop an action plan and offer support, advice and guidance to achieve the actions.
- Training – upskilling through external and internal provision.
- Volunteering/work experience/taster sessions – to provide an opportunity for you to gain experience and decide what area of work interests you.
- ACE – paid work experience placement working with Crest Co-operative (max 12 weeks) including training and qualifications where required with a 1-2-1 Placement Officer supporting you and the employer to ensure successful outcomes which could lead to securing a permanent job.
- In-Work support – supporting those who are at risk of redundancy to find work or retrain.
DFN Project SEARCH
A one-year transition to work programme for young adults with a learning disability and/or autism. DFN Project SEARCH work hard to challenge and change cultures, demonstrating how young people with a learning disability can enrich the workforce, bring incredible skills and talent, encourage greater diversity and meet a real business need.
They partner with organisations across the public, private, and voluntary sectors to create supported employment internships for young people in their last year of education, helping them to take positive first steps into the world of work.
Working in partnership with colleges, and various local employers including Asda Queensferry, Clwyd Alyn, Flintshire County Council and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Gateway – Supported Internships, Northop
Supports young people with learning disabilities and with autism to gain workplace skills through supported internship opportunities.
This course is a one year full-time programme, supporting learners to gain employment with work experience in real life internship placements. Learners will attend two days in the workplace and one day in the classroom for formal teaching.
Grwp Llandrillo Menai
Works with partners including Agoriad Cyf and BCUHB to deliver supported internship programmes with local employers in the Dolgellau area, at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Ysbyty Gwynedd. Internships at the hospitals give the opportunity to experience up to 3 rotations within different departments. The one year internship is offered as Pathway 4 of the I.L.S. curriculum but is delivered within the host business. Progression is paid employment. New for this year is DFN Project Search at ASDA Llandudno at the Rhos campus.
https://www.gllm.ac.uk/courses/pathway-4-supported-internship
North Wales Supported Employment Project
Provides support to individuals with learning disabilities to gain and maintain paid employment. Delivered across all 6 local authorities in north Wales.
Pathway Coordinators get to know the person and support them to access an appropriate pathway to employment. Specialist job coach support is provided, including in the workplace, that is tailored to the needs of the individual. Support is provided for workplace adjustments.
Specialist job coach support is provided by Agoriad Cyf, CoOptions and Hft.
The coordinators receive referrals from social services and from other areas such as the specialist secondary schools, FE Colleges, FEI Colleges, Careers Wales, providers of support and local employment support services. There is not an age limit for referral to this project.
Project SEARCH – Asda Queensferry
This programme is a partnership between DFN Project Search, ASDA and Coleg Cambria to support students in their transition into the workplace and learn skills for employment.
This course is a one year supported internship programme, supporting young people with learning disabilities and with autism to gain employment within in a retail setting at ASDA, Queensferry. This programme is five days a week in the workplace, working in the store, experiencing different aspects of the retail departments and learning valuable employability skills that lead to a rewarding career. Students have classroom sessions within the week, based on site to underpin skills and knowledge and ensure they have the skills they need to succeed.
An employability mentor is on site throughout the programme to ensure support and guidance is on hand, leading to working independently within the ASDA team.
Working Denbighshire
Provision is based on individual needs and can include the following.
Barod – pre-employment support to help increase wellbeing, confidence, self-esteem and resilience
1-2-1 employment and skills support -your own Mentor who will work with you to find out what you want to achieve, why you haven’t achieved it and what needs to happen to reach your goal. They will help you to develop an action plan and offer support, advice and guidance to achieve the actions.
Training – upskilling through external and internal provision.
Work experience/taster sessions – to provide an opportunity for you to gain experience and decide what area of work interests you.
Work start scheme – paid and un-paid work experience placements (max 12 weeks) including training and qualifications where required with a 1-2-1 Placement Officer supporting you and the employer to ensure successful outcomes which could lead to securing a permanent job
In-Work support – supporting those who are in work but underemployed i.e. with not enough money to live on by increasing their skills, writing CV’s, applying for jobs etc.