About

Trying to find and retain a job when you have learning disabilities or are neurodiverse can be a challenging experience.  Residents aged 18 and over, in the London Borough of Kingston who have learning disabilities, Autism/Asperger’s or mental health issues can access a support service to pursue paid employment as well as training or volunteering.  
 
Our employment support workers provide support and guidance for clients to move toward paid employment including support with CV’s, job applications, interview preparation and access to training, education and work experience. We work together with the client to create an individual action plan to help them achieve their employment goals and provide support around additional needs to get on the road to paid employment.    

About

Kingston Supported Employment Service FAQs

  • Do clients need a formal disability diagnosis?  
    Clients do not need to provide evidence of a formal diagnosis, as many clients are referred by the relevant social care team that is enough.  
  • Is there a cost for using any of the services?  
    The service is completely free.  
  • Where do clients meet their employment support worker? 
    Clients do not have to meet in person there is the possibility of meeting over the phone or via Zoom. If clients want to meet in person, there are various community locations across the borough with available meetings spaces.  
  • How can a client engage with the Kingston service? 
    We ask for a referral form to be completed and for each client group the referral pathway is: 
    For clients with Autism/Asperger’s, they can self-refer or be referred by any other services. 
    For clients with a learning disability, the Kingston Community Learning Disability Team need to make the referral. 
    For clients with a mental health condition. the Kingston Mental Health Social Care team need to make the referral.  
  • Do clients need to have worked before to engage with the service?  
    No clients do not need to have worked previously; we can support individuals with all backgrounds. The only thing we need is a desire to take steps towards employment.  

Our impact

The number of clients that gained vocational outcomes… 0

Testimonials

  • I realised I could do so much better with my life than endlessly jumping from one job to the other without doing what makes me happy. Today, I am so proud to say I have a clear sense of direction and now I am putting my wellbeing first before taking any decisions. WWTrust really pumped my confidence, and I wouldn’t have had the guts to make decisions which are right for me without their intervention.
    Client of Working Well
  • My last past five months was plagued with personal tragedies. Thankfully, with the support of Access, I am again on the path of self discovery on personal fronts, as well as my training. My confidence is returning to normalcy, and my DTP training is progressing steadily. I thank all the staff for all their assistance during turbulent periods.
    Client of Working Well
  • I had not worked for many years and my confidence was on the floor, I thought that no employer would ever consider taking me on. My first meeting with Upskill gave me a huge confidence boost and helped me to see that I had skills that an employer would want and that I just needed help getting job ready.
    Client of Working Well
  • I suffer from Bipolar Disorder and long term, ongoing anxiety. Before meeting Working Well I believed I was not ready for employment. However, with reassurances, I became able to consider two positions with the NHS and with his help I applied for them. He also gave me benefit advice by letting me know about permitted work and then sourced the right kind of positions for me. I am now looking forward to the jobs outcome.
    Client of Working Well
  • The Peer Support has been a great help. Thanks to the weekly discussions I’m able to unload my concerns and get the needed help where possible. For example, I have got help in getting direction to further my studies and even a little financial support.
    Client of Working Well
  • The care, support, representation provided by WWT at a crucial time helped me feel reassured and alleviated the pressure of stress I was experiencing…they really helped my employer to understand my needs.
    Client of Working Well
  • I have been speaking with… and she has told me how supportive you have been with her work difficulties, it’s clear having the support from yourself is really helping, in particular, to validate her experience of poor treatment.
    THPTS Clinician