Ways Into Work

What is Ways into Work?

Ways into Work is an in-house employment and training service funded by Social Services and staffed by full and part time staff. It is based at the community team office at Abell Gardens, Maidenhead and is a referral based service as opposed to an open access service. The only criteria to access the service however, is to be either a service user with a learning disability or to be a service user with a physical disability, sensory impairment or HIV.

What does it do?

Ways into Work supports people who have a disability to access sustainable employment and training opportunities. It provides the advice guidance and support individuals need to make informed choices and reach their full potential within the work place. It covers two areas: physical disability, sensory impairment, HIV and learning disability services

How does it support people into work?

Ways into Work has grown since the original Employment strategy (see below) was written in April 2003 and it now has two full time workers and a part time worker.

The Ways into Work Manager is responsible for taking all new referrals and allocating them within an acceptable period and for progressing individuals into paid employment. This role is also responsible for the employer liaison and promoting the Ways into Work Service.

The full time work experience officer supports individuals who have a learning disability to access meaningful work experience placements with a view to progress to meet individual's employment goals.

The part time job coach supports individuals who have higher support needs to be able to access employment by supporting within their job. The aim is to support individuals to be as independent as possible and promote natural support within the workplace.

Ways into Work Achievements in 2003/2004

• Two people have accessed open employment.
• Five people have accessed supported permitted work.
• Seventeen people have accessed voluntary/work experience.
• Eight people have accessed training. 
• Set up a project which has supported young people aged 16-18 into employment and training.
• Provided a signposting service.
• Worked with fifteen new referrals within the last year- nine of these are aged 18-25.
• Working closely with the Jobcentre plus.
• Contacted over 150 employers.

Success stories

• Miss H - supported by Ways into Work to access open employment.
• Mr B - Supported by Ways into Work to access supported permitted work.
• Mr S - Supported by the D.E.A and Ways into Work to access a residential training course.

Employment Strategy: "Real Jobs for Real People"

Ways into Work has an employment strategy, complete with actions and target dates to achieve these by. The strategy is linked to the Learning Disability Joint Commissioning Strategy and its overarching action plan.  The first   employment strategy was created in 2003 and then updated annually. The most recent one is the 2006/7 Action Plan Update. The strategy is updated annually and presented to the Partnership Board for consultation and agreement. An outcome update is presented half way through the year.

For further Information on the Ways into Work service contact:

Laura Davis
Ways into Work Manager
Tel:01628 503339
E-mail: Laura.davis@rbwm.gov.uk

Click the following link for the Ways Into Work Leaflet