A HELPING HAND

At Jobcentres around the country, there is specialist support available to help disabled people into work and to build their skills. Here, disability employment adviser Lynn Larkin reveals what the role entails and how people can access support

What does the role of a disability employment adviser entail?

My role is to support customers who have complex employment circumstances involving health and disability issues, to enable them to move towards sustainable employment. It is vital to gain a customer’s confidence and recognise the transferable skills they have to o er to be fully supportive of them. We proactively share knowledge and information about national health and disability programmes and local provisions. Each jobcentre will also have its own local resources with a plethora of support available.

It isn’t always about employment, it’s about what is best for the customer, even if that’s just helping them to move forward. We run ‘Health Hubs’, where we invite a group of people together to find out about what support is available. We have provision to help build confidence and resolve any psychological barriers people may be facing. We get more into the ni y gri y of the support available for disabled people than a work coach.

What inspired you to take up the role?

I started as a case manager in June 2020 a er losing my own business and having to make a Universal Credit claim. I had a fantastic work coach, and he referred me for the vacancy. Six months into that role I realised that a customer-facing position was more for me, and then I was approached to apply to be a disability employment adviser. They wanted someone who was passionate and empathetic, who could have a really good discussion with a customer about what they can do, not about what they can’t.

How can people access this specialist support?

When a customer makes a Universal Credit claim, they can declare whether they have a health condition or not in order to be referred. Work coaches can also refer someone. Anybody with a health condition who is claiming Universal Credit or is on legacy benefits can gain from the help of a disability employment adviser, they just have to ask at an appointment or put a note in their online journal asking to speak to someone.

What can people expect from a typical appointment?

There isn’t really a typical appointment. We can deliver support in the most suitable way for the customer, whether that is over the phone, face-to-face, or on a video call. I might start by asking a customer some questions to find out more about them, but it’s really tailored to their individual needs. Generally, the support lasts up to six months, but it can be longer if necessary. A customer may require support with their employer around the Access to Work scheme, for example. They might se le into a new role and then realise that some adjustments might help them. We would then be involved in discussions with the employer.

For More Information

Discover more about the Disability Confident Scheme, the Access to Work scheme, how a disability employment adviser could support you, and the other help available at www.gov.uk