Work trials lead to interviews and paid employment as WSES takes flight

"One customer completed a work trial at Studley Castle and has been offered paid work starting next month...the employer gave him a chance when others wouldn’t."

A service launched earlier this year to help jobseekers with learning disabilities and/or autism into the world of work has assisted more than 160 customers in its first four months.

Warwickshire Supported Employment Service helps customers with learning disabilities and/or autism who aspire to paid work and also provides in-work support to those already in employment. It has hit the ground running by securing paid employment and arranging work trials for job seekers throughout the county.

A work trial is the opportunity to complete tasks involved in the job and be observed completing them rather than just talking about them. A job coach can attend a work trial where needed to help the employee meet the required standards, but the job coach’s input gradually reduces until the employee is working independently - essentially trained on the job. A customer featured in May’s WMB proved such a success on his work trial that he has been offered paid work at Studley Castle and the team is looking forward to supporting his progress in the new role.

Moving across the county to Leamington Spa, a customer’s work trial in Stratford at the Travelodge ended with an offer of paid employment. And finally in Nuneaton, a work trial for a cleaning role saw the candidate shortlisted - a massive achievement for this customer who was unable to complete the interview process until supported by WSES.

These successes would not have been possible without a series of industry tours arranged by WSES’s supported employment journey guides. These tours, hosted by Fair Chance employers and other Warwickshire companies, showcase what working for them might look like in the future.

In May a group from Rugby explored Draycote Hotel, where they learned about potential careers and also tried their hands at perhaps the most important skill of all to master in the hospitality sector - pulling a pint! The Mallory Court hotel also opened their doors to seven customers who had identified hospitality as a sector of interest after their trip to Studley Castle and took the opportunity to explore the sector further. The customers enjoyed learning about the transferrable skills between a cleaner and housekeeping assistant and enjoyed a wonderful tour of the grounds. To visit an employer to whom they could independently travel also enabled the career-seekers to plot how they would get to work there if required.

Delivery Lead for the Warwickshire Supported Employment Service, Charlotte Smith, said: “It was great to see customers who attended Studley Castle getting excited about visiting the Mallory Court hotel. Some of our Leamington Spa customers pass Mallory Court on the bus on the way to their sessions in the library and were really excited to get inside and see what goes on.

“One customer said it was the first time he has eaten out in nearly three years which, in itself gives an insight into the social barriers our customers face. He went home smiling with renewed hope for a paid job in the future as well as having enjoyed a day eating out with friends in their local community. You can’t put a price on the experience and the confidence this gives our customers.

“We have more tours planned soon including one of our own ICT department at Shire Hall. We can’t thank enough employers who are going the extra mile to show us behind the scenes and taking the time for us in their busy schedules to break down barriers and encourage inclusive recruitment for all.”

Please click here to see the inclusive tour of Draycote Hotel.