Linked Employment Newsletter ® Matching employers with hard working employees what’s inside this issue? no flies on nick! With the support of his employment advisor Nick lands himself a permanent job after only two weeks. 10 years and counting! Richard is coming up to 10 years of employment. Read his inspiring story. bouncing back from redundancy After facing redundancy Lyn is thrilled about securing herself a new position at The Grange. Congratulations Lyn.
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Linked Employment Newsletter
®
Matching employers with hard working employees
what’s inside this issue?
no flies on nick!
With the support of his employment advisor Nick lands himself a permanent job after only two weeks.
10 years and counting!
Richard is coming up to 10 years of employment. Read his inspiring story.bouncing back from
redundancy
After facing redundancy Lyn is thrilled about securing herself a new position at The Grange. Congratulations Lyn.
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Linked Employment is a service offered by Essex Cares Limited which assists people with a disability to get a job of their choice paid at the going rate.
Our employment advisors work with both the employee and the employer to find jobs that match skills, experience and aspirations.
We can help with CV writing, job searches and interview techniques as well as job coaching in the first few weeks of starting a new role.
We also offer support to employers when required and want to ensure that employees continues to succeed and develop, completing their job to a high standard.
Essex Cares offers a whole range of other services across the county including support for adults with a learning disability who aren’t quite ready to take the step into paid employment. At our work based training centres we offer coaching and development of skills in areas such as catering, administration and horticulture as well as support to find voluntary work experience.
For more information about the other types of support and services offered by Essex Cares, please visit www.essexcares.org.
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Nick was referred into the Linked Employment service from the Job Centre where he was struggling to complete application forms and to contact prospective employers. This can be a daunting task without any support or guidance.
Nick’s employment advisor worked closely with him to look at barriers that had prevented him from gaining employment. Together they worked to update his CV. This included contacting a previous employer who had given him an excellent reference.
Nick was lacking in confidence so his employment advisor supported him in telephoning potential employers and even set up some mock interviews. This provided Nick with some useful tips
on overcoming nerves, and on selling himself.
Nick’s employment advisor came across an advert in a local paper for a temporary job in a warehouse. It was arranged that Nick would start a work trial the next day. Nick was originally due to work on a two week short term assignment, however his manager was so pleased that he wanted to offer him a permanent position. Richard created the role of Amenities Technician especially for Nick and is delighted with his progress: “Nick is so thorough and meticulous; I have complete confidence in his abilities to get jobs done. He tackles any task that he is given with enthusiasm and a smile, making him a complete pleasure to work with.”
Nick is delighted to be back in work again. Nick works for Peregrine Live Foods, which is the country’s leading supplier of insects to the reptile and amphibian industry, supplying over 4 million insects weekly to the reptile trade including pet shops, zoos and rescue centres.
no flies on nick!
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Sheree’s family and friends were very proud when she passed her childcare exams at Harlow College, although they were not surprised as she had always dreamed of working with children and studied hard to achieve her goal.
Sheree sought help in her job hunt and was referred to Linked Employment. With a childcare qualification and lots of work experience, her employment advisor was soon able to find her a job.
Sheree had a number of short term contracts in various childcare settings to help her gain experience and after a couple of promising interviews she was ‘snapped up’ by The Gateway After School and Holiday Club.
Sheree has now worked for Gateway for the last seven months. She was initially supported in the job by her employment advisor. However, because of her
qualifications, knowledge and experience in childcare, it was no time before she had the confidence to work independently knowing that anytime she requires support or information her employment advisor is only a phone call away.
“The staff and children are very friendly and easy to approach. The team are very supportive and have made me feel very welcome. I really enjoy the job and I love to watch the children play and achieve things, especially when they say they cannot do something and I can show them how things are done. It helps to have my employment advisor available for advice and support if needed. I love my job and have settled in very well”.
Mark, Sheree’s manager says:
“Sheree joined us having had some experience in playwork and this has allowed her to fit into
the team. She has built a good rapport with the children and it is obvious she enjoys the work. We have always been keen to promote inclusion within the club and it is great to be able to reflect that amongst the staff team too. We look forward to Sheree being able to achieve her full potential in something she clearly enjoys doing”.
growing in confidence
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Last year Linked Employment was asked to support Richard in his employment at BHS in Harlow. Richard had been doing his job for quite a long time during his college course. As Wendy, Richard’s employment advisor, got to know him she could see that his job was really important to him for lots of reasons and so she met with Paul, Richard’s Manager, to talk about how they could carry on supporting Richard so that he could continue to learn and progress at work.
Richard has quite a milestone coming up, “it will be 10 years in July, which is unbelievable really…… it’s gone so quickly. Before I worked at BHS it was always my favourite shop to go to. When I was at college I was given an opportunity to do some work-experience and I chose BHS because I liked it there so much. I really enjoyed it, from the first
day and after the work-experience I was offered a job for four hours every week as a Stock Room Assistant. I start quite early at 7.00am and one of my first jobs is to help with the delivery when it arrives, taking stock off the lorry and on to the correct part of the stock-room. I also have to take all the plastic off the clothing and put some things on to hangers, ready to be taken to the shop floor.
When everything is done, I usually sweep and tidy up. I like all the people I work with in the stock room. I enjoy working with Pauline, Kath and Donna and I like to have a chat with people when there’s time. When my shift finishes, I quite often go to the restaurant for a cooked breakfast where I have a staff discount card to use. The support that Linked Employment has given me this past year has been very good.”
Paul adds:
“I’ve worked with Richard for five years now and I’m impressed with his commitment to the role. His attendance is excellent and he is flexible in his hours of work which is a bonus for us. Richard enjoys his role with us and I feel that we are providing an opportunity for him to enjoy an active working life, which fits in with BHS’s commitment to equality and diversity.”
10 years and counting!
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In 1988 William attended Redhouse Adult Training College for three years in readiness for paid employment. Having successfully completed his work experience placement at The Wine Company, demonstrating his commitment to the company, William was offered a role as a paid employee on the same 15 hour contract. His role as Warehouse Assistant was a huge boost to William’s confidence and even
came with extra responsibilities, such as; dealing with customer enquiries, chipping ice for clients, clearing the yard and ensuring cleanliness and order to the warehouse. This was in addition to the previous tasks he completed, which included; preparing boxes for distribution and replenishing stocks on the shop floor.20 years on and William is still working hard at The Wine Company as a Warehouse Assistant and is thoroughly enjoying the role. His parents, who have always supported William say that:
“He feels he is doing a social and responsible task which makes him feel an equal part of society; he is counted as an individual”.
A sentiment that The Wine Company’s General Manager Mark echoes:
“William is a very valuable employee, full of enthusiasm and is as diligent, honest and hardworking as any member of my team. He enjoys getting involved in as much as he can and he is a character we all love having around.”
Jonathan, William’s Linked Employment Advisor, continues to support both William and his employers as and when needed.
20 not out!
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Lyn was referred to Linked Employment by the disability employment advisor at the Job Centre where she had been searching for jobs independently. It was immediately evident to Lyn’s Employment Advisor Jenny, that Lyn’s main passion was to work with older people.
The first step onto the job ladder for Lyn was when her employment advisor found her some work experience at an elderly peoples’ home. Thanks to this work experience, she secured a paid job at a small local care home but unfortunately, after working there for 16 months Lyn was made redundant.
Jenny supported Lyn through this period and she decided to cold call in the area that Lyn lived in to see if there was any work as a volunteer at a care home. Lyn met with the managers at The Grange and talked through her portfolio of training certificates that she had achieved whilst working in her previous role. After Lyn’s CRB was cleared she started working as a volunteer. Following a successful three months, Lyn’s Manager Sue offered her a position as a domestic, Lyn was thrilled.
Since working at The Grange, Lyn has carried out training for Dementia, Manual Handling, Health and Safety, First Aid, SOVA and Oral Health for the Elderly and has recently received Employee of the Month.
Lyn says “I like working with all my friends, they always help me if I have a problem. I like that Runwood Homes has employed me as most homes would not take me on. The residents are really friendly and they help keep my spirits going. All the carers are also really friendly towards me too. All the training has been absolutely brilliant and helped me to achieve all my goals.”
Sue, Deputy Manager, said:
“Lyn is very caring and responsible. This job has given her a sense of purpose. She is very eager and willing to carry out many tasks. Lyn gets on very well with the residents and members of staff and fits in well with the team - she brings sunshine to the Home.”
bouncing back from redundancy
Essex Cares’ Linked Employment already works with many local and national organisations including:
For more information about using our service or recruiting a member to your team with our support please contact us:
