Employment support for people with a learning disability or long term condition

Work is an important part of most people’s lives and our goal is to radically improve employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities in Hampshire, particularly for people with moderate and severe learning disabilities. We recognise that this will mean a big change to make this happen.

We have been working with a range of colleagues from across Hampshire. Our aim is to increase the amount of good quality and good variety of job opportunities for adults with a learning disability.

Looking for employment or wanting to change your job

If you are looking for employment or wanting to change your job there is a range of support available to assist you. Jobcentre Plus have skilled advisers who can help you search for a job and make sure that you know which benefits you are entitled to.

Job centre plus employ Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs) who can give you help and support regardless of your situation. They can help you find work or gain new skills even if you have been out of work for a long time, or if you have little or no work experience.

Local Jobcentre

Advisers at your local Jobcentre Plus can give help and advice to people who are disabled who want to find work or want to find out about training opportunities.

If you need extra employment support because of a disability, your local Jobcentre can put you in touch with one of their Disability Employment Advisers (DEA)

DEA’s are able to provide details of grants for special equipment at work that makes it possible for you to do a particular job – for example, adapted computer equipment. As well as information about the work schemes and programmes available, such as the WORKSTEP programme run by Enham.

Supported employment

Adult Services has it’s own in-house supported employment service to help people who have physical disability to find employment. Visit the Signposts website for more information on supported employment.

How do I contact a Disability Employment Advisor?

Use the Job Centre Plus website to contact your local Disability Employment Advisor.

Access to Work Scheme

A government initiative providing you and your employer advice on specialist equipment/adaptations and assistance with the cost of these. For more information see the Access to work scheme web pages.

Employment rights

If you are disabled you share the same general employment rights as other workers, but there are also some special provisions under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). More information is included on the Disability Rights Commission website.