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Employment and apprenticeships if you have additional needs

This page has information and guidance on employment, apprenticeships, supported internships and funding for young people with additional needs and/or disabilities.

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a job with training. They are available for a wide range of job roles across many different industries. Almost any type of apprenticeship can be made accessible and support is available while you learn and work.

Disability Rights UK have produced a guide for disabled people, parents and key advisors on how to apply for apprenticeships in England. It answers questions such as how to find an apprenticeship, whether the training will be accessible and what support is available in the workplace.

Read the Into Apprenticeships Guide.

Prospects Careers Advice Plus offer apprenticeships to young people and can support you to find the apprenticeship that’s right for you.

 

Work experience and supported internships

Prospects Careers Advice Plus can support you to find work experience and supported internships that are right for you.

Careers and work

Disability Rights UK have produced a factsheet on careers and work for disabled people. It includes information about your rights, finding disability-friendly employers, applications and job interviews and self-employment.

 Read the factsheet on Careers and Work for disabled people.

Access to Work Funding for those aged 16+

If you’re disabled or have a physical or mental health condition that makes it hard for you to do your job, you can apply for Access to Work to get extra help.

An Access to Work grant can pay for:

  • special equipment, adaptations or support worker services to help you do things like answer the phone or go to meetings
  • help getting to and from work

 The money doesn’t have to be paid back and won’t affect your other benefits.

Who is eligible?

 To get help from Access to Work you must:

  • have a disability or health condition (physical or mental) that makes it hard for you to do parts of your job or get to and from work
  • be 16 or over
  • live in England, Scotland or Wales - there’s a different system in Northern Ireland

 You also need to have a paid job, or be about to start or return to one. A paid job could include:

  • self-employment
  • an apprenticeship
  • a work trial or work experience
  • an internship 

You can’t get a grant for voluntary work.

You might not get a grant if you already get certain benefits.

How to apply

Apply for the Access to Work Fund here.

Support from Work Choice

Work Choice can help you get and keep a job if you’re disabled and find it hard to work. The type of support you get depends on the help you need. This is different for everyone but can include:

  • training and developing your skills
  • building your confidence
  • interview coaching

To qualify for support, you must:

  • live in England or Wales
  • be of working age
  • need support in work as well as to find a job
  • be able to work at least 16 hours a week after Work Entry Support
  • have a recognised disability that means you find it hard to get or keep a job
  • need specialist help that you can’t get from other government programmes or schemes - for example workplace adjustments, suppliers working in partnership with Jobcentre Plus or Access to Work

To join Work Choice, speak to a Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) or Work Coach at your local Jobcentre Plus before the deadline.

Specialist Employability Support

Specialist Employability Support is intensive support and training to help you into work if you’re disabled. 

You can apply if other employment programmes and schemes, such as Access to Work, are not suitable for you.

 To apply you must:

You’ll usually get Specialist Employability Support for 12 months.

To apply, contact your local Jobcentre Plus.

Support from Prospects Careers Advice Plus

Prospects Careers Advice Plus in Havering can support young people wishing to find supported internships, apprenticeships and traineeships.

We provide independent and impartial information, advice and guidance in planning for next steps in education, training or employment, in line with London Borough of Havering funding criterion. We work in partnership with post-16 providers and other funded agencies to source a range of traineeships, apprenticeships, supported internships and work experience opportunities for the young people in Havering.

Our support is available to young people aged 13 to 25 who have Learning disabilities or difficulties, and who are transitioning within education or are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

We can:

  • tell you the courses offered in school sixth forms and colleges
  • tell you the support you might get at sixth form or college
  • talk about work-based training, apprenticeships and jobs
  • explore different job areas
  • give details about jobs that are near your home
  • talk about work experience and volunteering opportunities
  • help you write an action plan which will help you decide what to do
  • help you apply to college and/or jobs and apprenticeships
  • contribute to your Education and Health and Care (EHC) plan
  • help you find out about any benefits or other financial support you may be entitled to
  • work in partnership with the local authority to attend transition reviews in year 9 where possible

For more information, contact Prospects Careers Advice Plus in Havering on 01708 746401.  

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