DAII's Employment & Training Factsheet
Government Run Employment Services and Projects
Access to Work (ATW)
London Region Access To Work Business Centre
Windsor House
185 Ealing Road
London
HAO 4LW
Tel: 020 8218 2710
Fax: 020 8218 2715
Minicom: 020 8218 2716
Email: AtWlondonwest@jobcentreplus.gov.uk
Website: www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
Access to work provide services for people with disabilities and employers (including special schemes to assist with the funding of equipment, adaptations and transport). Literature describing services and schemes, videos, guidance documents, etc. They will carry out assessments to find out about your disability -related employment needs, in order to provide help in the form of taxi fares to work, software & or equipment to help you to carry out your role in the workplace. Applications for ATW should be made during the first 6 weeks of your employment contract, in order to get the maximum support, any time beyond this period your employer will be expected to make contributions to match the funding for any support provided. When applying you will need to provide a copy of your job description and medical evidence to support your application.
Job Introduction Scheme
The Job Introduction Scheme may be able to help you if you find a job that you would like but you or your employer are not sure if you will be suited to it. Jobcentre Plus will help your employer with your wages for the first few weeks until you are both sure about it. This will enable you to receive the normal rate of pay during this initial period of employment. Jobcentre Plus office produce a detailed leaflet on Job Introduction Scheme Information for Disabled People.
Workstep
If your disability means you face significant barriers to finding and keeping employment then Workstep may be able to help you. It provides support to you and your employer according to your individual requirements enabling you to progress into unsupported employment. Workstep can help with providing equipment, adjustments and training. Jobcentre Plus office produce a detailed leaflet on Workstep called Help to work through Workstep.
New Tax Credits
Working Tax Credits are available which you can claim if you have a disability which put you at a disadvantage in getting a job and fulfill other eligibility criteria. Further information can be obtained on benefits available and tax credits from Islington Peoples Rights.
Tax Credits Helpline: 0800 3003900
Tax Credits Textphone: 0845 3003909
Headquarters:
The Department for Works and Pensions. (Previously the Department of Employment)
Public Enquiry Office:
Department of Works and Pensions
Correspondence Unit
Room 540
The Adelphi
1-11 John Adam Street
London
WC2N 6HT
Tel: 020 7712 2171 (Public Enquiry Office)
Fax: 020 7712 2386
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk
The Department of Works and Pensions replaced the Employment Service which ran Jobcentres and those parts of the Benefits Agency that provided services to people of working age through social security offices. Jobcentre Plus offices are being created to offer help with finding work and claiming benefits all under one roof. The Department of Works and Pensions (Previously Department of Employment) office is open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm. General enquiries regarding employment and local contacts can be obtained by contacting the Public Enquiry Office.
Disability Unit:
Department of Works and Pensions
Level 6, Adelphi
1-11 John Adam Street
London
WC2N 6HT
Tel: 020 7712 2171 (Public Enquiry Office)
Website: www.disability.gov.uk
Local Contacts:
Employment Services - Jobcentre Plus Agencies for the Islington Area:
Jobcentre Plus is a new organisation that brings together the Employment Service (which runs job centers) and parts of the Benefits Agency which provide services for people of working age. The Jobcentre Plus network includes the Social Security Offices, which deal with claims for benefits. They also include Jobcentres, which have details of local and national vacancies.
Disability Employment Advisors (DEAs)
DEAs are based within the Disabilities Services Team based at your local Jobcentre Plus agency which are listed below. Their role is to assist you with identifying and applying for appropriate work or helping you to find courses, training or voluntary work placements that will help you prepare to go out to work. They can also assist in identifying support organisations to help you with work preparation, training, producing a C.V. or providing you with aids or equipment to support you to manage your job. The main scheme which is on offer at present is the Access to Work and in addition to this there are also the following available: New Deal for Disabled People, an Employment Assessment, Work Preparation, Job Introduction Scheme, and WORKSTEP. Further details of these can be obtained through your local DEA who will also be able to advise you on the latest publications available outlining further details of these schemes. Make it work - A guide to specialist services for disabled people is presently available as a general guide to schemes available.
Jobcentres Plus Agencies in Islington:
The Jobcentre Plus agencies contact details are frequently changing due to the merging of benefit offices and jobcentres. The following offices are likely to remain as Jobcentre Plus agencies and you are most likely to be able to contact your local Disability Employment Advisor directly at the offices listed below. You may also find it helpful to check the national website for up to date information on your local Jobcentre Plus agency.
National Jobcentre Plus:
Website: www.jobcentre.plus.gov.uk
Barnsbury Jobcentre Plus
1 Barnsbury Road,
London
N1 OEX
Tel: No number available at present.
Disability Employment Advisor: Alison Probert
Tel: 020 7301 3866
Mobile: 07800 676327
Email: alisoun.probert@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk
Islington Jobcentre Plus
4 Upper Street,
London
N1 OMW
Tel: No number available at present.
Access for people with disabilities: building has level or ramped access via the main or side door building is on or near traffic Red Route
Rework
1 Elthorne Road
London
N19 4AL
Tel: 0845 377 3485
Email: emma.heppenstall1@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk
If you are aged between 16 - 65 and are either a first time job seeker or have been out of work due to various circumstances and you live in Islington then you can use the services offered by the rework teams to support you to find work. Their commitment is to help you overcome obstacles or problems that have kept you from entering the job market or getting back to work. They offer many different practical and financial forms of assistance to help you secure employment, including: specific skills training, help to create your C.V., training in interview techniques and helping you find the right vacancies through jobsearch facilities. They will also provide assistance with fares to work, appropriate clothing both for the interview and for the workplace and childcare assistance if required. Further information, opening times and other local Rework sites you can visit will be available from the address above. Islington Volunteer Centre does work in partnership with the Employment Service on the Rework Scheme and are based at:
6 - 9 Manor Gardens, London N7 6LA.
Islington Volunteer Centre
Disability Project
Islington Volunteer Centre
6-9 Manor Gardens
London
N7 6LA
Tel: 020 7686 6800
Fax: 020 7686 6805
Minicom: 020 7686 6802
Email: disability@islingtonvolunteer.org.uk
Website: www.islingtonvolunteer.org.uk
Islington Volunteer Centre will be able to help find you voluntary work. They will be able to identify any support you might need when volunteering and contact and visit any organisations with you. They are also able to accompany you whilst you initially volunteer.
Islington Law Centre
161 Hornsey Road
London
N7 6DU
Tel: 020 7607 2461
Fax: 020 7700 0072
Email: info@islingtonlaw.org.uk
Website: www.islingtonlaw.org.uk
The Islington Law Centre provide free/ low cost legal advice. It is a registered charity. Office hours are Monday to Friday 9.30am -5.00pm but appointments for the advice sessions need to be booked in advance. They are available for advice sessions by appointment on Monday and Wednesday 10.00am - 12.00noon. They do telephone advice along with outreach work for which appointments are available during the day and on some evenings. They are no longer running the 50 project.
They also offer advice sessions for which appointments need to be booked in advance through Islington Law Centre on the above number. They take place at the following times and venues:
- Monday 2.30pm - 5.30pm weekly with an extension till 7.30pm on the first Monday of the month. It is based at Central Library, Fieldway Crescent, N5.
- Tuesday 10.00am -1.00pm on alternate weeks, based at The Goswell Centre, Goswell Road, EC1.
- Wednesday 10.00am - 1.00pm weekly based at the Islington African Project, 7 Elthorne Road, N19.
- Thursday 10.00am - 1.00pm weekly the Getting London Partnership based at Essex Road, N1.
- Friday 2.00pm - 5.30pm weekly based at The Factory Community Centre, Matthias Road, Newington Green, N16.
Types of advice available:
Wages and conditions, grievance & disciplinary matters, unfair dismissal, redundancy, training & promotion, discrimination, workplace health issues including advice on company sickness - policies, Medical certificates and reports, stress, etc. and other employment law matters.
Disability Law Service
39-45 Cavell Street
London
E1 2BP
Tel: 020 7791 9800
Fax: 020 7791 9802
Minicom: 020 7791 9800
Email: advice@dls.org.uk
Website: Not available at present as its being updated.
The Disability Law Service provides advice and legal representation on: Discrimination, Education and Employment as well as Community Care, Housing, Benefits, Consumer / Contract Law.
The Employers Forum on Disability (EFD)
Nutmeg House,
60 Gainsborough Street,
London
SE1 2NY.
Tel: 020 7403 3020.
Fax: 020 7403 0404
Minicom: 020 7 403 0040
Email: Efd@employers-forum.co.uk
Website: www.employers-forum.co.uk
The national employers organisation dealing exclusively with disability and employment. It is a non-profit organisation, funded by its members. They produce publications with guidance based on research. The regular journal they produce is called Update. Their Introductory literature is available by mail.
Equality Direct
Tel: 0845 600 3444
Textphone: 0845 600 3444
Website: www.equalitydirect.org.uk
Equality Direct provide practical solutions for business an advice and guidance service for business managers on a range of employment equality topics, including disability.
Rehab (UK)
Rehab UK Head Office
Windermere House,
Kendal Avenue,
London W3 2XA
Tel: 0208 896 2333
Fax: 0208 896 2444
Website: www.rehabuk.org
Rehab UK
provides assessment, training and development programmes that enable people with disabilities to break into the workforce. It was founded in 1994, and its main focus in recent years has been the development of a network of innovative brain injury centres. The organisation operates three of these centres - in Birmingham, London and Newcastle. In addition, Rehab UK operates a nationwide assessment and intervention service for people with acquired disabilities, along with job retention and work preparation programmes under its Rehabilitation and Assessment Services division.
Disability Rights Commission
DRC Helpline
Freepost MID 02164
Stratford Upon Avon
CV37 9BR
DRC Telephone Helpline: 08457 622633
Textphone: 08457 622644
Fax: 08457 778 878
E-mail: enquiry@drc-gb.org
Website: www.drc-gb.org
The DRC provide Information & legal communications on the Disability Discrimination Act & disabled peoples employment rights.
Voluntary Sector Organisations
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES for people with disabilities.
OPPORTUNITIES for People with Disabilities.
53 New Broad Street
London
EC2M 1SL
Tel: 020 7488 5420
Fax: 020 7374 4913
Email: info@eopps.org.uk
Website: www.opportunities.org.uk
OPPORTUNITIES for People with Disabilities is a leading national charity working to place disabled people in employment. Staffed by secondees from commerce and industry. They have a very detailed website providing information on returning to work for employees and employers.
RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation)
12 City Forum,
250 City Road,
London
EC1V 8AF.
Tel: 020 7250 3222
Fax: 020 7250 0212
Minicom: 020 7250 4119
Email: radar@radar.org.uk
Website: www.radar.org.uk
RADARs services include: publications and advice on employment and employment issues, plus information on the major specific condition charities, that are active in the areas of employment and training.
RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind)
105 Judd Street,
London
WC1H 9NE.
Tel: 020 7388 1266
Fax: 020 7 388 2034
Minicom: 0845 758 5691
Website: www.rnib.org.uk
The RNIB have employment advisors working formally through and with PACT teams, and an Employment Development and Technology Unit who coordinate their work, they include technical experts who produce fact sheets on technology.
RNID (Royal National Institute for the Deaf)
19-23 Featherstone Street,
London,
EC1Y 8SL
Tel: 0870 6050 123 (Information Line)
Tel: 020 7296 8000 (Main Switchboard)
Fax: 020 7296 8199
Minicom: 0808 808 9000
Website: www.rnid.org.uk
If you are deaf or hard of hearing and are having difficulty in finding a job, the RNID can support you into training and job placements as well as employment. On their website pages is a variety of information for both employers and deaf or hard of hearing jobseekers. If you do not live or work near one of the RNIDs project areas, send an e-mail to: louise.palmer@rnid.org.uk with your questions, telling them what area you live in. On the RNIDs website, the employment links pages have links to vacancies advertised on the web, along with recruitment agencies and other sources of employment information. If you are an employer, they can advise on the best way to make your recruitment and workplace more accessible for deaf and hard of hearing people. The RNID can arrange deaf awareness courses and advise you on how best to comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act. For more detailed advice and guidance, please contact your nearest Employment Adviser. An online version of The Dont Panic Pack is available, offering information and advice on recruiting and developing deaf and hard of hearing employees.
SCOPE
6 Market Road,
London,
N7 9PW
Tel: 020 7619 7335
Website: www.scope.org.uk
Scope runs an employment project called Scope to Work. Its aim is to assist people with disabilities to progress as far as possible towards sustained integrated employment. They will help you develop your own vocational profile plus action plan, then assist you with matching your skills with possible jobs. Scopes support includes training opportunities, short term funding or a support worker. Scope is a leading national provider of Supported Employment. To find out if Scope to Work is available to you,
You can also speak to your DEA (Disability Employment Advisor) at your local Jobcentre or alternatively contact Terry Donnovan, Ted Forseff and Suzanne Wertier at SCOPE.
SHAW TRUST
Shaw House,
Epsom Square,
White Horse Business Park,
Trowbridge,
Wiltshire.
BA14 0XJ.
Tel: 01225 716300
Freephone: 0800 085 1001
Fax: 01225 716334.
Website: www.shaw-trust.org.uk
The Shaw Trusts main office is based in Trowbridge but they also have an office in Stratford. They provide Sheltered placements, supported employment, training and preparation for work.
SKILL
Chapter House,
18-20 Crucifix Lane,
London
SE1 3JW
Tel: 020 7450 0620 or 0800 328 5050
Fax: 020 7450 0650
Textphone: 0800 068 2422
Website: www.skill.org.uk
SKILL is the National Bureau for Students with Disabilities. They provide an information, training consultancy service plus research and publications.