• 2008
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Behind the scenes at Papworth Trust

July 2008

Our Employment team at Papworth Trust start with the assumption that all disabled people can work - and then do their best to make it happen! Whenever I go out to job-shadow with one of our Employment Advisors I am always impressed at how hard they work with people who have a disability or long term health issue to find long-lasting work. They are good at it too - we get some excellent results.

One client who works in a shop, whom I visited recently, receives support as health issues previously put their job in jeopardy. Our employment service provides practical support through job shadowing which has helped them identify and overcome their difficulties. As more than a third of workers over 50 years of age have a disability and three-quarters of disabled people acquire their disability whilst of working age - it makes sense for everyone concerned to retain experience and acquired skills within the company.

We are passionate about not offering a 'one size fits all' solution but treating each person as an individual; we will help clients research the local job market effectively, identify opportunities, produce a CV that stands out and then help them to make successful job applications. We also offer the opportunity to practice interview techniques and improve communication skills. I took part in one of these interviews recently and it was great to see, even in a 20 minute conversation, confidence and self-belief rise within our client; at the end of the interview, there is no doubt they would have won the job - albeit in this case, a fictional one!

We are now providing more services to more people in partnership with 'Reed in Partnership' which last week announced the launch of the Pathways to Work services in Suffolk with a visit from Ipswich MP Chris Mole. On Friday 11th July, Papworth's Hester Adrian Centre will host of the official launch of Pathways to Work in Cambridge

One in five people are disabled. For most organisations, less than one in five of the workforce have a disability. We will continue to work hard, with as many individuals as we can, to help them find equality, choice and independence in the workplace, so that all those who want to work and can work have the chance to do so.