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Disabled people
Disability Employment Advisers
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.
Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs) can give you help and support regardless of your situation. They can help you find work. Or they can help you gain new skills even if you have been out of work for a long time or have no work experience.
Services provided by Disability Employment Advisers
Your Disability Employment Adviser can offer you:
- an employment assessment to help you identify what type of work or training suits you best
- a referral, if needed, for a specialist employment assessment with a Work Psychologist to help you prepare to find and stay in work
- a job-matching and referral service - the DEA can let you know about jobs that match your experience and skills and provide advice about Access to Work, if required
- a referral, where appropriate, to the Work Programme to help you prepare for and stay in work
- a referral, where appropriate, to a programme for disabled people, like Work Choice or Residential Training
- information on employers in your area who have adopted the 'two ticks' disability symbol
Employment assessments
An employment assessment can help you identify your abilities and strengths. At the end of it, you and your DEA will have created an action plan of steps you can take towards achieving your employment goals.
What happens at the assessment
Your employment assessment will usually take place at your local Jobcentre. You will have an interview with your DEA, which is an opportunity for the two of you to:
- talk about your skills and abilities
- discuss any previous work experience you may have
- agree what might be the most suitable job for you
As part of the assessment, you may be asked to perform some tasks and provide information to help you identify your strengths, abilities and skills.
The assessment may take half a day or longer, depending on your individual needs. The DEA will discuss the length of your assessment with you beforehand.
After the assessment
You and your DEA will talk about your assessment and agree on an action plan to help you achieve your job goals. Your action plan may include training or taking part in the Work Choice or the Work programme.
An employment assessment does not affect your benefits.
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