Training schemes for disabled people

A Guide to Finding Work

There are many organisations who can help you find work.  You can find out about them:

• by contacting the Social Work Supported Employment Service on the details provided
• in Job Centres

Whether you are thinking of a job, training, work experience or voluntary work, it is important to get as much impartial advice as possible. Your circumstances might mean that you are in touch with a social worker who may be able to support you in getting started.

Starting work, or returning to work, doesn't mean you must work full-time. We have services that can help you find out about work programmes if you feel you'd be better to ease yourself into work.

Work experience might help you find out what you like doing and how many days or hours would be suitable for you. Depending on what work experience you do, you might be offered training or help to access paid employment.

Training Programmes vary in length depending on what type of training you are taking. There are many opportunities in Fife that can offer you training in a wide range of skills.

Another option is volunteering which will allow you to use your skills. In Fife there are a number of agencies that can help you to find voluntary work.

Fife Council has been awarded the Positive about Disabled People Scheme, commonly known as the 'double tick scheme', as it is committed to good practice in employing and supporting disabled people and is positive about their abilities.

Under this scheme the Council has agreed to follow the five commitments relating to recruitment, consulting disabled employees, retaining employees who become disabled, developing greater awareness of disability, and reviewing progress.

The commitments are:

• Recruitment – interviewing all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria for a job vacancy and considering them based on their abilities
• Consulting disabled employees – making sure there is a system (Contribution Management) in place to discuss, at any time (but at least once a year), what can be done to make sure they can develop and use their abilities
• Keeping people who become disabled – making every effort, when employees become disabled, to make sure they stay in employment
• To take action to ensure that all employees develop the appropriate level of disability awareness needed to make our commitments work
• Reviewing progress and keeping people informed – each year, reviewing the five commitments and what has been achieved, and planning ways to improve on them and let employees and the Employment Service know about our progress and future plans.