Main heading

Resource Directory - Employment Support for Disabled People

Produced by the Cheshire Welfare to Work Partnership

Introduction

• This resource directory has been produced as part of the Joint Investment Plan - Welfare to Work for Disabled People in Cheshire. This has been made possible via the co-operative joint work between 23 separate organisations in Cheshire who are in some way stakeholders re disability in to work issues.
• The number and diversity of agencies helping disabled people in to work has increased dramatically over the past ten years. This compares to the early - mid eighties when resources, expertise and expectations were low. The advent of community care in the UK saw a number of unconnected projects develop in Cheshire working with small numbers of severely disabled people. Gradually the range and volume of services developed, with support in to open employment being available for the first time.
• Careers, TEC's, Secondary and Further Education have also seen expansion and development in this field, which underpins the support in to employment for disabled people.
• Although most areas in Cheshire report that they are working at capacity, it is clear that severely disabled people now have a much better opportunity to access the real world of work.
• As always with such new beginnings, there are a number of contributors to the overall support available. Because these contributors come from diverse backgrounds eg voluntary sector, private sector, government agencies, local authorities etc, it has been difficult for advocates and the disabled people to access the right information regarding employment services for disabled people in their area.
• The information in this directory addresses this information gap, by pooling the data in to one easy to use source.
• This directory has been arranged in sections according to the type of support that is available.

Revised Jane Stanley-McCrave, Social Services
jane.mccrave@cheshire.gov.uk
November 2004

Resource Directory Index

• Resource Directory Section 1 - Workstop Programme Providers (previously Supported Employment Programme)
• Resource Directory Section 2 - Employment Services and Job Centres
• Resource Directory Section 3 - Support from Cheshire County Council
• Resource Directory Section 4 - Voluntary Sector Services 
• Resource Directory Section 5 - Careers Services
• Resource Directory Section 6 - Information, Advice and Advocacy Services 
• Resource Directory Section 7 - Further Education Colleges 
• Resource Directory Section 9 - District Council Services
• Resource Directory Amendments