Finding a job | People First

The government's website offers a range of tips on how to prepare yourself for, and then find, paid employment.

The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work opportunities. The service offers confidential and impartial advice. This is supported by qualified careers advisers.

If you're looking for work, your local Jobcentre Plus is a good place to start.

Jobcentre Plus is part of the Department for Work and Pensions. Staff are trained to help you find the right kind of employment - full-time or part-time, temporary or permanent. They will also be able to help you to find training to develop your work-related skills, and give you advice on writing a CV and applying for jobs. They also offer people of working age the help and support they are entitled to if they cannot work and will advise on what benefits might be available.

Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs) based at Jobcentre Plus provide specialist support on employment issues affecting people with disabilities and carers. Their personal advisers will give you details of suitable vacancies and explain fully the range of programmes and initiatives available to help you. They can support you to draw up an action plan to help you into work or help you keep your existing job. They can carry out an employment assessment to find jobs that match your experience and skills.

Balance Employment Support are a service for people who have a learning, physical or sensory disability and live in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea. They support people to achieve their professional goals, helping them to engage into volunteer experiences, work experiences or paid employment. Tel: 0207 9371611, or email: Kelly.Duffy@balancesupport.org.uk

If you have a disability which is making it harder for you to get a job or stay in work, you may be eligible to join a Work and Health or Access to Work scheme through your local Jobcentre Plus. Your adviser will be able to tell you if these schemes are right for you.

Find a Job is a government-run service which allows you to search for full-time and part-time jobs in the United Kingdom.

Information

As well as listing vacancies at the council, your local authority's website provides other information on employment support and local organisations that can help you:-

Support

Libraries offer many services to help you look for a job, including free computer access, newspapers, magazines and books to help you, plus careers advice sessions:-

If you rent your property from the council or from a housing association, your landlord may offer support and grants to improve your skills and look for employment. In Kensington and Chelsea, the Housing and Worklessness project works with a number of social landlords in the borough.

There is more information on the council's Housing and Employment web page.

General

Disability Rights UK provide various work-related fact-sheets with advice on finding a job, and on claiming the right benefits if you are out of work or on a low income.

EmployAbility is an organisation supporting students and graduates with all disabilities, including dyslexia or long term health conditions, into employment.

The Daily Jobseeker website offers tips and advice to help give your job search a boost

The Disability Law Service is a professional organisation run by disabled people which offers support and advice on employment rights and other legal issues for people with disabilities. It aims to demystify the legal system by giving concise and timely legal advice and information.

The Disability Confident scheme is a government-led scheme which supports employers to make the most of the talents disabled people can bring to the workplace, helping them think differently about disability, and improve how they attract, recruit and retain disabled worker

The Department of Work and Pensions have produced a range of short videos on how to look for and apply for jobs.

Action on Hearing loss offer advice on accessing work.

Age UK offer information and advice on looking for work in later life.

The Good Care Group have published an article, "5 Skills You Need To Get Hired As A Live-in Carer", detailing the most highly sought-after skills if you are contemplating working as a live-in carer.

Lots of helpful tips for autistic jobseekers from a National Autistic Society content creator.

Westminster

Westminster Employment specialises in supporting people with significant barriers to find employment. Those people include people with learning or physical disabilities, and people with mental health problems.