Supported Employment Project

London Borough of Waltham Forest’s Employment Team supports over 250 Waltham Forest residents into employment each year. Many of these residents have barriers into employment.  

We are pleased to be offering our free service to support Waltham Forest residents, aged 18 years or over, with learning disabilities and/or autism, with the desire to enter employment. 

We have received local funding to improve our employment offer to Waltham Forest residents with learning disabilities and/or autism. 

This cohort of people are significantly underrepresented in the workforce nationally and at a local level despite a desire to work. Employment can improve a person’s health and wellbeing as well as offer meaningful occupation and development opportunities.

• Aged 18 and over

• Currently unemployed (or working for a maximum of 2 hrs per week in a role offering no progression) 

Must answer yes to one of the following: 

• Have you previously had an Educational Health Care Plan? 

• Are you on the GP Learning Disability Register? 

• Do you have a social worker or receive support from any other council services? 

• Do you receive any disability related benefits? 

• Do you have an autism diagnosis OR are you waiting for an autism assessment OR have you self-diagnosed autism?   

We are aware that there is a lack of support available to those with an Educational Health Care Plan once they reach the age of 25, and, as a result, many individuals with a learning disability and / or autism find themselves without hope of ever going into paid employment. Often the only option for them is volunteering or jobs offering minimal work with no progression, thus promoting a lack of self-worth, depression, continued dependency, as well as health and financial issues. 

There is approximately 5000+ adults with a learning disability in Waltham Forest as noted in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (2018/2019). Of these residents, approximately 630 are recorded as accessing adult social care services as of January 2021. According to the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework, pre-pandemic figures show that across England only 5.6% of working age adults with a learning disability and receiving support from local councils are in paid employment. We want to change that.  

With a more diverse workforce, workplaces will benefit as it can bring in new skills and offer new and unique perspectives.

• External perceptions, negative stereotypes and Stigma - Concerns, fears and experiences of judgement, lack of inclusivity and lack of awareness or understanding is a significant barrier to feeling confident in entering and maintaining employment. 

• Non-accessible opportunities - Recruitment processes and sometimes also tasks within a job are often not accessible or flexible. 

• Lack of support mechanisms - Specific support for autistic people or people with learning disabilities can be difficult to find, especially in the form of job coaches. Sometimes, lack of support can also lead to people falling out of work because they are not supported to maintain employment. 

• Uncertainty - Sometimes job security is a big concern which prevents people entering employment, as it can be difficult to recover from falling out of work. 

• Financial - Concerns about losing out on benefits or being worse off in work is a significant and common barrier to entering employment. 

In Waltham Forest, the employment rate for working age adults with a learning disability and/or autism is significantly low at 1.6%, as shown by data collated for the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework.  

A recent survey was completed by people with learning disabilities and/or autism as well as families/carers and those that work with them to understand their views in respect of employment support. 

31% of respondents that participated, declared an interest in employment or employment related activity, showing that, despite difficulties in finding work, people with learning disabilities and/or autism do want to work and engage in the economy.  

The Employment Survey received over 70 responses with key highlights:  

• 2 people are in employment  
• 43 never had a job  
• 16 said they would be interested in getting a job  
• 17 said they would be interested in volunteer work  
• 10 said they would be interested in an employment training course  
• 22 completed a college course  
• 8 completed employment course  
• 10 completed other training  
• 7 had work experience  

Our vision is to normalise employment as an achievable outcome for adults with learning disabilities and/or autism in Waltham Forest. We want to maximise employment opportunities and increase the number of people in employment.  

To measure our progress, we aim to increase the rate of employment for adults with learning disabilities and/or autism to 15% by 2031.  

We will listen and learn as we progress by continuously working with our communities, through regular engagement with service users that have learning disabilities and/or autism, their families and carers and people that work with service users.

Waltham Forest Preparing for Adulthood Strategy

There will be an assessment for those interested in participating in the programme where we will ask a series of questions to understand their need for support and their eligibility as a resident with learning disabilities and/or autism. 

The programme will follow The Five Stages of Supported Employment to build residents skills, confidence, work experience and general employability, leading to job outcomes. Emphasis will be placed on in-work support. 

The Place, Train and Maintain model is at the heart of the Supported Employment Model. It means placing people in work at the earliest opportunity, training them to do the job in the way the employer wants it done, and providing ongoing support to maintain them in the job.  

Where possible, we will follow this model which has been effective in supported employment programmes and encourages employers, advisors and individuals to work together for the best outcomes.