Bucks Workability » Local Services & Support

Local Services & Support

Connexions

Connexions provides free information, confidential advice and support to young people aged 13 to 19 (25 if they have learning difficulties) years in order to help them make the best decisions and choices in their lives.

Qualified Connexions Personal Advisors are available to offer advice on most topics, such as:

Careers & Work
Training & Apprenticeships
Housing
Relationships
Free Time
Money
Counselling
And much more…

Connexions Personal Advisors are available in schools and colleges, high street locations and voluntary organisations. To contact a Connexions Personal Advisor, call:

Aylesbury, Buckingham & Chesham areas: 0845 317 1366
High Wycombe area: 0845 217 1368

For more information visit www.connexionsbucks.org.uk

Jobcentre Plus

Jobcentre Plus, part of the Department for Work and Pensions, brings together employment and benefit services for people of working age and is a key element in the Government’s objectives to help people based on ‘Work for those who can, support for those who cannot’. It provides a professional and modern service to meet the diverse needs of employers and those seeking work, including:

Personal Adviders to provide practical support and advice to help those in need find and keep work, including training provision and benefits guidance.
A dedicated service to support employers in filling vacancies quickly and successfully.
Ability to place and search for jobs both online and over the phone (via Job points and through Jobseeker Direct and Employer Direct).
Swift, secure and professional access to benefits for those entitled to them.

For those with Disabilities or long term Health Conditions it may be helpful to request a meeting with a Disiabiliy Employment Adviser (DEA) but not everyone with a disability would necessarily see the DEA. There are a number of DEAs within the offices:

Address of local offices

Aylesbury Jobcentre Plus, Heron House, 49 Buckinghamshire St, Aylesbury, HP20 2LX

Chesham Jobcentre Plus, 31 Rd Lion St, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1LD

High Wycombe Jobcentre Plus, Aria House, 80 Oxford Rd, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP11 2DN

To ring any jobcentre call 0845 604 3719

Help for jobseekers: www.direct.gov.uk/jobsearch
Information on benefits: www.direct.gov.uk/benefits
Business wanting to advertise vacancies should go to www.businesslink.co.uk/jobcentreplus

National Society for Epilepsy

The ‘Training for Work’ team is a part of The National Society for Epilepsy’s Rehabilitation Services Department. They provide work assessments, work training and support in gaining the skills and confidence necessary to improve employment prospects for service users.

As one’s work is often an important part of life, valuing people’s life skills, experience and individuality – as well as promoting independence – is one of the NSE’s key aims.

They work in a multidisciplinary team – and also with other organisations – to ensure that they offer comprehensive support and information for clients.

A number of social enterprise projects (such as a general store, a coffee shop and office support group) are run in order that service users can gain varied and diverse skills. Service users who then move into work placements receive support which is individually tailored to their needs.

At the moment the Training for Work team work only with service users at the NSE, but they are actively looking to expand their service to assist anyone with epilepsy.

Referral process:

Internal referrals only.

Address:

National Society for Epilepsy
Chesham Lane
Chalfont St Peter
Buckinghamshire
SL9 0RJ

Tel:

Training for work: 01494 601 300 ext. 2171

Contacts:

Jacek Debowski
Lena Lukosaityte

Email:

Jacek.Debowski@epilepsysociety.org.uk

Lena.Lukosaityte@epilepsysociety.org.uk

Web: www.epilepsysociety.org.uk

Richmond Fellowship Employment Service Bletchley

The Richmond Fellowship Employment Service Bletchley is a specialist service working within mental health & employment. They work with people who live in the Milton Keynes area and who have experience of – and are recovering from – mental health issues and who are also looking to return to employment or training.

Referral process:

Via a health professional such as a GP.

Contacts:

Michelle Jacobs (Service Manager)

Darren Pearson (Employment Advisor)

Address:

Albany House,

52 Westfield Road,

Bletchley,

Milton Keynes

Telephone: 01908 648 788

Richmond Healthy Minds Employment Service

This service exists for people in employment who are registered with a GP in the Buckinghamshire area and who are experiencing common mental health problems such as stress, anxiety or depression.

Address:

Healthy Minds Employment Service
Floor 2, Prospect House
Crendon Street
High Wycombe
HP13 6LA

Tel: 0844 2252 400

Fax: 0844 2252 401

Email: healthy.minds@buckspct.nhs.uk

Web: www.healthymindsbucks.nhs.uk

Working Out

Working Out is a specialist brain injury vocational assessment and rehabilitation programme run by the Community Head Injury Service (CHIS), Community Health Bucks (NHS). It has been designed specifically for people with acquired brain injury, who have been unable to establish or re-establish themselves in employment post-injury.

The programme comprises an initial background/suitability assessment followed by four inter-linked phases: vocational assessment, work preparation, voluntary work trials and long-term supported work placements. Following assessment, specific vocational programmes are developed to meet individual needs. Ongoing support is provided once service users progress back into work.

In addition, a specialist job retention service has been developed for those in work but who may be experiencing difficulties.

Working Out is recognised as an example of good practice in brain injury vocational rehabilitation in the National Service Framework for Long-term Conditions (Department of Health 2005) and was also the South-East Regional Winner of the NHS Nye Bevan Modernisation Award 2000.

Programme Aims

To assess the vocational needs and potential of people with acquired brain injury.
To provide specialist rehabilitation programmes to help people with acquired brain injury to prepare for a return to work or to an alternative occupation.
To find, set up and support long-term work placements for people with acquired brain injury.
To find, set up and support voluntary work trials in order to evaluate alternative occupational options.
To provide specialist job retention in order to assist people experiencing difficulties at work.

Referral process:

This can be via GP, medical consultant, therapist, case manger, disability employment advisor, work psychologist, voluntary groups/organisatons, as well as by self referral.

Contact:

Ruth Tyerman

Programme Manager

Address:

The Community Head Injury Service
The Camborne Centre
Jansel Square
Bedgrove
Aylesbury
Buckinghamshire
HP21 7ET

Tel: 01296 337 760

Email: CHIS@buckspct.nhs.uk

Back2Base Supported Employment Services

This service is run by Bucks County Council and works with people with disabilities in the Bucks area to support them into employment.

It then offers ongoing support to both the person placed and their respective employers.

Initial placement into work is done in several different ways:

Job searching on the internet.
Cold calling companies regarding employment opportunities.
Applying for advertised positions.
Help with CVs.
Support with interviews .
“Better off” calculations with respect to benefits.
Work placements.
Voluntary work.
Work Tasters.

They are funded by Bucks County Council Adults and Family Wellbeing.

Back2Base work closely with clients and support them until they obtain paid employment. “Job coaches” then support those in paid employment, as well as their employers.

There is a telephone support system for those in employment when the support required.

Referral process:

Referrals are normally through Bucks County Council, but they do have a very small Young Peoples’ project (16-25), which clients can join directly.

Contact:

Jacci Fowler

Manager

Address:

Back2Base,
Princes Risborough Resource Centre
Clifford Road
Princes Risborough
Bucks
HP270DP

Tel (office): 01844 275797

Mobile: 07949 485914

Buckinghamshire Mind Supported Employment

Buckinghamshire Mind Supported Employment provides person-centred support to people with mental health needs who either wish to return to work or wish to begin work for the first time, thereby strengthening their process of recovery. Their team is committed to providing individually tailored assistance for clients in order to empower them to achieve the best possible outcome. This is done in a variety of ways, perhaps by introducing the client to voluntary work or by inviting them to attend one of their courses, e.g. the Preparation for Work or the Skills for a Healthy Working Life course. Empowerment may also be encouraged simply by providing career guidance or by finding college courses.

In April 2009 we were delighted to receive the news that Buckinghamshire County Council had chosen to fund Buckinghamshire Mind Supported Employment.

Address:

Supported Employment

Buckinghamshire Mind

White Hill Centre

White Hill

Chesham

Buckinghamshire

HP5 1AG

Tel (office): 01494 774 499

Email: supportedemployment@bucksmind.org.uk

Web: www.bucksmind.org.uk

Community Impact Bucks

‘Opportunities for All’ - Supported Volunteer Project was set up to provide help and assistance to people who would find it difficult to volunteer without support.

The project works closely with individuals to identify roles in a wide range of settings including farm work, gardening, driving, playgroups, retail or administration, depending on skills or interests. Roles can also be tailored for particular needs. Once a suitable role has been identified, we can organise and accompany volunteers to interviews and initial start date, help fill in application and CRB forms, regularly keep in touch and arrange 6 & 12 month meetings to talk about progress.

Volunteering can offer huge benefits. As well as playing an active part in the community, volunteering can increase confidence, skills, motivation, social networks and employability. It also helps organisations who rely on volunteers to keep their vital services running.

The project is open to everyone in Aylesbury Vale and works with people who face difficulties including mental health issues, learning or physical disabilities, BME groups, ex-offenders or anyone facing social exclusion.

Referral Process
To join the project, the individual must be motivated and ready to volunteer. We will offer role assessment, guidance and ongoing support to each volunteer and provide a link between them and the organisation they are joining. We will also keep you informed of the volunteer’s progress.

We will need a risk assessment from you which should reflect the overall nature, level of risk and needs of the specific client for each referral. Assessments should identify both short and long term needs. However, you can offer your own risk assessment or request a risk assessment form from us which you can fill in. Self referrals are also accepted and a risk assessment can be completed during interview.

For furthur information about this project on behalf of yourself or someone else, please contact:

Helen Cavill
Project Co-ordinator
Community Impact Bucks
Direct Line: 01296 337 552
Email: helen@communityimpactbucks.org.uk

Shaw Trust

Shaw Trust is a national charity which supports people with disabilities and otherwise disadvantaged people in preparing to return to work, finding employment and leading more independent lives.

We believe everyone has the right to employment and have campaigned for over 25 years to turn our vision into a reality.

Every year we work with over 75,000 clients who face barriers due to disability, ill health or social circumstance. Thousands of employers and public sector organisations also benefit from our range of services for businesses.

We are the UK’s largest third sector provider (i.e. not profit driven but also non governmental) and one of the Government’s leading partners in the delivery of employment and training programmes for people with disabilities and people who are disadvantaged in some way.

What we do:

We help people move off benefits into employment and and help them live more independent lives using government and other funded employment programmes.
We support public sector organisations modernise and deliver effective social care services.
We help businesses to recruit and manage a diverse workforce.

Referral process:

Referrals are usually via Job Centre Plus.

Self referrals are also accepted if you are on Employment Support Allowance, Incapacity Benefit (now replaced by ESA) or Disability Living Allowance.
Please call us on 0808 1802003.

Address:

In Buckinghamshire we have offices in the following locations: