Link Up

For a list of vacancies within Link-Up, whether for a staff vacancy, volunteering vacancies or trainee vacancies, please contact Jane Hall on 01635 500850 or jane@link-up-project.org.uk

Job Coaching

Link-up is a charity that was formed to train people with learning disabilities to develop their full working potential within a sheltered work skills environment. Accessing work outside in the community with local businesses and charities continues this progression.

The natural progression of Link-Up leads to the possibility of working within the outside community supported by the job coach providing work experience/taster sessions in local businesses/charities.

The role of the job coach is to assist job seekers in developing skills to enable them to enter the workplace through training and work opportunities. The Job Coach will source job placements/tasters through local business and charities, to produce a vocational profile and match this with job details. The Job Coach will liaise and consult with the service user, key workers, carers, parents, and prospective employers concerning the job/volunteer placement and any issues should these arrive.

Once successful the job coach fully supports the individual on a regular basis liaising between all parties, observing and giving feedback to all.

The prospect is that this full support may continue for an unspecified time using fully trained volunteers reporting to the job coach and eventually in the future this support to be withdrawn leaving partial support in place.

Sometimes employers can be wary of giving someone with learning disabilities a chance to experience the working environment. They may have preconceptions of how trainees will cope with new situations confronting them.

"We try and allay their fears" Link-Up job coach explained, "All our trainees are matched by me to the job but only after extensive consultations with themselves, their key workers and all the staff here at Link-Up, in fact, we welcome as much input as possible because the more we have, the easier it is to settle the trainee into the placement."

The trainee is initially fully supported by the job coach then they are introduced to a volunteer.

Volunteers

The Link-up staffs is a friendly dedicated bunch and make all newcomers very welcome.

Sandra a new volunteer recently joined the staff in the work skills unit.

"I used to work in admin but needed a change.I'm so glad I did..its such a rewarding experience. ..you get a lot back from it.."

A volunteer helping by supporting an individual in a work placement told us.

"I look forward to coming to help. The support we get is great, training was interesting and informative, and all my questions were answered and even e-mailed to me! I gain so much satisfaction from volunteering here"

Another volunteer is hoping to go on to study psychology.

"I chose Link-Up (to volunteer) simply because they offered an opportunity to work with adults with learning disabilities. They (link-Up) come under the West Berkshire Mencap umbrella so are nationally recognised, they offered complete reassurance by way of my training and their on-going support."

Volunteers are a very important cog in the Link-Up wheel and are needed on a 1-1 basis to support individuals working in the community. They receive appropriate training and support from the job coach and the rest of the team before being asked to venture out. The trainee's work on a surprising variety of jobs such as dog walking, supermarkets, hotels, libraries, garden centres, residential homes, meals on wheels, the list goes on.

This is a rewarding experience enabling people disabled and non-disabled alike to learn new skills, enhance existing ones and improve communications.

Accessing work means people with learning disabilities can gain higher self-esteem and promote a sense of achievement.

"Without our volunteers help Link-up cannot offer that chance of a working experience to all their trainees. It just isn't possible.

"If there is anyone interested in volunteering we would be only too pleased to see them. One day a week 10am to 3pm can really make a difference."

Telephone: Link-Up 01635 500 852 Or e-mail:Jobcoach@link-up-project.org.uk





	For a list of vacancies within Link-Up, whether for a staff vacancy, volunteering vacancies or trainee vacancies, please contact Jane Hall on 01635 500850 or jane@link-up-project.org.uk Volunteer for Workshop - view application (pdf) Work Placement Support Volunteer - view application (pdf) Job Coaching Link-up is a charity that was formed to train people with learning disabilities to develop their full working potential within a sheltered work skills environment. Accessing work outside in the community with local businesses and charities continues this progression. The natural progression of Link-Up leads to the possibility of working within the outside community supported by the job coach providing work experience/taster sessions in local businesses/charities. The role of the job coach is to assist job seekers in developing skills to enable them to enter the workplace through training and work opportunities. The Job Coach will source job placements/tasters through local business and charities, to produce a vocational profile and match this with job details. The Job Coach will liaise and consult with the service user, key workers, carers, parents, and prospective employers concerning the job/volunteer placement and any issues should these arrive. Once successful the job coach fully supports the individual on a regular basis liaising between all parties, observing and giving feedback to all. The prospect is that this full support may continue for an unspecified time using fully trained volunteers reporting to the job coach and eventually in the future this support to be withdrawn leaving partial support in place. Sometimes employers can be wary of giving someone with learning disabilities a chance to experience the working environment. They may have preconceptions of how trainees will cope with new situations confronting them. "We try and allay their fears" Link-Up job coach explained, "All our trainees are matched by me to the job but only after extensive consultations with themselves, their key workers and all the staff here at Link-Up, in fact, we welcome as much input as possible because the more we have, the easier it is to settle the trainee into the placement." The trainee is initially fully supported by the job coach then they are introduced to a volunteer. Volunteers The Link-up staffs is a friendly dedicated bunch and make all newcomers very welcome. Sandra a new volunteer recently joined the staff in the work skills unit. "I used to work in admin but needed a change.I'm so glad I did..its such a rewarding experience. ..you get a lot back from it.." A volunteer helping by supporting an individual in a work placement told us. "I look forward to coming to help. The support we get is great, training was interesting and informative, and all my questions were answered and even e-mailed to me! I gain so much satisfaction from volunteering here" Another volunteer is hoping to go on to study psychology. "I chose Link-Up (to volunteer) simply because they offered an opportunity to work with adults with learning disabilities. They (link-Up) come under the West Berkshire Mencap umbrella so are nationally recognised, they offered complete reassurance by way of my training and their on-going support." Volunteers are a very important cog in the Link-Up wheel and are needed on a 1-1 basis to support individuals working in the community. They receive appropriate training and support from the job coach and the rest of the team before being asked to venture out. The trainee's work on a surprising variety of jobs such as dog walking, supermarkets, hotels, libraries, garden centres, residential homes, meals on wheels, the list goes on. This is a rewarding experience enabling people disabled and non-disabled alike to learn new skills, enhance existing ones and improve communications. Accessing work means people with learning disabilities can gain higher self-esteem and promote a sense of achievement. "Without our volunteers help Link-up cannot offer that chance of a working experience to all their trainees. It just isn't possible. "If there is anyone interested in volunteering we would be only too pleased to see them. One day a week 10am to 3pm can really make a difference." Telephone: Link-Up 01635 500 852 Or e-mail:Jobcoach@link-up-project.org.uk

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