Preparing for adulthood: Employment

Every young person deserves the opportunity to experience the world of work and enjoy the benefits of paid employment. Many young people are eager to find a job, and as a parent, you play a key role in supporting them on this journey.

Getting work ready

Looking for a job can take time, so it’s important to stay positive and build on existing skills. Encouraging your young person to assess their abilities through a skills health check can help identify strengths and areas for improvement.

To be work ready, young people should:

Have a positive attitude – be willing to work independently and as part of a team, be punctual, and dress appropriately.
Develop basic skills – Good English and Maths skills are required for most jobs.
Gain experience and qualifications – Additional training, work experience, or qualifications can improve employability.

If your young person isn’t quite ready for employment, they may benefit from our employability workshops or take part in Bromley Mencap’s employment service programmes.

Finding a job

Many young people visit a Jobcentre Plus or search online for job vacancies. The local Jobcentre Plus in Bromley is located at: Unicorn House, 28 Elmfield Road, Bromley, BR1 1NX

If your young person has a disability or health condition that makes it difficult to attend Jobcentre appointments, they can request reasonable adjustments or speak with a Disability Employment Adviser (DEA). DEAs provide guidance on job searching, training opportunities, and disability friendly employers. They can also arrange an ‘employment assessment’ to identify suitable roles based on skills and experience.

More information is available at: Looking for work if you're disabled: Looking for a job - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Job coaching support

Your young person may be eligible for support from a job coach – a trained professional who assists individuals with disabilities in accessing and maintaining employment. Bromley Mencap’s job coaching agency provides support in areas such as:

Interview preparation
Workplace inductions
Travel training
On-the-job performance and training

Funding for job coaching may be available through the Access to Work scheme, which provides financial support for workplace adjustments. The easy read guide also gives more information about the Access to Work scheme.

Identifying inclusive employers

When looking at job adverts and application forms, look for the ‘Disability Confident’ symbol. This means the employer is committed to employing and supporting disabled employees. Employers in this scheme promise to:

Proactively recruit disabled individuals
Provide an inclusive, accessible recruitment process
Offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum job criteria

A list of Disability Confident Employers can be downloaded from GOV.UK.

Employment rights and support

It is against the law for an employer to discriminate based on disability. The Equality Act 2010 ensures employers make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to support disabled employees. More information is available on the Citizens Advice website.

Read GOV.UK guidance about employing disabled people and people with health conditions.

Further information

There are a number of national and local organisations that offer resources to support young people in their job search:

Disability Rights UK – Guidance on job applications and interviews

National Autistic Society - Employment support services

Royal Mencap - Easy-read job seeking guides

Scope - Online and telephone job seeking support

Remploy - Employment services for disabled individuals

The following organisations can also provide you with information about careers:

By encouraging and guiding your young person, you can help them take meaningful steps towards independence and success in the workplace.