If you have left education

Opportunity Sheffield are the Council’s employment and skills service.

They help people who want to start their employment journey but don't know how.  This includes those with disabilities and physical or mental health issues.

They run projects part funded through the European Social Fund (ESF).  These are called the ESF Pathways.  Pathways to Success supports those with disabilities and physical or mental health issues.  It is for those aged 18 and over.  You can read more information from page 16 on this booklet.

Pathways to Success work with other organisations on projects.  They offer training courses designed to help get people back into work.  You can read more information from page 17 on this booklet.

You can contact Opportunity Sheffield to find out more:

Telephone: 0114 229 6168

E-mail: opportunity@sheffield.gov.uk 

It is a contract led by Barnsley Local Authority. It includes Sheffield and Doncaster Local Authorities. It started in November 2022. Funding is in place until March 2025. In Sheffield, there are 2 job coaches available to give support.

What the scheme is and who is it for

To help adults (18+) with Learning Disabilities and / or Autism into a paid job. They will receive support from a Job Coach for:

• help to get a paid job and not work placements
• CV writing
• job applications
• looking at work trials as a working interview, if needed
• in the work place help with training and job instruction
• close working with the person and employer
• developing the employment and making progress
• working towards more hours, if wanted.

The job coaches will:

• speak to the person who has applied and get a vocational profile. All based on their wishes and wants for the future.
• look at all areas of their life to see what sort of work they would like and how they may find it for them
• speak with different employers that are of interest.

Entry guidelines

• There is a check sent to the DWP to make sure you can apply.  DWP is the Department for Work and Pensions. This is to check the person exists and is “economically inactive”.
• The person must not be employed, in full time education or on any other funded programme.
• Be known to Adult Social Care. There is flexibility with this.  You can still apply if not known to Adult Social Care.

If the programme isn't right for the individual, the job coaches will look to find another which is.

There is an independent audit every six months. This is to assess the quality of provision and success of the programme.

How to apply

Complete this referral form and e-mail to opportunity@sheffield.gov.uk.

Or contact:

Richard Perry

Telephone: 07917 597 740

E-mail: richard.perry@sheffield.gov.uk 

Team e-mail: sse@sheffield.gov.uk 

Supported Employment helps people with significant disabilities. It helps them move towards and into paid work.

For more information visit the British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) website.  Click on the logo.

Visit the Disability Sheffield website.  They have a list of local organisations and services that give information and advice on getting a job. Click on the logo.

Jobcentres can help young people with SEND aged 18 and over:

• find a job,
• get new skills,
• get information about disability friendly employers
• discuss other support available.

They can refer the young person to a Disability Employment Advisor (DEA) or a specialist work psychologist.  They can carry out an 'employment assessment' of their skills and experience.  This helps see what kind of roles they are interested in.

Jobcentres can refer those who need a higher level of support on to a programme called Better Working Futures (Work and Health Programme). Run by Reed in Partnership, this programme focuses on helping disadvantaged groups (particularly people with health conditions or disabilities) to find and keep work.

Employment advisors work with participants for up to 15 months, with an additional six months once participants are in work. The offer includes one-to-one meetings, better-off calculations, support to access local services, funding for travel, interview clothing or external training, and workshops and support to address complex needs and barriers, such as housing or money issues.

Referrals can only be made through Jobcentre Plus, and there is no guarantee that the young person will be accepted on the programme.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides a programme of support for all 16 to 24 year olds making a new claim to Universal Credit who are required to prepare or look for work.  This is called the DWP Youth Offer.  You can find out more by clicking on the logo below.

Work Routes is a free support service that helps unemployed people aged 18+ start working.

The service is part of the Department for Work and Pension’s Work and Health Programme (WHP Core) for those who are out of work. It may sometimes be called WHP Pioneer.

Some of the reasons jobseekers might be able to apply can include:

• They are not in work or a job - unemployed and not in the Universal Credit Intensive Work Search Regime (UC IWSR) or income based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA). Claiming other benefits, or no benefits, means they can apply.
• They have a health condition or disability and need more support than can be provided within standard Jobcentre Plus or other available services.
• They fit into one of the following groups:

1. 1. An ex-offender (someone who has completed a custodial sentence or a community sentence), or an offender (someone who is serving a community sentence)
   2. A carer or ex-carer
   3. A homeless person
   4. A former member of HM Armed Forces
   5. A member of the HM Armed Forces reserves
   6. A partner of current or former Armed Forces personnel
   7. A person for whom a drug/alcohol dependency (including a history of) presents a significant barrier
      to employment
   8. A care leaver
   9. A refugee
   10. A young person identified as being involved or at risk of being involved in gangs or serious violence
   11. A victim of domestic violence
   12. An Afghan resettler
   13. A Ukrainian evacuee

You can find out more by reading the brochure.

You can also call on 0800 015 5332.