What is Work Choice?

Work Choice is an employment programme that supports people with disabilities and long term health issues who face real barriers when it comes to finding and keeping work.

Work Choice is a flexible programme that is individually tailored. It helps individuals to reach their full potential so they can move into independent, unsupported employment. Work Choice helps people who wish to work at least 16 hours a week.

Pluss runs the Work Choice contract on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). We work with a range of carefully chosen partners who help us to deliver Work Choice.

How does it work?
You will meet with a local Pluss Adviser. Our Advisers are friendly, helpful and have many years experience of helping disabled people into work. We will meet at a venue of your choice and you can bring a friend or family member.

At our first meeting, we will:

• Discuss your strengths, job goals and support needs.
• Produce a simple development plan. This is a living document which sets out the actions both you and Pluss will take to help you find a job. It also details the support you will get.
• Help you put together a ‘Passport to Work’ – a portfolio of your successes to show employers.
• Start looking for jobs immediately.
• Discuss how often we meet, arrange our next meetings and further assessments.

Everything we talk about is confidential.

Getting a job and planning your career
Once we understand your skills, aspirations and support needs we will put together a tailored package of support to help you find work.

We will work closely with you to match you to the right job and develop your skills.

This will include:

• Job search – approaching employers, help with CV’s, application and interview techniques.
• Work trials – so you can try out jobs and gain experience.
• Training - this may include basic ICT, help with literacy and numeracy skills and vocational qualifications that will accredit the skills you gain in employment.
• Confidence building.
• Weekly job clubs, group work and visits to local employers.
•  Benefits advice.

We can also advise on self employment.

Starting a new job
We will agree a support plan with you and your new employer and stay in regular contact with you.

We can also:

• Talk to your new employer to see what (if any) adjustments need to be made. We can draw down funding to pay for workplace adjustments.
• Offer ‘on the job’ coaching to help you learn work tasks.
• Offer Disability Awareness Training to your new employer. If necessary, this can be tailored so they understand your specific needs.
• Help you plan your travel to and from work.
• Assist with benefit changes, better-off calculations and tax credit applications.
• Help with other things you may require – this could include training, confidence building, managing finances, stress management and other support measures that may be helpful from time to time.

Your development plan will be updated continually to help you achieve your career goals.

Ongoing Support
We provide as much or as little support as you need. However we commit to meeting with you a minimum of four times a year to review your development plan.

Moving into independent employment
The longer-term aim is that you develop the confidence and skills to move into independent employment. We will discuss a target date for you to do this which will very much depend upon your individual circumstances.

We will ensure that both you and your employer are happy and that you have an action plan to help you and your employer identify any triggers or early warning signs.

In the longer term....
Remember, even after this we will always still be there.

We will maintain regular contact with you for a minimum of 6 months after you have progressed from Work Choice. We can offer advice and help address any problems that may arise along the way.

After this, you can also contact us through the Pluss helpline for any advice and support.

If any significant problems arise within two years you can return to Work Choice straight away.

View our Work Choice brochure. You can also view Pluss' Work Choice brochure in word.