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WORK
Employment, community...and cake?

Richard Lamplough, the founder of A Potential Diamond,
makes it clear that getting the job-fit right is not about forms,
notes and formal appointments. It’s about the simple things –
neighbourliness, listening, coffee, cake and working through the

grey areas. And first he has a question for the reader: Do you have a job title?

erhaps you are a Social Worker, to pay me for just under two days a week. forthcoming weeks, months or years I get
Pa Housing Manager or a Director of The rest of my time I put in from my own to know them as best I can. I get to
External Relations and Communities. resources. I ran the project this way for know the key people in their lives too
(How on earth do you direct a about a year and from September 2015, and what job search guidance they get
community?) Perhaps, like me, you in partnership with Manor Green College from these supporters. The young people
struggle to find a job title that describes (a fantastic special school in Crawley), I meet are usually at school or college
your occupation and when people ask I successfully re-applied to the autism and so, with their permission, I chat to
you what you do you string a few words small grant scheme, which was increased their tutors. Sometimes I run ‘Let’s get a
together that make some sort of sense. and extended for a further three years. job’ sessions at Manor Green College and
I often used to say: “I work in the Crawley College. When I do this it helps
welfare-to-work sector,” or “I’m an I have many principles that underpin my me get to know them even more and,
employment-support professional.” neighbourly approach but here are just crucially, informs me of some of their
I must have used those phrases quite a a few. First, I don’t have waiting lists. skills and qualities.
few times over the last 25 years or so. If a young person, their parents or a social
worker contact me I meet them within At some of these sessions we talk about
But I don’t anymore. three working days. I’m imagining the day how we apply for jobs. I don’t dwell on
when Cathy and her mum knocked on this too long, just like I don’t dwell too
For the purpose of this article I would like your door, introduced themselves, saying long on things that many so-called
to suggest a new title: “Good Neighbour”. that they had just moved into the area employment support professionals think
What do you think? It’s short and snappy, and could they borrow a cup of sugar? are uber-important, such as CVs and
easy to understand, don’t you agree? You didn’t say: “Yes, of course, but the interview practice. As for the internet,
earliest I can lend it to you is four weeks in my opinion, for every good thing it’s
I would imagine you’re a good neighbour this Saturday.” done for people with learning disabilities
to many people; some might be close or autism it’s done a bad thing, and one
friends, others simply ‘friends’ and the of the worst things concerns recruitment.
rest ... well, just neighbours I suppose. “ I wanted to be a good Let me explain.
I’m imagining Cathy who is about 30 and neighbour who could,
lives a minute’s walk away from your perhaps, support any NETWORKING
house. You often bump into her and neighbours with learning When I’m not getting to know the young
mum when you’re doing your weekly people I support I’m networking with local
shop and the three of you have a chat. disabilities or autism into employers. “So, if you have a basic-skilled
Cathy’s making great progress in her life paid employment. job, how do you advertise it?” I ask the
and both she and her mum hope it Secondly when I meet a young person for ” friendly employer I’m sharing coffee and
won’t be too long before she moves into cake with at a networking event.
independent living. Cathy doesn’t have a “We tend to use the Indeed job site,”
paid job currently but she does a the first time I don’t write anything down. comes the reply. “Umm ... could I chat to
couple of volunteering jobs two mornings I just listen. Actually, I LISTEN. And then you a little bit about a slightly different
a week, which she enjoys very much. we chat, and then I listen some more, approach you might want to consider?”
and then we chat some more, and then
GOOD NEIGHBOURS I listen some more. You get the picture. I believe that the key to supporting people
When I started A Potential Diamond in I’m imagining another thing you didn’t with learning disabilities or autism into
2013 I didn’t want to be a good service. say to Cathy all those years ago: sustainable paid employment can be
I wanted to be a good neighbour who “Of course, you can borrow a cup of sugar. summarised in one handy phrase:
could, perhaps, support any neighbours I just need to write down your full name, “Get the job fit right.” And you’ll get the
with learning disabilities or autism into your date of birth, your address, your job fit right if you look at two key drivers.
paid employment. National Insurance number and whether
or not any other neighbours are lending One, you understand the young person,
I applied to West Sussex County Council you sugar at the moment.” their life within their local communities,
for funding (through their autism small their skills and qualities and their support
grant scheme) and with a matched Okay ... I write one thing down. I write needs. Two, you understand something
contribution from my local further down when I’m next going to meet about the employer, their role within the
education college secured enough money the young person. And over the local community and the job role they

12 Vol 31 No 1 | Autumn 2017 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk