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WORK

Richard had been mentoring Peter for about three years Richard knew Jasmine for precisely three days when the
before he secured his perfect full-time job at Oathall ideal job opportunity came up. She now works full-time for
Community College, Lindfield, as an ICT technician. Shaw Healthcare in Horsham as a domestic assistant.

have in mind. Then you simply connect
the two together. So perhaps my title
should be Community Connector?

You’re probably thinking I’m simplifying Perhaps you’ve never
things too much so let’s rephrase used this talent to
something: “Get the job fit 80% right.” create a job for
Over the last six months I’ve supported somebody with
ten young people into full or part-time learning disabilities
paid employment. With all of them, or autism but I’m
there’s been a 20% grey area. Much as I sure you can do this. Richard had been mentoring Tyrone for about three months
wish it could be, it’s never black and white before he got part-time work, two days a week, at the Holiday
but it always requires close management Here’s a suggestion. Inn, Crawley, as a food and beverage assistant. His new course
on a range of issues from the big stuff to Contact three at Crawley College is structured around his paid work days.
the tiniest detail. For the young person close friends or
and their parents I’m still the community relatives in your local
connector, but for everyone else I become community who work in the private learning disabilities or autism you’ve had a
an employment support professional sector. The more senior they are within fantastic result. It’s quite likely you might
again. My use of bold is deliberate. their organisations, the better. See if you know somebody who fits the bill.
The government’s Access To Work can arrange a ‘chat’ with them at their How about Cathy? If you’re struggling to
provision can provide a lifeline to address offices. Take their favourite cake with think of somebody you know personally,
some if not all of the 20%. I find the you. At your meeting explore what drop into your local supported employment
advisors very helpful but the system is opportunities there might be to ‘create’ agency where there will be a considerable
incredibly clunky. Luckily, my two job a basic skilled job at their organisation talent pool. Make the connections and
coaches, Mel and Mark, never let for somebody with learning disabilities or watch the good stuff happen.
the clunkiness get in the way of autism, even if this is for just one day a
effective job coaching which, week. Don’t forget, some people on the If you get stuck with anything, or if the
surprise surprise, embraces effective autistic spectrum have some significantly supported agency gets stuck, particularly
community connecting. advanced skills. This is particularly useful with any Access To Work clunkiness,
if, between mouthfuls of cake, your friend send me an email.
GREY AREAS starts talking about cloud applications,
With the right approach, almost certainly database functionality and Microsoft e-mail: richard@apotentialdiamond.org
the 20% grey area can be reduced, if not SQL servers. Nod and smile at this point Phone: 077389 41415
to zero then to 5%, within two months, to make it look as if you understand. Website at www.apotentialdiamond.org
sometimes even two weeks.
If, out of your three meetings, Richard Lamplough is creator of
Some of you reading this are already there’s a possibility of creating just one A Potential Diamond and managing
excellent community connectors. part-time paid job for somebody with director of Won’t Ever Be Ltd.

www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 31 No 1 | Autumn 2017 13