Recognising a Jobcentre Plus office that has demonstrated exceptional commitment in partnering with providers in their area, supportingdisadvantaged and long-term unemployed jobseekers. Kindly sponsored by Setas
ABOUT WASHWOOD HEATH JOBCENTRE PLUS
Members of the Washwood Heath JCP team have been attending Birmingham Disability Resource Centre (DRC) weekly for more than 15 years. The team supports unemployed disabled people to overcome barriers, by job searching, preparing for interviews, and selecting suitable vacancies.
Jobcentre Plus Washwood Heath has referred numerous disabled clients to DRC, offering enhanced support in terms of self-confidence, self-esteem, IT, budgeting, advice, and guidance, social, and health and wellbeing activities. The Jobcentre has always gone above and beyond in supporting DRC’s projects and utilising services to support clients’ barriers.
ABOUT BIRMINGHAM DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTRE
The partnership between Washwood Heath Jobcentre Plus and DRC has been developed over several years and is a genuine partnership, working together to achieve positive outcomes for disabled people. JCP staff are fully aware of DRC’s service and refer clients for information, advice and advocacy services; health and well-being services; and social and leisure activities, further improving the lives of local disabled people.
Information is shared on vacancies available and venues and resources are pooled to develop an outreach service.
A joint Disability Confident event last year promoted the benefits of employing disabled people to local employers and raised awareness of the Disability Confident Standard. With limited resources, a joint working group planned and delivered the event which welcomed more than 30 local employers. The feedback was incredibly positive and further demonstrated the benefits of working together.
Jobcentre staff actively promote the work of DRC which has enabled them to grow as a charity, forging links with other organisations not just in Birmingham but in the Black Country and further afield. DRC staff feel supported and valued by Washwood Health Jobcentre. They are passionate and committed in providing a service for the clients that they support.
COMMENTS AND QUOTES
“Washwood Heath Jobcentre Plus is dedicated to supporting disabled people towards and into sustainable employment. They show compassion and care for the people they work with, going above and beyond for their clients.”
Steven Moralee, Head of Fundraising and Development,
Birmingham Disability Resource Centre
WHAT ERSA SAID
This long standing partnership is clearly delivering positive outcomes for local disabled people and is an excellent example of the power of sharing information and expertise over many years.
Staff at Washwood Heath Jobcentre help champion the work of DRC, in turn enthusing and motivating the jobseekers they are working with. The charity has thrived as a result: a win-win for both DRC and the local disabled people benefiting from this partnership.
LINKS
https://jobcentreplusoffices.co.uk/washwood-heath-jobcentre-plus-office
https://ersa.org.uk/media/news/ersa-employability-awards-2020-winners
