Connect to Work
Connect to Work provides support:
- to people with disabilities, health conditions or facing complex barriers, to move into paid employment
- to people who are in work but are struggling to retain employment due to ill health
Connect to Work is a voluntary, free UK Government-funded programme offering personalised employment support for residents aged 18+ living in Derby.
We are delivering Connect to Work and provide one to one support through allocated supported employment officers. We will work with you to help you get into employment and thrive in the workplace.
Taking part is entirely voluntary and all support is provided free of charge.
Eligibility
If you are facing difficult personal circumstances, for example:
- you have a disability or long‑term health condition
- you are a care leaver, carer, ex‑offender, refugee, survivor of domestic abuse or recovering from addiction
and are:
- living in Derby city
- 18+
We can help you to:
- move into work that is right for you
- stay in work
- keep your job if you are at risk of losing it due to personal circumstance that are affecting your work
How we can support you
Our supported employment officers (SEOs) will support you at every step of the way. They will work with you to understand what matters most to you and help you find a job that suits your skills, strengths and ambitions.
Our SEOs can help you:
- to explore your skills, interests, and career goals
- to create a personalised plan to help you move towards employment
- to access training, volunteering, work experience or work trials if these would benefit you
- to search for jobs and connect with employers
- to build your confidence and prepare for interviews and the workplace
- receive ongoing support once you start work to help you settle into your new role and thrive
- if you are in employment but at risk of falling out of work due to health, disability or workplace barriers; we would you support you to make reasonable adjustments or move into another role
To take part please email us on employmentandskills@derby.gov.uk.
What do the people we have supported say about our work?
I've started to build my confidence, apply for jobs and help recognise how to apply for things when I don't meet the full requirements of a job specification. Tuybia (Supported Employment Officer) has been helping me with job searching, confidence, self-belief and encouragement to keep going when things don't work out.
Jag’s (Supported Employment Officer) support went far beyond employment too - during some of the hardest times in my life, including family and personal issues, he was there for me every step of the way, always checking in, listening and helping me stay positive.
I feel that Emma (Supported Employment Officer) has been a great help and has given me a lot of support in preparing and looking for work, helping me in building my confidence in my next steps and the direction that I can take.
