Having a job not only earns you money, it also gives you confidence and independence. However, finding the right job or holding down a job can be particularly challenging if you have a disability, health problem or have been out of work for a while.

It can be hard to stay positive when you’re job hunting, particularly if nothing suitable is coming up, or you have been unsuccessful in previous applications.

Equally, if you have a job but are finding it hard to get there everyday or perform as well as you'd like because of anything related to a disability or health problem, you may need some extra support.

There are steps you can take to improve your chances of finding work and specialist people and organisations to support you. This could be through volunteering, work experience or careers advice and mentoring. 

If you’re not sure what you want to do, it’s a good idea to get some guidance from a specialist careers adviser who will understand your particular needs. Here is some info on where to get advice and support on what job would suit you and how to go about getting work.

Specialist career advisers at Bath College can help support you to find learning and/or work opportunities. You will get a careers management action plan to steer you towards your goals.

Get in touch with a disability employment adviser at your local job centre for support to help you find work on 01225 303213.

Call, email or live message the National Careers Service.

If you have learning disabilities or autism spectrum condition, contact a job coach in the Sirona employment inclusion team

Get careers guidance from advisers with expertise in autistic spectrum condition (ASC) from the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP) or Sirona's Autism Management Service. 

Contact Developing Health and Independence (DHI), a charity based in Bath that supports socially excluded people to achieve their potential. Their work includes supporting people to get back into work.

Read this useful government overview about where to look for work, support available and your rights if you have a disability.

Work experience, volunteering and work trials are a great way to improve your chances of finding work.

To find out about local volunteering opportunities contact the Disability Employment Advisers at your local job centre on 01225 303213. They can support you to find out about job opportunities to improve your chances of finding work. These include work experience, volunteering and work trials.

Other volunteering organisations to contact:

The Volunteer Centre
Vinspired who champion volunteering for 14-25 year olds.
The Princes Trust

If you have developed a health condition or become disabled, you probably want to know whether you can take time off and what you’re rights are. Here’s a useful guide to your legal rights at work and support to help you keep working if you are ill or disabled.

Find out what you can ask your employer for if you have a long term health condition.

 

You can find specialist support in finding or keeping work from the following organisations:

Contact the Disability Employment Advisers at your local job centre on 01225 303213.

Contact the employment inclusion team job coaches who support people with learning difficulties and autism to move into full time paid jobs.

If you are aged between 18-24 and have completed your final year of school education, then the local internship scheme Project SEARCH could be for you.

Get careers guidance from advisers with expertise in Autistic Spectrum Disorder from the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP) and Sirona's autistic spectrum management service

Contact Developing Health and Independence (DHI), a charity based in Bath that supports socially excluded people to achieve their potential. Their work includes supporting people to get back into work.

Carrswood Day Services in Twerton, Bath supports adults with learning disabilities to prepare for employment. Tel. 01225 396070

Connections Day Services in Radstock and Keynsham support people to find work including The Catering Crew programme which gives people a chance to work for a professional catering firm with specialised job coaches. Tel. 01225 395990.



 

 

Contact a disability employment adviser at your local job centre on 01225 303213 who can support you to find work.

If you have mental health issues, the Sirona Mental Health support team can advise you and help you prepare for work or training or support you if you are struggling to hold down a job due to mental health issues. Talk to your GP and ask for a referral or contact the Sirona Mental Health Supported Living team on 01225 837092 or email mhsls@sirona-cic.org.uk

If you are aged between 18-24 and have completed your final year of school education, then the local internship scheme Project SEARCH could be for you.

 

If you are looking after a family member or friend it can be hard to juggle your responsibilities with finding or keeping a job.

If you are thinking about getting a job, starting a business or going on a training course, contact the Bath and North East Somerset Carers’ Centre for help and advice on working and caring.

Contact Developing Health and Independence (DHI), a charity based in Bath that supports socially excluded people to achieve their potential. Their work includes supporting people who have been struggling with drug and alcohol issues to get back into work.

Contact Developing Health and Independence (DHI), a charity based in Bath that supports socially excluded people to achieve their potential. Their work includes supporting homeless people to get back into work.

If you have additional needs, there are various organisations that will support you to set up your own business or create employment opportunities.

The Princes Trust Enterprise Programme helps people aged 18-30 to explore and test their business ideas.

The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities offers support, advice and resources to create work opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

The National Apprenticeship Service supports, funds and co-ordinates the delivery of apprenticeships throughout England.

Talk to a disability employment adviser at your local job centre about apprenticeships or call 01225 303213.

Local
Contact a Disability Employment Adviser at your local job centre on 01225 303213.

If you are aged between 18-24 and have completed your final year of school education, then the local internship scheme Project SEARCH 
could be for you.

Contact Developing Health and Independence (DHI), a charity based in Bath that supports socially excluded people to achieve their potential. Their work includes supporting people to get back into work

National

Find out about moving from benefits to work on gov.uk

A useful overview about where to look for work, support available and your rights if you are disabled on gov.uk. 

iRemploy Employment Services is an online service for people with a disability or health condition.

Pluss is a social enterprise that supports people with disabilities and other disadvantages into employment each year

The Shaw Trust supports disabled and disadvantaged people towards employment either through their Work Choice or Work Programme. 

The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities offers support, advice and resources to create work opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

Evenbreak has a vacancy list for disabled job seekers. You can be sure that the jobs on this list are by employers who are serious about looking beyond people’s disabilities to identify the skills they can offer. You can also post your CV on the site.