Q. I am looking for work. What do I do?
A. A person's first contact with us is called the "Referral"
Referrals can come through another agency, family/whanau or the person themselves.
You can contact us for further information by phone,
email or in person at our offices; or
you can complete the online referral form
.
Q. Will I be eligible for assistance?
A. Yes. If you have a disability that is considered a barrier to employment. A disability
may be psychiatric, intellectual, physical or sensory.
If you're not sure whether you eligible, it is worth giving us a call to check.
Q. Are there any charges?
A. No. There is no charge to either the job seeker or the employer. We are funded by the
Ministry of Social Development.
We don't fundraise. We concentrate on providing the services required.
Q. What happens next?
A. If you are eligible for our services we will explain the process to you and check that
we have all your contact details.
If you haven't already done so we will ask you to complete a referral form.
We will assign a dedicated Employment Consultant to you who will contact you to arrange a referral
interview where we will talk about:-
Together we will assess your:-
-
Work skills
-
Your CV
-
Your interview skills
We will then come up with a plan of action.
Q. How will you help to find me work?
A. We will talk to you about you skills, interests and preferences and together we will
work out an employment plan.
We will examine current vacancies to see if there is anything that matches your employment needs
and preferences. We will also approach employers who may need your skills to see if they have
anything available.
Q. What if I find work on my own or through another agency?
A. That's ok but please let us know.
Unfortunately, we would not be able to offer post placement support for that employment.
But if things don't work out and you want to come back to us at a later date, feel free to contact
us again.
Q. Why don't you list vacancies on your website?
A. Because the jobseeker's vocational preferences and objectives are put first.
We are not simply trying to fill vacancies.
We will approach potential employers who may have opportunities in the areas of work that you have
shown an interest in, to match your needs and the employer's requirements.
Q. If we find a job that I am interested in, will you help me get
started?
A. Absolutely.
We will help you apply and improve your interview technique.
With your permission, we will talk to the prospective employer about the barriers to employment and
how they can jointly be overcome.
For some people our involvement will be minimal and we will simply help you to get "back on
track". Others may need our support and we will help to set up the interview with the employer and
attend as your supporter and advocate.
If you are successful we will offer on the job support and be in close contact with you for as much
as you need.
Q. Once we have found work, am I on my own?
A. No.
We are pleased to be able to offer post placement support to you for as much and as long as you
need it.
We can offer help with work related issues such as transport, coordination with other services and
liaising with family members or caregivers.
Q. What rate of pay can I expect?
A. The same as that of any employee carrying out the same or similar tasks.
Q. Do I have to tell the employer about my disability?
A. No, this is your choice. You may wish to discuss this with your Employment
Consultant.
Q. What if I don't want to carry on the process?
A. That's fine. We understand that your circumstances may change.
Please let us know what is happening.
You would be welcome to pick up the service again at a later date.