Early help employment advisors
In Shropshire, we have two early help employment advisors, who are employed by the Department of Work and Pensions and support families in Shropshire in the following ways:
- Offer support for family members who may be eligible for disability benefits
- Refer family members to Improving access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT), Enable Supported
Employment Services and Shropshire Recovery Partnership - Visit families in their own homes, where they're unable to attend office bases
- Internet job searches
- Help with CVs
- Help with job applications
- Interview skills and preparation
- General benefit queries
- Work experience opportunities
- Travel plans
- Training information
- Other information such as transport schemes
Signpost parent carers of children and young people with SEND to specialist services, such as Shropshire Information, Advice and Support Service (IASS), BEAM (Emotional Health and Wellbeing Service), SPECTRA Inclusion Support Team, Autism West Midlands (AWM) and the Parenting Team to help meet their child or families individually assessed needs.
Families must meet at least three of the Supporting Families criteria, and either have an active 'early help episode' with assessment and plan or be open to CIN or CP, for the employment advisor to be able to support the family.