Intowork West Lothian Team

Intowork West Lothian is the only specialist employment provider in the West Lothian area. It was set up to meet a need identified within the local authority's Community Care Plan - i.e that an estimated 8,000 people living in West Lothian were missing from the workforce because of disability or long term health problems (representing 14% of the working population).

The Intowork West Lothian project delivers a comprehensive specialist employment support service to people with significant disabilities (learning, physical, sensory or mental health issues).

Using the supported employment model, an integrated, client-centred package of support, the project is able to assist people significantly distanced from the labour market move into employment. Intowork West Lothian is also able to offer support to individuals who become disabled whilst in employment.

The overall purpose of the Intowork West Lothian service is to assist economically inactive individuals who would like to move on from clinical care, day care, education/training or special schools into the mainstream labour marketand to support clients move from supported employment into open employment.

A key feature is strengthening the clients personal support framework (i.e. carers, friends, employer etc.) so that employment can be sustained.

Impact

The project has an annual throughput of 150 clients, many signposted on to appropriate support before joining the core service.

The core service works with over 100 people, of whom more than a third secure either part time or full time employment.

For the clients who cannot currently sustain employment, they are able to access in-house transitional work opportunities and further training, assisting them to become more job ready.

Since 1998, Intowork West Lothian has worked with over 600 clients and has secured over half that number in work opportunities, with a third of these moving into open paid employment.

Future Developments

The Team are also working more closely with the local Chamber of Commerce and their members, with the aim of creating a bank of employers ready to sign up to a work experience contract. This would give a more structured option within the pre employment elements of our service. Additionally they have introduced a Users Forum, whereby users of the service can fully input into future development and address gaps in provision as and when they occur.

Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5QY, Scotland
Tel. 0131 475 2369
Fax 0131 475 2379
Contact: enquiries@intowork.org.uk

Intowork is a company Limited by Guarantee (Registered in Scotland No. SC181737), and is a recognised Scottish Charity (Scottish Charity No. SC028327)