Employment readiness

For those who have been homeless, moving into long-term employment isn’t always a simple matter of finding a job. People often have other issues facing them that may be a barrier to employment, making it difficult for them to find and/or sustain work. A holistic approach addressing all of a person’s needs while helping them enter training or employment is much more likely to mean they are able to stay in work long term.

This is the approach taken by the Employability Support services at the 999 Club in Deptford. Working one-to-one, they help people get ready to move into training or employment by getting to know each person and their needs, and developing a plan with them to achieve their goals. They help them to access support, such as for physical or mental ill-health needs; ensure they have the right documentation; and find opportunities for personal and professional development, whether that’s help with literacy and numeracy or working on time-management and interpersonal skills. The team also helps direct people to any other services they may need. 

When individuals are ready, the team helps them to find training and employment opportunities and continues to support them as they begin. Long-term, person-centred support helps ensure people are able to sustain their progress as they enter employment.