How to help a friend who is long term unemployed?

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She did some sort of art course at college when younger but doesn't have a GCSE pass in Maths or English, and no other qualifications.
I've known her for 6 years and she's been fired from several jobs in that time. She is very likely autistic and has dyslexia and possibly dysplasia but is reluctant to seek diagnosis, and doesn't believe she would be entitled to anything as she is 'high-functioning'.

She would get jobs in shops, cafes, pubs etc. But would eventually get fired, and in any case they'd all be zero hours roles so not financially stable.
Shes 31 now, she had a fixed term role that ended in January but is now unemployed. I've done what I can do help her and so do her parents. I often send her job listings and I help her with application forms.

I know she goes to weekly UC meetings, I don't know too much about them but are they supposed to help arrange interviews?
I know my friend is on anti depressants, and it sounds weird but I often feel guilty.
I have a full time job, my own home, partner etc. And I know she's unhappy living at her parents in her 30s and wants to move on.

I know ultimately it's up to her. It's a shame as she is talented and creative but just doesn't seem to get anywhere, I know she has applied for jobs. She is living on UC and I know her parents take some of that for rent, so she doesn't have much to live on.

Not sure if there's anything else I could signpost her to? I just really worry as she's suffered with her mental health for a while.

Is she on PIP? It might be worth her applying.
Is she under any services? Even something like Mind... they have groups where she can meet people and improve her confidence. Some areas have a job group type thing too.

You sound like great friend that does not judge.

Is there a reason she keeps getting fired from jobs? Could she work on this?
The job centre is there to help with applications, advise her to use its services fully.

Sounds like you're putting a lot of effort into your friend and it's affecting your mental health, perhaps take a step back.

Why does she keep getting fired? What does she want to do?

It's just general clumsiness and not properly following instructions, possibly linked to her conditions. I feel like the jobs she's going for aren't the sort who would make reasonable adjustments sadly.

She wants to work in art as her artwork is very good, but knows its difficult to make a full time living from.

Tell your friend to ask her work coach in the Job Centre to arrange an appointment with the Disability Employment Adviser. They are there to support the work coaches and to support customers who have health conditions and disabilities that are more complex.
Your friend doesn’t have to have an official diagnosis of autism. She just has to explain how her condition affects her and the problems she has as a result. The DEA can bring in the work psychologist if necessary to look at the best types of work for your friend. The DEA can speak to local employers and maybe organise a work placement to see how your friend copes and what support she will need.
There is help in the job centre so please ask for it. A lot of customers don’t give full details of the problems they face.
Your friend can also download a Health Adjustment Passport from gov.uk and fill it in to give to her work coach. It’s great she has someone looking out for her.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-adjustment-passport

I’m going to be blunt and say that I don’t know anyone who has been fired from several jobs. You say it could be due to her clumsiness and not following instructions, but could it be her attitude?

Also, if she hadn’t got her maths or English exams, you should encourage her to go college to get these.

If she wants to move on with her life, she needs ti make a plan for her future, and not drift.

I do. I am one of them.
If OPs friend is ND, then she is a square peg trying to fit in round holes. She could be trying her absolute best, and it is still not seen as good enough. It is tiring, depressing, and really wears you down.

Agree. Your friend may be high functioning but that doesn't mean it's not harder to find or hold down work, especially with the other conditions.

That doesn't mean it can't be done, but cafe work does sound hard with the clumsiness, etc. info think she should try to seek out a diagnosis or supports.

Maybe office work would be better suited to her but I know that can be harder to get.

Only about 30% of autistic people are in paid employment.
It is a shameful statistic. Many want to work.
It is harder to find and keep work when you are ND.

If she is talented and creative, can she make and sell stuff on Etsy or similar sites? It may be difficult to making a living from but it is better than being unemployed and she has more control over it and joy in doing something she is more naturally good at.

I feel for your friend. It is hard for her and the toll it takes on her self-esteem and mental health. I have a dd who is autistic and creative. The difficulties you describe are my dd's too. Your friend is lucky to have a friend like you who cares and wants to support her.

Damn, that's scary. My child is autistic but I'm hoping he'll be able to work. I have an autistic friend with dyspraxia and PTSD and it is hard. They are completing a PhD and have been able to do some freelance art and writing but if course it's piecemeal and took a while to get there.

Great advice above re asking for a DEA meeting. Also job centres can sometimes refer people to a specialist provider to work with neuro diverse customers so get her to ask if there is anything like this available.

I taught for a number of years mostly to students with autism and I have kept up with some of them.

most have really struggled to get jobs and many have been fired for basically not being able to learn to do stuff (including social skills such as working with customers) quick enough.

one got compensation as the store had ignored disability law and discriminated against him.

Has she tried Access to Work for support to find work:

https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work

OP, is she interested in computer animation or virtual special effects? I can share some links.

Does she sell her artwork? If her jobs arent working out, maybe help set up an etsy shop or a website so she can sell her art? She could also sell prints, cards, mugs, totes etc.

How good of an artist is she?

I follow a wonderful young woman on instagram call Jessica King art. She does the most most amazing pet portraits in pencils. She works by commission but right now she has closed down her list - she is that popular. She is also autistic and registered disabled. Maybe your friend should have a look.

Great advice 😊

Bless her.

I've never been able to work as in a proper job and I'm autistic. I've just had to accept it unfortunately and it does affect a lot of things.

Happy to speak to your friend if you wanted to dm me. Admittedly, I don't know of any other people like me who can't work but she's not alone.

Is it possible for her to be placed in the ncwra on UC and perhaps look at other options? For example, I volunteer to check in on elderly people in my community and walk their dogs etc.

Can she run a painting or art course?

Is there something creative she could do as a freelancer? I think dressmaking/alterations will be due a boom when the next round of environmentally-friendly living kicks in. (Fast fashion is due a day of reckoning.)

There must be a dozen similar industries where creative self-employment is viable, though.

Her executive function is probably a big issue when having to follow an employer’s rules. A lot of that goes away when you work for yourself.

Could you help her get her English and Maths, it would open more doors for her and hopefully the process of learning and achieving would boost her self esteem.

Would she consider something like being a tattoo artist, it would be a calm environment, one person and a time and could play to her strengths? It sounds like the cafe type work is a terrible fit for her.

What do you think she is good at, what would you hire her to do (theoretically - if you ran a bar, needed a farmhand, cut hair etc)?

I think that all you can do is encourage her to get qualifications, praise her in the areas she is good at and keep an eye open for the right kind of jobs.

Retail jobs in national organisations, like the National Trust, university shops or cafes, Historic England are much nicer environments with better pay, equality and inclusion practices and support. Look out for them.

There is no such thing as being “registered disabled”. There is no centralised list of disabled people (thank god, because imagine how that would be misused). I wish people would stop trotting out this piece of misinformation; it makes people think that all disabled people need to do to miraculously get “help” is to go on some kind of register and it just isn’t true.

Yawn ........ Do you feel better getting that out of your system?