DH wants to employ staff with special needs/disabilities,any advice?

[Mirage]

Apologies if this is in the wrong place,I wasn't quite sure where to post.

I was telling dh about a shop I go & buy sweets from,which is staffed by people with learning disabilities.He was asking me about it & then said that he'd been thinking for a long time about doing something similar at work,but wasn't sure how to go about it.

He works for a local tourist attraction,with a shop,restaurant & theatre attached & feels sure that there are opportunities there.

Does anyone know of any umbrella organisations that he could get in touch with to give him some advice?

Thanks & apologies if this isn't the right place.

There are a number of well respected charities / voluntary agencies which work to support people with learning difficulties in all aspects of daily living, including supported work placements. I have previously worked with MENCAP & Real Life Options...
You could ask your local social services what groups work in your area.

There are various schemes up and down the country - I vaguely remember hearing about one that ran a restaurant (there was a feature on it on Radio 4 a while ago). Guess Stinky's right and Mencap would be a good place to start.

I'll ask my sister, who works in this field, for any other sources of advice for you - do you mind saying what part of the country you are in?

I used to work in a day centre and some adults with SLD used to have p/t jobs in the community.For example one worked in a hairdressers(sweeping etc) and one worked in the coop stacking shelves.
Might be worth asking local day services or college for sn

you need Remploy They are encouraging work in the community and shutting Remploy factories at the moment (which makes me livid but still)- they may bite your dh's hand off

Thanks very much.I had thought of MENCAP,but wasn't sure.We also have a REMPLOY about a mile away from DH's work,so will tell him to give them a ring.I'll also check out local daycentres as suggested.

DH works at the National Space Centre in Leicester PantomimEdam.

Thanks again,thats fantastic.I'll let you know how he gets on.

Shaw trust is another. Also most job centres have a person who helps those with disabilities find employment. Failing that contact your local social services and ask to be put through to the learning disability team.

All I know is that through the epartment of Works and Pensions, their Access to Work Scheme (AtW) will support disabled employees and provide any adaptive equipment and fulfil extra needs at very little or no cost to the employer. As the previous poster said, you need to get in touch with the Disability Employment Adviser. My partner is blind, and managed to find a full time job within a few months of emigrating here from South Africa, but it was only due to some good help and support. My feeling is that the employment services compile a database of employers who are willing to go "the extra mile" to encourage employees with a disability- there may also be incentives (finanacial as well as social) in it for your husband. Local colleges often provide basic skills and access courses for people with learning disabilities and there are other agencies helping jobseekers with special needs - again jobcentre should provide details.

We need more open minded employers like your hubby out there- my partner would have been a bored, depressed wreck if he hadn't found a job- even though he probably earns littel more than if he simply took all the benefits and didn't try, and I believe the initiative your husband is planning will be hugely beneficial to all concerned with the project.