Connect to Work

What is Connect to Work?

Connect to Work is a voluntary employment support programme for disabled people, people with long-term health conditions and people who face additional barriers to employment.

It provides tailored one-to-one support to help people move into meaningful paid work, or to stay in their current job if they are at risk of leaving work because of their health condition, disability or additional barrier.

Connect to Work is part of the Government’s wider employment and health support offer. In Berkshire, it is available across Bracknell Forest, Reading, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Slough, West Berkshire and Wokingham. The programme is delivered by Palladium, a specialist employment provider.

Free service

This is a free service, there is no cost to take part - for participants, employers, or referrers.

Who is Connect to Work for?

Connect to Work is for people aged 18 or over who live in Berkshire, have the right to work in the UK and would benefit from more intensive, personalised support to find or keep paid work. 
You may be eligible if you are disabled, have a long-term health condition, or belong to one of the following groups and face additional barriers to finding or staying in work:

• Armed Forces veterans, reservists and partners of current or former Armed Forces personnel
• Carers and ex-carers
• Care-experienced young people and care leavers
• Offenders and ex-offenders
• People who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
• People with current or previous drug or alcohol dependency where this is a barrier to work
• Refugees, resettled Afghans and people on the Ukrainian scheme
• Victims and survivors of domestic abuse
• Victims of modern slavery
• Young people involved in, or at risk of involvement in, serious violence

If you are currently in education or receiving support through another Department for Work and Pensions programme, please contact the team to discuss when Connect to Work may be available to you.

How Connect to Work can help

Everyone’s situation is different, so support is tailored to the person. Employment specialists can help you understand your strengths and goals, prepare for work, assist you in finding suitable job opportunities, talk to employers about adjustments or support needs, and settle into a new or existing role.

• One-to-one support from an employment specialist who understands your unique challenges and strengths
• Help you to find work that suits your skills, interests and circumstances
• Support with applications, interviews and confidence building
• Help to talk to employers about workplace adjustments or support needs
• In-work support for people already in work who may be at risk of losing their job
• Support that connects employment with health and skills services, working closely to understand needs and challenges
• Information on managing benefits while moving into work.

Support for employers

Connect to Work can also help local employers recruit and retain people who may need extra support. Employers can receive practical advice on inclusive recruitment, job matching, workplace adjustments and supporting employees to stay in work, helping them get the best from the participants they employ.

Taking part

Taking part is free and voluntary. People can be referred by local services, health services, community organisations or other support partners. Individuals can refer themselves, and employers can contact the programme to find out how to support staff who may need help to stay in work.

How to get started

• Tell Palladium a little about yourself by completing the Expression Of Interest Form, or get in touch by phone: 0800 6522 155 or email: admin.ctw@thepalladiumgroup.com
• Have a friendly chat about your goals, needs and next steps
• Get tailored support to explore jobs, training, in work support or local services that are right for you
• Move into work with ongoing support to help you settle in and stay in work
• Receive in work support to retain employment.

Find out more

• If you think Connect to Work could help you, someone you support, or your business, please get in touch with Palladium.
• Privacy notices and how we use information
• Personal information charter - Department for Work and Pensions - Gov.uk