Real Jobs
Real Jobs is part of The Action Group. The service was launched in 1992.
Real Jobs is a supported employment service to help people with a learning disability, autism, long term health condition or other support need to find paid work. The service is funded by a variety of sources and therefore is free to use for the client and the employer.
If you would like to refer yourself or someone else, please click the Referral Form button below
In April 2015 Real Jobs joined Enable Works, IntoWork and Forth Sector in the Edinburgh Supported Employment Consortium called All in Edinburgh.
In April 2019 Real Jobs Edinburgh and Falkirk have been awarded Autism Accreditation again, this time Advanced status.
At Real Jobs we follow a 5-stage Supported Employment Process.
Each stage is adapted to an individual we are working with.
Our service is entirely person-centred and it will support you for as long as you need us, throughout your employment journey.
You will be allocated an Employment Advisor who will help you with any employment – related matters.
What do we do?
Currently the employment rate for people with a learning disability is 7% and people with autism is 15%, compared with 78% of the non-disabled population. (2016)
Finding a job can be very difficult, if not impossible, for someone who does not read or write, or who is not familiar with computers and online recruitment processes.
We can help overcome barriers people with support needs face when looking for a job.
Why is it needed?
Young people with support needs have the same hopes, plans and dreams as anyone else when leaving school. Real Jobs support for school leavers means they can complete a work experience placement and get help to look for work beyond that.
Real Jobs supports the person and their family understand the person’s abilities, and goals, and provides a plan with support to help them progress. Welfare Rights advice is provided to help the person with benefits changes when they reach 18 or when they get a job. We also help to make sure they are claiming everything they are entitled to.
Real Jobs currently has Transitions services in a number of special education schools across Edinburgh and Falkirk.
Transitions
We provide person-centred support at each stage until we are no longer needed.
This means:
We will give you an Employment Advisor, who will give you help and advice throughout the process:
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Help to chose the right job
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Find suitable training
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Get experience through work placements and volunteering
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Advice on benefits and how work will affect them
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Give help to create a CV
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Give help to complete application forms
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Practice for interviews
We will speak to employers with you and on your behalf.
When you get a job, we can:
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Help with settling in at work
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Make sure your wage is correct
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Make sure your benefits are correct
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Give Support to deal with any problems you have at work
How can we help you?
Our FREE TO USE Real Jobs service can help you find staff to fill your vacancies. The people we advice have support needs, including learning disabilities, physical disabilities, autism or mental health conditions—this is no barrier to them finding and sustaining employment.
We have over 20 years of experience helping employers in Edinburgh fill their vacancies, in addition to providing ongoing in-work support. Under the Equality Act all employers have a duty to have an inclusive employment policy. Working together with Real Jobs will demonstrate your positive commitment to effective corporate social responsibility—and you get your vacancy filled as well!
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Advice and support for you for the duration of the client’s employment
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Job coaching, in-work training, e-learning, reasonable adjustments and funding
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Help and advice, if needed, on redundancy, redeployment and other processes
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Become a Disability Confident employer
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Promote your business
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Fulfil your corporate social responsibilities
We have a history of building strong, long-term relationships with employers. To discover how we can help you, please email: realjobs@actiongroup.org.uk
Support for employers
