Thousands helped into work through Liverpool City Region employment scheme

Armed Forces veterans, care leavers and people experiencing homelessness are among thousands being supported into employment through a Liverpool City Region programme.

Connect to Work provides personalised help for disabled people, those with long-term health conditions and residents facing complex barriers to finding or keeping a job.

The programme also supports people who are already employed but may be at risk of losing their job, helping them remain in secure and sustainable work.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority was awarded tens of millions of pounds in funding from the Department for Work and Pensions earlier this year to deliver the scheme across Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral, Knowsley, St Helens and Halton.

Connect to Work forms part of the Government’s wider Get Britain Working strategy and is designed to provide more tailored employment support for people who may otherwise struggle to access the labour market.

Support is delivered through Individual Placement and Support (IPS) and the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF), with the latter providing a more intensive level of assistance.

People joining the programme are given one-to-one support from employment specialists who look at their individual strengths, circumstances and ambitions, as well as any additional help or workplace adjustments they may need.

The scheme follows a ‘place, train and maintain’ approach, combining employment, health and skills support to help people secure a job and remain in work.

Councillor Marion Atkinson, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Cabinet Member for Skills and Employment, said:

“There are many people within our communities who are willing and want to work but they need a little bit of extra support to succeed. Connect to Work gives us the opportunity to achieve that.

“By putting funding and decision-making into local hands through devolution, we can tailor support to individual needs – whether they’re living with a disability, managing a long-term health condition, or facing other complex barriers.

“Now with even more help available through the SEQF support we will be able to assist even more residents into secure jobs they will remain in.”

One Knowsley resident, identified as Joseph, has secured full-time employment after receiving support through the programme.

He said:

“My employment specialist helped me find suitable jobs which I was struggling to manage. This improved my search and built up my confidence to apply.

“They helped me stay focused on what I wanted to achieve, encouraged me and helped me get over any issues I had.

“I’m really pleased with this new job. I’ve got responsibilities which makes me feel valued and I feel very positive.

“My advisor is still in touch with me, but now they are helping me settle into the role and are supporting me with anything I find new or challenging. It’s nice to know there is still someone there to help.”

Connect to Work also works with employers, giving businesses access to potential recruits who may traditionally be underrepresented in the workforce, while allowing charities and other support organisations to access additional employment expertise.

‘Joseph’ from Knowsley has just secured full-time work through the programme. He said:

“My employment specialist helped me find suitable jobs which I was struggling to manage. This improved my search and built up my confidence to apply. They helped me stay focused on what I wanted to achieve, encouraged me and helped me get over any issues I had.

“I’m really pleased with this new job. I’ve got responsibilities which makes me feel valued and I feel very positive. My advisor is still in touch with me, but now they are helping me settle into the role and are supporting me with anything I find new or challenging. It’s nice to know there is still someone there to help.”

The programme is free for jobseekers, employers and support organisations.

People can be referred to Connect to Work by another person or organisation, while residents can also refer themselves.

More information is available through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Connect to Work website.