Wokingham

Robert Drinkwater from Winnersh, Wokingham is celebrating this July, as he begins his first permanent job as an administrative assistant – in spite of physical and learning disabilities which, in the past, have made it difficult for him to find paid employment.

This year Robert joined the Wokingham District Council’s ‘It’s Working’ scheme and found out how to unlock his own potential. ‘It’s Working’ is a supported employment scheme, based at Wokingham Resource and Opportunity Centre (WROC) in Woosehill Lane. The scheme enables job seekers with a disability, who need extra assistance, to succeed in work. All service users are matched with a district council job coach, who provides them with support during the search for a job. Once paid employment is secured, the job coach will work with the individual in their job until they are able to work independently. There is no time limit for this and it is very much a service that is based on a person’s individual needs.

Through ‘It’s Working’ Robert was offered a work experience placement as a general assistant at Wokingham District Council. With support from job coach Tony Bland, Robert has adjusted quickly to the demands of working as an employee and has mastered a number of different tasks in the council offices. And this week, his search for a permanent job succeeded when he was offered the position of administrative assistant at Support Horizons in Broad Street, Wokingham.

Support Horizons is a community owned company providing trained temporary workers in the social care sector, primarily in the area of learning disabilities. The company also provides genuine employment opportunities for adults with learning disabilities, both within the business itself and as consultants who are available for help with training, awareness of disability issues, quality auditing and recruitment.

“During my work experience, I have learned many new skills and I have had successes and failures,” said Robert. “I feel prepared for a permanent job now.”

Tony Bland, Robert’s Wokingham job coach, said: “’It’s Working’ is about giving people with disabilities an opportunity to learn the skills they need for success in a working environment, and to gain the self-esteem that comes from having a role to fulfil and the respect of your colleagues. Robert has gained an enormous amount of confidence during his work experience with the council. He used to dwell on his difficulties and his mistakes. But now he focuses much more on his many successes.

“The offer of a permanent job just goes to show how much he has developed, and how valuable the scheme has been for him. ‘It’s Working’ really does work! I am delighted.”

Facilities manager at Wokingham District Council Peter Richardson said: “Robert has been a great asset to the office. We have tried to give him a variety of tasks and situations to tackle and he has certainly risen to every challenge. I am confident he will enjoy his new job and be very successful in it.”

Tim Holland, Robert’s new employer at Support Horizons, said: “We are pleased to be able to offer a job for Robert in this exciting new venture. As a community owned social enterprise Support Horizons is committed to providing employment opportunities to local people with learning disabilities in all aspects of our business.”

Wokingham Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons, the council’s executive member for social care services and housing, said: “Searching for a job can be a daunting task for anyone, even without the additional difficulty of a disability. The ‘It’s Working Scheme’ is providing invaluable support to many people who are extremely capable but who perhaps lack the confidence and experience that most employers want to see. I would like to congratulate Robert on his new job and wish him every success.”

Wokingham District Council