What Is A Disability Employment Advisor?

Despite strides forward in recent years, the disability employment gap in the UK remains a pressing issue. As such, job seekers living with a disability need as much support as possible to help them find secure, long-term employment. Working with a disability employment advisor could be the answer. 

Disability employment advisors can guide you as you navigate the job market, helping you to find the right job for your skills. What’s more, they offer guidance for your family and caregivers as you make the transition into full-time employment.

This article explores what a disability employment advisor does and the benefits of working with one during your job search.

What Is A Disability Employment Advisor?

A disability employment advisor (DEA) offers support and advice to people with disabilities and their families. In particular, they help people with disabilities get access to job-related resources, services, and accommodations.

Disability employment advisors specialise in advocating for job seekers with disabilities, helping them to find meaningful work. 

Every job centre in the UK has a DEA, and you can request an appointment for specialist advice and coaching.

What Does A Disability Employment Advisor Do?

DEAs typically work in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or one of the Jobcentre Plus offices around the UK. They specialise in offering guidance and assistance to people with disabilities. This includes people looking for employment or those having issues with their current job.

Your disability employment advisor can assist you in the following ways:

• Career advice: Your local DEA can help you set realistic employment goals and get the training to achieve them.
• Assessment: DEAs can assess your specific needs and the barriers you face when finding employment. Then, they can suggest suitable jobs or training based on your skill set.
• Job searching: A disability employment advisor will help you identify jobs that best suit your abilities. In addition, they will coach you as you update your CV, obtain references, and prep for interviews.
• Reasonable accommodations: DEAs provide updated information about reasonable workplace adjustments that can help you thrive in your new role.
• Funding and financial support: Disability employment advisors can provide you with information about disability-related benefits you may be eligible for. These include Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
• Build awareness: DEAs often offer employers valuable advice on how to improve workplace disability inclusion and create a more accessible hiring process.  They may even advocate on behalf of jobseekers to ensure that employers provide reasonable adjustments.
• Workplace assessments: Your local disability employment advisor can work with both job seekers and employers to identify and address any potential barriers. This could be tackling accessibility issues in the work space or calling out non-inclusive practices.

DEAs work to support people with disabilities as they find long-term employment. They also offer a source of information and guidance for organisations looking to become a disability-friendly employer.

Benefits Of Seeing Your Disability Employment Advisor

If you have a disability or health condition that impacts your ability to work, seeing a disability employment advisor could be valuable. Here are several of the key benefits of working with a DEA.

1. Personalised support

DEAs will conduct a full assessment of your skills, needs, and goals. Then, they will use this information to tailor your employment advice, helping you find the right job for you.

Since DEAs offer tailored support, it’s important to provide them with information about your employment goals, disability, and employment history. You will also need to provide them with relevant documentation, such as disability assessments, so they have a clear idea of your specific needs.

2. Connect with disability-friendly employers

Disability employment advisors can connect you with inclusive employers. That way, you can feel confident that any adjustments you need will be taken care of.

3. Confidence

Since DEAs are experts in disability-related rights, working with one will give you the confidence to apply for the job or qualification of your dreams. Their ongoing support can be the push you need to land your idea role.

4. Referrals to specialised services

Depending on your situation, DEAs may be able to refer you to other services or support you’re entitled to. For instance, training programmes, wellness resources, or additional disability employment services.

How To Contact A Disability Employment Advisor

You can get in touch with your local DEA in a number of ways.

1. Visit a Jobcentre Plus office

Most DEAs are based in Jobcentre Plus offices. You can use the ‘Find a Jobcentre’ function on the government website to find the closest office to you.

2. Call the Jobcentre Plus

If you prefer, you can ring the Jobcentre Plus office to speak to your local DEA or organise an appointment. Check the gov.uk website to find the contact information for your local office.

3. Request an appointment online

In some offices across the UK, you can request assistance or book an appointment using an online booking form. Check your local office’s website to see if this service is available in your area.

4. Contact your work coach

Your work coach or employment support worker may be able to put you in contact with a DEA or offer advice on how to find your local one.

It’s important to remember that the process of getting in touch with your local DEA may change from location to location. Therefore, we recommend checking the gov.uk website or with your local Jobcentre Plus office to make an appointment.

5. Work with external disability employment specialists

Aside from Jobcentre Plus, there are a number of organisations that can support you in finding work with a disabilities. These include charities, training agencies, and specialist job boards like Careers With Disabilities.

Our goal is to empower individuals with disabilities to get their dream jobs, while working with employers to improve inclusivity and accessibility.

Our disability-friendly job board offers a wide range of opportunities for job seekers living with a disability. And, since we work closely with inclusive employers, you can be sure that these companies are committed to creating an accessible workplace.

Our expert team also provides a range of employer services to help organisations attract and retain more disabled talent. 

Search disability-friendly jobs now →

Stay Informed With CWD

If you’re navigating the job market with a disability, it could be worthwhile getting in touch with your local disability employment advisor. Not only can DEAs give you advice on the best jobs for people with disabilities, but they can also advise you about your rights. 

Alternatively, you could use a disability-friendly job board like Careers With Disabilities to find disability-friendly job opportunities near you. We offer advice, support, and a live job board to help you find the right role for you. 

In addition, disability advice hub is packed with valuable resources on grants and schemes, job application tips, and more.

Are you an employer looking to attract and retain disabled workers? 

Our employer resource hub has guides on topics such as funding, local assistance, and becoming a disability-friendly employer. 

For more information on how to advertise your roles on our disability-friendly job board, give us a call at 0345 872 4501 or send an email to info@careerswithdisabilities.com.