West Sussex County Council

The Steps to Work partnership is led by the West Sussex County Council and NHS West Sussex and is committed to helping people in West Sussex with a wide range of disabilities and challenges access and sustain paid and unpaid employment, training and education.

We help those with:
• Mental health needs
• Learning disabilities
• Physical or sensory impairment or an acquired brain injury
• Or those who are recovering from drug or alcohol dependency

This is a free service and is not dependent on whether you are in receipt of a working age benefit.

Our partners are: Impact Workability West Sussex, Southdown Housing, Aldingbourne Trust (WorkAid).

Impact Workability West Sussex offers support to working age adults with physical or sensory impairments or acquired brain injury, or people recovering from drug or alcohol dependency, helping them to access and sustain education, training and work opportunities. In addition to this, they will support adults recovering from drug or alcohol dependency at risk of losing their jobs retain their employment.

To access the free service:
Telephone: 01903 730044
Textphone: 01903 735957
Email: workability [at] impact-initiatives [dot] org [dot] uk

Southdown in partnership with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provide a free vocational service which is open to people who are currently accessing Sussex Partnership Foundation Trusts Mental Health Teams (Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT)/Recovery Teams) or Early Intervention Services. Southdown offer's service users the support they need to achieve their individual employment goals.

The support offered is based on the principles of the Individual Placement and Support Approach. Visit Sainsbury's Centre for mental health for further details:
http://www.scmh.org.uk/employment/ips.aspx

Eligibility is based on individual's aspirations to secure paid employment and not subject to them receiving health related benefits or diagnosis. Clients must be of working age, living in West Sussex and accessing a Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust CMHT / Recovery Team.

To access the free service:
Please contact your health or social care co-ordinator professional within your local Recovery team / CMHT) or Early Intervention team to complete a referral form.
For further details please contact us: Telephone: 01273 405822

Aldingbourne Trust (WorkAid) is a charity that supports people with learning disabilities to reach their potential. They work with people across Sussex, developing their skills, knowledge and confidence so they can live a life they choose.
They listen to people, their families and representatives so that their services continually improve and meet the needs of people in more diverse ways.

The WorkAid team support people from age 16 to 65 who are known to West Sussex Services and who want to work with preparation, vocational training, job applications, searching and supported inductions.

To access the free service:
Telephone: 01243 544607
Fax: 01243 544807
Email: centraloffice [at] aldingbournetrust [dot] co [dot] uk