North Devon Access to Employment carefully matches the individual jobseeker with Employment opportunities, Senior support worker Shaun Kelly explained, “It’s important to get it right” , I approached the Royal Hotel, part of the Brend chain, in Bideford. The Hotel didn’t actually have a vacancy ,but I arranged a meeting with the personnel manager and told her about Access to Employment, she was impressed. Later during the meeting she agreed that perhaps an opening might be made for the “right person ” . In these circumstances it’s important to have someone who you are confident can undertake this opportunity , if you try to fit in someone who isn’t really suitable, the job will breakdown, and so will your credibility”.
Katie was ideal for the hotel, she lived locally, and she presented herself very smartly dressed. Katie is conversational and a smiley person ideal to meet guests . The role that was found was assisting to clear the dining room after breakfast ,remove table linen and replace, lay out for lunches, and general preparation of a very large dining room.
Shaun then had a meeting with katie and her support worker, ” I outlined the job to Katie and she was very keen. I was confident that Katie could do the job so I then arranged a meeting for Katie with the personnel manager. We all met at the hotel 10 days later , Katie was fabulous and the hotel took her on for a three week trial.”
Katie worked alongside a “Work buddy”, an experienced member of the Hotel staff who showed Katie “the ropes” Shaun said I suggested a work buddy, an exsisting experienced member of the Hotel staff who could job coach Katie more successfully than one of our own support workers, as the Personnel manager wasnt to keen on our usual method.”
Shaun said ” The key to success is to be sure that you are presenting someone who will be an asset to the employer, we must always consider this position. Access to Employment is not looking for charity pretend jobs, but real paid employment, so we have to consider what is in it for the prospective employer, when the prospective employer is happy that you understand their business and what they need, then you can fit someone into that business”.
Katie began a paid permanent contract at the Royal Hotel on 18th June 2009, twenty one months later Katie continues being happy with her job, and the Hotel continues to be very happy with Katie.
Shaun said,”doing the background work, thinking flexibly and finding a position to best suit the right person, along with an appreciation of the business needs of the prospective employer will produce successful and most importantly long lasting employment. After Katie I was then able to approach the Brend’s Hotel chain again, and found employment for Jenny St Luce at the Imperial Hotel in Barnstaple, if I had tried to fit in the wrong candidate at the Royal the opportunity would not have arisen for Jenny at The Imperial . Jenny was taken on in September 2009 so she also is proving a long term success, and the Royal in Bideford now also has a second member of staff supported by Shaun,Chris Mugford who has worked as a kitchen porter since March 2010.”
Shaun continued” Success can be infectious, if our organisation is seen as presenting the right employee, disability is not an issue, and finding one suitable person can and does lead to opportunities for others”.
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