Jane’s fear was that she would never be able to maintain paid employment and that she would struggle to find work again.

Diagnosed with a bi-polar illness she has, for the past six years, suffered with episodes of chronic low mood that has led to serious self harm. Her confidence, belief in herself and her future received a serious additional knock back from her previous part-time post as a waitress. Her employer, on learning about her illness during a review meeting, cut her hours and advised they could not have anyone who was ‘emotionally weak’. Jane subsequently left following her employers change in attitude towards her. Jane manages her mental health through medication and by attending weekly group therapy workshops that provide structure, focus and social contact. She was referred to FEAT by her OT for relevant support in finding employment.

Jane is aware of her triggers and knows she finds it difficult to manage stressful situations but knew she wanted to follow an interest in working with Animals and wanted to work through and overcome her difficulties to achieve this. We could enhance her employability skills, provide the relevant support, encouragement and ‘safety blanket’ for her throughout the process. For the longterm, Jane required a sympathetic employer who would understand her needs and provide the relevant support for her from which to build her confidence in her abilities and work experience.

A local Animal Park accepted Jane on a voluntary work placement. The manager had previous experience within counselling and is excellent at encouraging motivating and supporting staff within the organisation. Following an initial meeting, Jane was taken on board as a volunteer. Eight months later she became employed under the supported permitted work scheme. She is now employed at 30 hrs per week and looking to take forward studies within Animal Care.

Support

• Being available to Jane at any time she needed a sounding board for her anxieties. To iron out uncertainties or provide answers to any concerns. (This meant maintaining close links with health professionals, employer and support agencies to act swiflty to any signs of relapse or concerns and ensure as much of a ‘seam free’ support process as possible).

• Attending initial meetings with employer, DEA, FET, Working Links to provide her with ‘back up’ and reduce her anxieties of meeting new people and services, to obtain the relevant answers to information she needed to help her move forward.

• Providing financial assistance to travel to and from her voluntary work placement.

• Being available during the transition into the intial 6 months of employment – assisted our phasing out of support and allowing Jane time to become familiar with the excellent follow-through support provided by the new advisor via the Workstep programme.

• The employer provided Jane with a work ‘buddy’ to ease her into the daily work duties and feel a welcomed as part of the whole team.This covered ensuring she was clear about her work role at all times, providing encouragement and small increments of responsibility, setting a weekly plan of work all go towards relieving any stresses for Jane.

• Jane will continue to receive the support from her OT CPN and consultant psychiatrist.

Difficulties Encountered and solutions…THE CHALLENGE THE SOLUTION AND THE RESULT

Without prior notification Jane’s High rate Disability Living Allowance was suddenly stopped. This also affected Janes Tax Credits. Details at the outset had not been highlighted. The wording of the letters received from the DWP and the difficulty in obtaining a satisfactory response from them caused Jane a high degree of anxiety and concern over whether she could retain her employment. It is such unexpected situations of a serious nature that was of high concern to the impact on Jane’s health. Letters from FET, FEAT and health professionals were required to be sent as a matter of urgency to DWP to reinstate her benefits.

It took a period of 6 weeks for Jane to have her benefits reinstated to the low rate DLA , during which time she had had her monies stopped.

The eventual resolution (assisted via CAB and FET) – As Jane had been due for a review of her DLA. Her initial claim (one year previously) had been made on her discharge from hospital where she required care support at home. As she had found work part time they now viewed Jane as being sufficiently fit for work and therefore no longer viewed as requiring high level DLA.

If this information could have been relayed or flagged up earlier it would not have been an issue. Jane continues to work with with her OT CPN and consultant psychiatrist.