Skills and employment

Employment mentoring

Employment mentors at our Skills and Employment Hubs (previously called Work Zones) provide one to one support to help you find employment. Mentors will help you decide what are you best options, choose courses and improve your skills. When you are ready to apply for jobs your mentor can help you create a CV, fill out an application and prepare for interview.

Our employment mentors can offer advice and direct you to other specialist services to help you deal with any barriers that may be preventing you getting a job.

You can also volunteer as an employment mentor. More information can be found on our volunteering page.

New Ground - Supported internships

Available to 16-24 year olds with special educational needs or disabilities, a supported internship is an individualised programme to help you find work. The structured study programme includes preparation for work through a tailored employability qualification and on-the-job training. Support is provided to enhance personal development and social skills. Learners will also undertake additional training in maths, English and IT.

A Supported Internship will last for up to one year, with the young person’s time spent predominantly at an employer’s premises and one day a week at a Skills and Employment Hub (previously called a Work Zone), where they will be studying an employability qualification alongside maths, English and IT.

For more information, you can email our Supported Internships team at supported.internships@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

Employment Advisors in Talking Therapies

The Central and West Cheshire Talking Therapies service can refer those experiencing mental health issues – such as anxiety or depression – to a team of specialist Employment Advisors (EAs) to help with employment issues. The main focus of an EA is to provide practical advice and support to enable a client to gain and remain in employment.

Employment Advisors in Talking Therapies was designed as an integrated employment and mental health service to improve both mental wellbeing and occupational outcomes. EAs work alongside therapists to provide support such as:

• Supporting clients looking for work with Job Search, Reviewing CVs, providing advice on job applications, career choices and improving interview technique to help people find work
• Looking at educational and training opportunities that can support clients to further their career prospects
• Working with clients to support them to disclose their mental health status in the workplace
• Working with clients who are in work to improve their working relationships with their colleagues and managers, to secure reasonable adjustments and to improve working practices
• Working with clients who are in work to understand their workplace triggers and build strategies for addressing these so they can thrive
• Building links with employers to identify suitable vacancies and help individuals remain in or return to work
• Providing Money Guidance to clients and help them access other social support
• Running workshops and events to engage with employers and the wider community

In the first six months of financial year 2022-2023, 34% of clients were out of work and 66% were in work, including those who were off sick at the start of their support.