Supported Employment During the Pandemic

During the pandemic many of the people we support chose to continue working in their key worker roles right through the lockdown.

Our Support

Over 106 of the people we support were proud to be in their key worker roles during the pandemic including retail, hospital staff and working in social care looking after other vulnerable adults. Despite having their own challenges, they were reliable, effective and loyal employees. 

Our job was just to ensure they could travel to work safely wearing appropriate PPE and that they understood the government regulations.

Employers Support

As well as support from Surrey Choices, employers across the county have been welcoming disabled employees back into work safely. Our experience of several employers including Waitrose, McDonalds, Argos, M&S, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Surrey County Council has been brilliant. 

The sort of good practice observed includes not rushing back people to work until it is safe for them to do so, giving them pre-training to help them understand any changes in the workplace post coronavirus, a chance to trial PPE to get used to it before they return to work and understanding issues around travelling on public transport in peak time so staggering start times.  

The people we work with have all been keen to get back to their jobs. This has only been possible to do safely by respecting everyone’s individual needs. 

Disabled people wanted to be treated fairly, not necessarily differently to anyone else.

 

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