The City of Wolverhampton Council's Enable service, which provides individualised support for people seeking paid employment, won the Breaking Down Barriers category at this year's National Learning Disability and Autism Awards held in Birmingham on Friday night.
Enable, based at Action for Independence on Albert Road, Wolverhampton, works closely with jobseekers and employers to find the right job for the right person. It provides careers advice and practical help such as writing CVs and job applications, mock interviews, interview technique and 1 to 1 support in the workplace.
It also helps employers by offering candidates which have been selected specifically for the job based on their skills and interests, post employment support and advice, and disability awareness training for staff.
The judges highlighted the words of the Enable team, who said, "there are no barriers in our thinking and we will work though, round and over challenges when we face them", and concluded: "This service goes above and beyond to enable the people it supports to live life to the full. Inspirational!"
Councillor Sandra Samuels OBE, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: "The Enable service is doing a fantastic job in helping people live more independent lives by helping them into paid employment, and I was delighted to be at the prestigious awards ceremony to witness their success being recognised."
The council was also shortlisted for 3 other awards, in the Employer, Disabilities and Employer of People with a Disability categories, and Councillor Samuels added: "The fact that the council has won one award and been shortlisted for another three reflects well on the way we have transformed the support we provide for people with a learning disability over the last few years.
"This has increased personal choice, community inclusion, accessibility and employment outcomes for people, resulting in life changing and life enhancing experiences for many people."
For more information about Enable, which is delivered in partnership with Shropshire Council, please visit Type=links;Linkid=10643;Title=Enable Supported Employment Services;Target=_blank; or call 01743 276900.
The National Learning Disabilities and Autism Awards, organised by Care Talk magazine, celebrate excellence in the support for people with learning disabilities and recognises those individuals or organisations who excel in providing quality care.
- released: Monday 2 July, 2018