I've struggled to find employment. I'm educated to degree level, but without work experience at the age of 22. Nor do I have the interpersonal skills to make an interviewer look beyond that lack of experience.
So, naturally, I've ended up after no luck, and at the job centre. And I've found it to be more positive and supportive than I was prepared for. I went ashamed, feeling like a failure and I expected judgemental words and looks.
Instead, my 'Work Coach' listened to me and told me not to go for jobs that would make me miserable. By my second week, he had arranged for a Disability Advisor to talk with me, and to ask if I would like to be put forward for a new initiative that would get me work placements and 1-1 support (psychologist access etc) . As I am still on the waiting list for an Autism Assessment, even though I did make it clear that I have no diagnosis yet and would never dare presume to request consideration - I was told:
'that doesn't matter, a diagnosis doesn't change the fact you are having genuine difficulties getting into employment. And you are on medication for mental health problems anyway which also qualifies you for this programme.'
I was treated very kindly and despite the fact the system is quite dehumanising... I guess I wanted to share my positive experience, which I genuinely didn't expect. And the advisor even asked me if I'd heard about NAS etc. Usually, bad experiences are what are shared, and I wanted to share a more positive experience to those in my position.
The opportunity offered is one I'm going to take. I've struggled for years trying to gain employment by myself, and now I have the opportunity to have genuine support that is designed to be more compassionate that the other currently offered programes by the DWP. One that is tailored to the individual rather than to hit quota/targets etc. Hopefully, this will help me gain a good grounding that will help me later in life as well. I know this programme is unique to my part of the UK and only started this year.