ECL's Inclusive Employment Service supports adults living in Essex who have a diagnosed learning disability and/or autism and are eligible for social care. We work alongside individuals to help them achieve their employment goals and build fulfilling careers.

Your dedicated Inclusive Employment Consultant will provide tailored support throughout your journey, helping you find the right job and settle into work. You'll receive on-the-job support, including job coaching and regular check-ins, for as long as you need it.

The Connect to Work programme is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and supports people aged 16 and over living in Essex, Southend and Thurrock who face barriers to employment due to a disability, long-term health condition, neurodiversity and/or autism, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed.

It also provides support for people who are currently employed but at risk of losing their job because of a health condition, learning disability or neurodiversity.

Participants receive personalised support to help them achieve their employment goals, whether that's finding paid work, staying in work, or becoming self-employed. The programme also offers business planning support and discretionary funding to help individuals take their next step into employment or self-employment.

ECL's Autism Employment Service supports adults in Essex who have a diagnosis of autism and are eligible for social care to find and sustain paid employment. The service also works with employers to create more inclusive, autism-friendly workplaces.

The Autism Employment team has specialist knowledge of autism and provides tailored employment support, including job coaching and workplace advice. They can also work with employers to identify and implement reasonable adjustments that help autistic employees thrive and succeed at work.