In late 2024, the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities advertised for the role of Admin Assistant. This was a newly created role to help the admin team.   

SCLD interviewed 6 people for the position and offered the role to Oliver Kennedy. Oliver happened to be a part of VIA’s Supported Employment program.   

SCLD has staff who have come through Supported Employment programs before, but this was the first time SCLD employed someone who worked with a job coach.   

Here, Oliver and his line manager, Lucy share their experiences of supported employment as an employee and an employer.   

Oliver:  

I worked with VIAS as part of the Triple E program. In doing so I was assisted by a job coach and was able to secure a position at SCLD as an admin assistant. 

Before this I had never been in employment and was very nervous about starting. I had been applying for jobs on my own unsuccessfully and getting nowhere with it, which had resulted in major blows to my confidence. 

My job coach was very helpful. They helped me apply for jobs, make my CV, and prepare for interviews. They even attended interviews with me at times. The interview with SCLD was a little different because they told me the questions that were going to be asked in advance so I could prepare for them. I believe this coupled with the help of my job coach is why I was able to get the job. 

When I started at SCLD I was accompanied by Courtney, my job coach, she stayed with me a few weeks as I got settled into the job. Helping me adjust to my duties as well as to being part of the workforce. 

Since I’ve started they’ve also been in touch with me to check and make sure I’m still thriving and doing well. 

If it wasn’t for the Triple E team I don’t think I would have been able to secure a job as easily as I did and I’m not sure how I would have handled the adjustment to working after having not been employed before. They also gave me the confidence to ask my colleagues at SCLD for help when I need it, whether this problem is due to the work or other issues they are willing to listen to me. Working at SCLD has given me a chance to learn new skills and put ones I already had to use. I hope to continue to work here and assist where I can. 

While I cannot claim the same would happen for everyone if they took part in supported employment I do believe it is worth giving a chance. 

Lucy:  

Oliver attended the interview with his job coach, Courtney.  The interview panel wasn’t sure what to expect when Oliver said his work coach would attend the interview with him, but Courtney quietly supported Oliver and allowed his sense of humour to shine through.  Oliver was the only person we interviewed that completed the interview task in the same order I had – I knew we’d work together well. 

We knew Oliver was autistic from his application.  As an organisation, we’re good at supporting people with learning disabilities, but the needs of autistic people are not the same. As Oliver’s new line manager, I set out to find out all I could about how to support a neurodivergent person in the workplace.  My manager and I had a couple of meetings with Courtney, I researched what I could and worked with my own line manager to make sure I had enough time in my work plan to support Oliver.   

I read that autistic people liked structure and didn’t respond well to unexpected changes.  So, I set up internal processes that all tasks for Oliver would come through me to minimise the number of unexpected changes to his daily workplan.  But, actually Oliver works really well with unexpected changes and picks up tasks as they come in with ease.  Getting to know Oliver better, I have learnt that what he does need is clear instructions, a reason why he’s doing the task and a fixed deadline.   

Courtney supported Oliver in the office for the first few weeks, which was really helpful for Oliver’s confidence. She also offered support to me for any questions I had. Courtney was quick to adapt to how SCLD works, and how we were introducing Oliver to the organisation.  It was important to me that I was working with Oliver directly and not through Courtney.  I’ve worked to build a working relationship with Oliver where, I hope, he feels he can be open and honest with me about work and things that might impact his work.  He tells me when he finds something a challenge and we work together to find a solution.  He’s also quick to tell me when he no longer he needs my help!   

Oliver fits in well with the SCLD team, he makes everyone laugh and it’s like he’s always been there.   

Supported employment is a learning process for me, for Oliver and for SCLD.  We don’t always get it right, but we try.  We look forward to doing it again in the future.  

Find out VIAs and the Triple E programme.  

Find out more about SUSE and its #SupportedEmploymentWorks campaign.   

If you have any questions or comments for SCLD or supporting people with learning disabilities in the workplace, please email admin@scld.co.uk or call 0141 248 3733.