Finding a job or thinking about your future career is an important step towards independence, and there is support available to help you get there. You might need some extra guidance to explore your interests, build your skills, and find the right opportunities for you. This page will help you understand what support is out there—from training and work experience to advice and coaching—so you can feel more confident about taking your next steps into employment.

Vocational Plans

A vocational plan helps you think about your future by exploring your interests, strengths, and goals for work or training. It sets out the steps and support you need to build skills, gain experience, and move towards a job or career you enjoy. You could speak to a teacher, job coach or careers advisor or another trusted adult if you would like support completing one of the vocational plans below:

 

Advice on Work

Disability Rights UK has created the Future Ready Hub for young people which brings together everything you need to know about education and employment after 16, including your options and your rights. It also explains the support available—such as Access to Work funding, which can help cover things like job coaching and travel costs during opportunities like Supported Internships. This factsheet contains more information on Careers Advice and Post 16 Learning Options and this CV Toolkit includes advice on developing a video CV.

Hammersmith and Fulham have  A guide to starting work for young people on their website with details of organisations that can help you decide what you want to do and identify what you need to do to get there including developing skills through training and work experience and finding work.

Action on Disability runs a number of programmes to support disabled people to access employment. Their In Work Support Service provides support workers, job coaches, and travel assistance under the Access to Work scheme. They have a supported internship scheme as well as the Follow Up Project for graduates of the Supported Internships where a Project Coordinator works closely with partner employers, job coaches, and tutors to help each graduate take their next steps into work or volunteering.  

Westminster Family Information Hub has pulled together a list of local services providing Employment support for young people with SEND.

Westminster Employment (SEND) helps adults with learning and physical disabilities find and keep jobs, work experience, or volunteering through personalised plans, job coaching, and ongoing support tailored to their goals.

Balance supports people with learning, physical, or sensory disabilities who live in Kensington and Chelsea to build skills and achieve their goals through volunteering, work experience, or paid employment. The service focuses on helping you become more independent and reach your full potential with the right support.

You can find more information on Apprenticeships & Employment for 16-25 here and on supported internships in Westminister and Kensington and Chelsea here.

Supported Internships

Supported Internships are for young people aged 16 to 24 with an EHC Plan who want to move into work but need extra support, combining real job placements with learning. You’ll spend most of your time in a workplace, supported by a job coach, helping you build skills, confidence, and experience to work towards your future career.

The West London Alliance has published The West London Guide to Supported Internships which contains information on over 42 supported internship programmes in London.

The videos below highlight the journey of two bi-borough residents who used local supported employment services Westminster Employment (WE*) and Balance Support to find paid work.