Jobs
Your local Jobcentre Plus can help you find, prepare for, and stay in work.
Visit the the GOV.UK website for help with moving from benefits to work.
It includes advice on training and work placements, work experience, volunteering and job trialling, starting your own business, and combining work and caring responsibilities. It also gives you advice about how to keep claiming some benefits after you go back to work.
Work clubs
If you’re unemployed, you can join a work club. They're run by local organisations like employers and community groups. They give you the chance to share knowledge, experience and job hunting tips. Visit your local Jobcentre Plus to find out about work clubs in Barnsley.
Jobs and training for disabled people
When you're looking for work, watch out for the 'disability confident' logo on adverts and application forms. The logo means the employer is committed to employing disabled people. If a job advert displays the logo, you'll get an interview if you meet the basic conditions for the job.
You can find out more about work and disabled people on GOV.UK.
Disability employment advisers
Ask to speak to a disability employment adviser (DEA) at your local Jobcentre Plus. They can help you find a job or gain new skills and tell you about disability friendly employers in your area.
They can also refer you to a work psychologist, if needed. They can also carry out an 'employment assessment' where they'll ask you about your skills and experience. They'll take into account what kind of roles you're interested in.
Programmes and grants
Your DEA can tell you about programmes and grants to help you back into work. These include:
- Work and Health Programme - to help you find and keep a job if you're out of work.
- Access to Work - money towards a support worker or for the cost of equipment or travelling to work.
Questions about your health or disability
An employer shouldn't normally ask you questions about your health or disability before they offer you a job. Reasons for doing so are very limited, for example to:
- make 'reasonable adjustments', for example if you need a large print version of a test
- decide if you can do something that's a vital part of the job
If you're treated unfairly when you apply for a job, contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission. You may also be able to take a complaint to an employment tribunal. You have to do this within three months of when it happened.
Support if you're over 50
Rest Less is a digital community for the over 50s and can help people to find employment.
Find out about support available for older job seekers and search age diverse employers.
Support if you have drug or alcohol problems
You may be able to get extra help if you have drug or alcohol problems that are stopping you working.
Your Jobcentre Plus adviser can tell you about the help available from drugs or alcohol treatment professionals in your area. They can refer you to their services if you want.
This help is available to anyone getting benefits. You might be able to get help with costs like childcare and travel.
Trying out a job
A work trial gives you the chance to try out a job while still claiming benefits. It can last up to 30 working days, and you might get offered a job at the end.
Work trials are voluntary and your benefits won't be affected if you finish early or turn down a job you're offered.
Jobcentre Plus can arrange a work trial for you or you can ask them about how to do this yourself.
Volunteering
If you're unemployed and looking for work, you can volunteer with a local organisation through the Work Together programme. Your Jobcentre Plus adviser will help you to find an opportunity.
Benefits of volunteering include gaining work experience and skills, as well as showing initiative and a positive work attitude that can improve your chances of securing a job in the future.
Find out how to volunteer with us.
Easy read information
Mencap have produced an easy read guide to finding a job, including details about work experience and going for an interview.