Acquiring and maintaining a job, can be difficult. We offer a comprehensive Access To Work package to support our clients on their employment journey and provide them with a high-quality service while in employment.
Aimed at supporting deaf, disabled and neurodiverse people to take up and remain in work, Access To Work (ATW) is a on means tested government programme that offers support based on your needs, which may include a grant to help cover the costs of practical support in the workplace, as well as, specialist equipment and software, specialist training, mentors, practical support and communication support.
Disabled people are almost twice as likely to be unemployed as non-disabled people. At Complete Independence, we are determined to change this.
Stats from Scope
This type of support helps with conversing and ensures clients have an accessible workplace, including:
Practical support is assistance for someone who needs workplace adjustments. For example:
A job coach helps someone within their role to develop their skills; these are 1:1 sessions where a person can offer support with the following:
This can vary from online to face-to-face training or even training on how to use equipment and software, including:
You have the option to seek assistance for your mental well-being, including guidance and coaching.
You can access support for your mental health, such as coaching, to help you develop strategies for managing stress, building resilience, and improving your overall wellbeing.
This support can be tailored to your individual needs, offering practical guidance and a safe space to explore your challenges and goals.
Access to Work can supply you with equipment, ranging from hearing aids to travel adaptations.
Access To Work also provides Specialist Equipment to support you in your role, such as screen readers, captioning and dictation software, headphones, keyboards and ergonomic desk chairs.
They will also fund training on the allocated equipment, which our expert team is able to deliver.
Stats from Gov.uk
The first step of the ATW process is to apply via the online application form. The form will ask for details about you, your role, and the support you require. The online application usually takes between 20-40 minutes.
Once you have submitted your initial application, there is a waiting period of 12-24 weeks. Within this time period, you will be assigned a case worker, who will contact you via email. They will be your main point of contact throughout the process.
This sounds very scary, but it is a chance for your case worker to talk to you to better understand your needs, and to ensure you are granted the right support. These assessments can take place in-person, over the phone, or via an online meeting.
After the assessment, you may be required to provide evidence to support your case. You do not need a medical diagnosis to be eligible for ATW. However, they may ask for any diagnostic reports or letters from your doctor/GP.
Once they have looked into the assessment and the evidence provided, you will have your grant provided! If you are not happy with your awarded support, you can dispute this with ATW. If you are happy with it, you can begin utilising your support!
You will then need to decide who you want to provide your support! Once you have a chosen supplier you can start accessing your support straight away.
We can assist you in completing the online application, ensuring that it is not overwhelming and that you can get the most out of the grant. A member of the team can meet with you in person or remotely to support you in completing the application, whilst checking that your needs are understood by the ATW team.
We will then be on hand to help you communicate with Access To Work throughout the entire process. Whether you need help responding to emails or getting quotes for your support, we can help.
A member of the team can join your workplace assessment to ensure you feel supported.
If you are not happy with the grant you receive, we will assist in disputing this with Access To Work to ensure your needs are met.
Once you receive a grant you are happy with, we can help you understand how to best utilise your budget and how to implement support as smoothly as possible.
We offer free trials of various support types, so you can experience different methods and discover what works best for you!
Once your support is approved, we take care of everything, including:
The Hive is our purpose-built portal, designed with one goal in mind: to make managing your sessions and budgets as seamless and efficient as possible. Developed over years of client feedback, The Hive prioritises user experience and accessibility, ensuring it meets the real needs of our users.
With The Hive, you can instantly view your live budgets and scheduled sessions, keeping you in the loop at all times. Whether it’s tracking individual sessions, seeing who’s booked to support you, or knowing the locations of each session, everything is right at your fingertips.
At Complete Communication, and across The Inclusivity Group we are incredibly passionate about giving back to the community we work within. Supporting people from the initial application through to getting their grant would usually cost anywhere between £1500 and £2000. However, we offer this end-to-end support free of charge and without external funding as part of our Social Values to ensure that every applicant has the best chance at receiving the support they deserve to achieve their best!
Client Relationship Manager
Meet Kelsie, one of our dedicated and vibrant Client Relationship Managers. Kelsie is a Qualified Electronic Notetaker and Manual Notetaker. Her role focuses on raising awareness of our services and helping individuals achieve the best outcomes with their support.
Client Relationship Manager
Meet Tracy. Tracy brings over 15 years of invaluable experience in the care and support sector to her role as Senior Support Co-Ordinator. She meets with clients to assess their needs and determine the best support options.
Business Support Administrator
Meet Tienna, one of our dedicated Business Support Administrators. She is passionate about supporting our clients and our team in reducing the administration load and ensuring smooth and efficient support.
Director and Founder
Meet Rhiannon, our enthusiastic Director. Rhiannon is an NRCPD-registered Electronic Notetaker, an OCN-accredited Manual Notetaker, and a skilled Theatre Captioner.
CEO and Founder
Introducing Daryl, our CEO, who also leads our parent company, The Inclusivity Group. Daryl envisioned creating a comprehensive, one-stop service for our clients aimed at making the world a more accessible and inclusive place.
The amount provided by an Access To Work grant varies, as it is tailored to your specific needs and circumstances. However, there is an annual cap on the grant amount. For instance, for grants awarded between 8 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, the cap was set at £69,260 per year. It is important to note that Access To Work does not impact any other benefits you may already receive.
Stats from Broken Ladder Report
What people say about our service
If you are interested in the Access-To-Work scheme but want to know more, why not book a free consultation with a member of our team?
Following the consultation, the team will be at hand for you to contact us throughout the entire process.
To find out more about the Access to Work scheme and what support is available to you or to book a consultation, please complete this form, and a member of the team will be in touch.
Complete Communication provides professional communication support services and accessibility solutions including BSL Interpreting and Translating.
Complete Training provides courses for accessible skills – grow your skills with a training team with decades of experience in accessible workplaces.
