The department has launched a one-year pilot geared at funding workplace aids or equipment by providing grants of up to £5,000 to locally qualified Islanders with sensory, mobility or other disabilities.
A total of £100,000 has been ring-fenced from the Back to Work scheme to pay for the pilot which could fund items such as specialised seating, ergonomic office equipment as well as screen-reading or text software.
The pilot comes after the Disability Strategy for Jersey published last year found that 14 per cent of the Island’s population are disabled while 28 per cent of disabled Islanders say they have a lot of difficulty getting the type or amount of paid work they would like.
And the strategy suggests that someone with a disability is almost twice as likely to be unemployed as someone without a disability but, for those disabled Islanders who are able to, working contributes to their wellbeing and life satisfaction.
Susan Wright, head of Back to Work, said that looking at figures from a similar scheme in the UK, it was estimated that the average grant would be £360.
Social Security Minister Susie Pinel said: ‘We recognise that some people with long-term health conditions or disabilities need extra support in the workplace and, in some cases, this may be an obstacle to them staying in their current role or finding a new job. Where specialist equipment or furniture may overcome this problem, Access to Work is designed to help.
‘For me, one of the key points in the Disability Strategy for Jersey is that there is clear evidence that working can help improve quality of life and wellbeing for people with disabilities. We know that there are many people with disabilities or long-term health conditions with important and transferable skills, and who make productive and valuable employees.’
Access to Work is only open to people who are already employed or who have a firm job offer and who have Entitled or Entitled to Work residential status. For more information log on to gov.je/AccesstoWork. Employers who are interested in the Access to Work grant for their employees should ask their employees to apply directly. Locally qualified Islanders who would like support or advice about getting a job should contact the Back to Work team at Social Security on 447372.
