Workwise

Workwise is the name of our Employment Service, staffed by our Employment Adviser, John Leonard, who is spinal cord injured.  Workwise aims to provide spinal cord injured people with the information, support and encouragement needed when considering returning to work, education or volunteering after injury.

The support we offer includes:

• Advice for you and your employer on returning to your previous employment post injury
• Helping you to consider new options on returning to work if you can't return to your previous employment
• Information on colleges that offer vocational retraining
• Contact details for further education
• Opportunities and assistance finding voluntary work

Employment Clinics

SIA holds regular Employment Clinics at a number of Spinal Injuries Centres, including Salisbury, Stanmore, Stoke Mandeville, Sheffield, Oswestry and Rookwood.  Each Clinic is staffed by an OT, our Employment Adviser, John, and one or two representatives from organisations such as Connexions, Access to Work, etc.  They are available to give you the best possible advice for future opportunities for work, education or volunteering.

You can book an appointment to attend an Employment Clinic by having a word with your OT, or by ringing John on 0845 6786633 Ext 216 or by emailing him.  

Work Matters

If you're interested in learning more about work opportunities, then our book 'Work Matters' is for you.  This publication is packed with useful information and advice, with chapters covering topics such as:

 'Thinking about Work'

 'Thinking about Retraining'

 'Practical help getting back to work' etc.

It also contains information on organisations such as Access to Work who can help fund travel and equipment costs as well as how going back to work might affect compensation or benefits.

'Work Matters' is No 10 in our series of booklets entitled 'Moving Forward' and costs £6.  You can read more about the book and related publications here or, to order a copy, click here to go to our Online Shop. 

OT Forum

SIA hosts regular meetings of OTs from the Spinal Injuries Centres.  This Forum meets twice a year at SIA House and offer an ideal opportunity for those working within the Centres and ourselves to share news and information on the employment front.

For future meetings, we plan to have guest speakers to deliver presentations on employment related topics, such as support available from Disabled Employment Advisers, the Shaw Trust, Access to Work etc.

If you're an OT working in a Spinal Injuries Centre, and are not yet part of the Forum, you would be very welcome to join us.  Contact John for the date and time of the next Forum meeting.

 Employment Support Allowance

The new Employment Support Allowance was introduced by the government on 27th October to replace the Incapacity benefits and income support.

SIA has produced a factsheet about the new Employment Support Allowance

Download ESA factsheet