Piece of Mind: Mental Health & Psychiatry · Piece of Mind: Mental Health & Psychiatry

Episode 13: Learning disability, autism, and support into work

·32 min·1 clip

Every young person was allocated a job coach who worked with the family and then gradually faded back.

Ellie opens the episode by introducing the National Centre for Mental Health and its work across Cardiff, Bangor, and Swansea universities. The conversation focuses on research into how young people with a learning disability, autism, and learning difficulties can be supported into employment. Elisa Vina and Andrea Meek describe the Welsh-wide Engage to Change project, which has provided supported employment and job coaching to over 1,000 young people since 2016. It was developed in partnership with Learning Disabilities Wales, the lead organisation in the project, and the supported employment agency Agori at CAFE. The aim is to help young people move into real paid employment. Each young person is paired with a job coach at the start of the process. That coach works with the young person and their family to identify skills, interests, and a suitable job match. Support then continues through finding a position, trying it, and doing the training. The guests also explain that coaches help young people handle the unwritten social rules at work. They describe a gradual fading model, where support steps back as confidence and independence grow. The conversation keeps returning to the value of job coaching as a funded, available service. The researchers say their work supports the recommendation that every young person who needs help should be able to get it. They also explain the method used by coaches, known as training systematic instruction. That approach breaks tasks into small steps so a person can learn them clearly and successfully. The example of making tea shows why a task analysis matters. The episode makes the case that small, structured support can reduce confusion and help people do a job to the best of their capability. Geraint Jones-Griffiths adds the perspective of a lead ambassador and speaks to the social side of work. He frames young people as connectors across teams and as contributors to a better workplace. The conversation closes with a reminder that the project is now in its influencing and informing stage, with links provided for listeners who want more information.

As heard by us

A careful look at how supported employment helps young people with learning disabilities and autism into paid work.

Peace of Mind follows the practical work behind getting young people with learning disabilities and autism into paid employment in Wales. It explains Engage to Change plainly, and the strongest section stays with the mechanics: job matching, job coaching, family involvement, and…

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Need a clear look at how supported employment and job coaching help young people with autism or a learning disability get into paid work?

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