Participants

Connect to Work delivers personalised support tailored to your individual needs and employment goals, including support for those with physical or mental health conditions or other barriers to work.

If you think Connect to Work is right for you, register today.

Connect to Work Journey

Getting started with Connect to Work is simple, with a focus on rapid engagement and helping you move towards work as quickly as possible, while providing the right level of ongoing support.  If you are unemployed, you can receive up to 12 months of support, including help to find and settle into work. If you are already in work but at risk of losing your job, you can receive up to 4 months of support to help you stay in employment.

Support continues once you start work, ensuring you have the right help in place to succeed and progress.

Referral and Engagement

Self-referral
Community Pathways
Work Coaches signposting
Primary and Secondary Care

Vocational profiling

Co-Produced with Employment Specialists
Personal Career Goals
Circles of Support
Positive Workplace Contributions

Employer Engagement

Competitive jobs
Self-Employment mentoring
Workplace Introductions
Rapid Job Search
Personalised Employer links

Job Matching

Job Carving
Skills and task analysis
Job Analysis
Reasonable Adjustments

On and Off the Job Support Engagement

Action Planning
Job retention
Career Progression
Skills Development
Ongoing support in the workplace

Am I Eligible for Connect to Work?

Connect to Work is voluntary and is for anyone who is disabled, has a health condition or has a non-health related barrier to work. It is for those who:

Are aged 18 or over

Have the right to live and work in the UK

Live in a Hampshire district

Have a health condition, disability, or face other barriers to work

Are not excluded from accessing public funds 

Are not currently employed, or are at risk of losing their job

Are motivated to progress into employment and want to find a job that’s right for them

Frequently Asked Questions

To help you better understand Connect to Work, we’ve set out some frequently asked questions below. These are designed to support you, or anyone referring you, in making informed decisions about the support available.

What is Connect to Work?

Connect to Work is a free service that provides personalised support to help you find and stay in employment, based on your individual needs and goals.

Who is the programme for?

Connect to Work is for people aged 18 or over who are not currently working, or who may be at risk of losing their job due to a health condition or other barriers to work.

Is the support free?

Yes, support provided through Connect to Work has no cost to participants.

How do I join the programme?

You can sign up yourself using our online form, or you can be referred by an organisation supporting you, such as a GP, charity or community group.

What kind of support will I receive?

One-to-one support from an Employment Specialist tailored to your goals
Help finding a job that's right for you
Advice on CVs, applications and interviews
Access to training and skills development opportunities
Support to start and stay in work
Help for you and your employer to provide the right workplace support
Guidance on benefits and moving into employment

How quickly will I be contacted after signing up?

We aim to contact you within a few working days to arrange an initial conversation.

How long can I receive support for?

If you are not currently working, you can receive support for up to 12 months. If you are already in work but need help to stay in your job, support is available for up to 4 months.

Will this affect my benefits?

We can provide guidance to help you understand how starting work may affect your benefits and support you to make informed decisions.

Do I need to want to find work?

Yes. Connect to Work Hampshire is for those want to find meaningful work. We use a rapid job search approach, meaning we will support you to explore opportunities early in your journey.

What if I am facing more complex challenges or multiple barriers to work?

We understand that people’s situations are not always straightforward, and that you may be dealing with more than one challenge at the same time. As well as supporting people with disabilities and health conditions, Connect to Work Hampshire is able to help those who:

•Have experience of the armed forces
•Have experienced domestic abuse
•Are carers or have caring responsibilities
•Are recovering from drug or alcohol dependency
•Have experience of care or are a care leaver
•Have come to the UK as a refugee or through resettlement schemes
•Have experience of the criminal justice system
•Are homeless or at risk of homelessness
•Are part of schemes such as the Ukraine programme
•Are at risk of or affected by serious violence
•Have experienced modern slavery

Can you help me if I am already in a job?

Yes. If you are at risk of losing your job due to a health condition and/or other barriers, we can provide short-term support to help you stay in employment.

Can I join if I am receiving other employment support?

You cannot join Connect to Work if you are currently enrolled on another Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) funded employment programme (such as Restart or WorkWell).

What if I have never worked before?

You can still join Connect to Work. We support people at all stages, including those with little or no previous work experience, helping you build confidence, skills and take your first steps into employment.