Francesca Evans Email & Phone Number

Working as part of a team delivering the Small Employer Offer, part of the Enhanced Support Offer included in the Personalised Support Package, which is aimed at closing the Disability Employment Gap. As an SEA I act as a focal point for small employers(less than 25 employees) across Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Cerdigion forging relationships that will enable me to gain opportunities for work trials and paid work for customers with a range of Disabilities and Health Issues. Alongside this utilising my current and previous experience to actively promote the advantages of employing Disabled people and the benefits of being involved in the Disability Confident agenda. Collaborating with Work Coaches, Employer Advisors and Disability Employment Advisors by holding case conferences to discuss ESA WRAG/UC LCW customers who are eligible for the programme, enables me to effectively identify the most appropriate opportunities for customers to be matched against. By gaining an idea of their Disability/Health Issues and needs I am able to seek opportunities for them in the local area ensuring that support, mentoring and reasonable adjustments are discussed both before they start and during their time in that opportunity. When this point is reached completing Work Trial/Work Experience paperwork with both parties along with supporting the Access to Work process to ensure any reasonable adjustments needed are put in place for the customer as soon as possible. When the customer starts an opportunity the SEA provides ongoing mentoring and support to give the customer the best possible chance of sustaining their position. This can also involve internal specialists such as Disability Employment Advisors, Community Partners and Work Psychologists or external experts from specialist providers, local health boards and peer mentor networks.

Working in Jobcentre Plus as a mixed caseload Work Coach supporting customers on all three legacy benefits(ESA,JSA,IS). This involves constantly being aware of the individual needs of the customer that is being interviewed, ensuring any reasonable adjustments and accessibility needs are in place tailoring claimant commitments to ensure the result of suitable sustainable employment, making accurate decisions on the provision and support offered to the customer and liaising consistently with the Disability Employment Advisor due to the complex needs of the majority of the mixed caseload. Responsible for maintaining individual diary planning training, meetings and visits are planned in advance, taking new claims and being aware of daily caseload commitments. As a team, meeting on a weekly to case conference discussing live cases and offering effective solutions, alongside the DEA having regular input to individual appointments utilising her many years’ expertise and contacts. Since joining the team at Gorseinon I have successfully implemented cross directorate working, taking the lead communicating with colleagues in service centres. I am also the lead for the disability and social justice agendas, representing the office at district meetings, implementing and promoting the importance of both locally and regionally.

Llanelli Jcp/Llanelli Bdc

From December 2015 based within Llanelli Benefit Centre as an ESA WCA Decision Maker. Following the Work Capability Assessment, the role involved reviewing the medical report along with the customer's ESA50 form. Using the decision makers’ guidance and balance of probability awarding points based on the evidence considering 10 physical and 8 mental descriptors, analysing the individual and healthcare professionals accounts on the ability to complete tasks. After comparing findings with those points allocated by Healthcare Professionals contacting customers with the findings of the assessment and advising them on the steps to follow which was to make a claim for JSA or Income Support if there was eligibility such as Carer and Lone Parents.In July 2015 working as a fixed term appointment in Llanelli Jobcentre Plus and quickly earmarked to cover the ESA section due to extensive knowledge and experience in this area. Working closely with the Disability Employment Advisors and Employment Support Allowance colleagues supporting customers in the Work-Related Activity Group along with the DEA JSA caseload. Using previously gained development strengths leading on group information sessions that ranged from ESA partner provision, to sessions involving guest speakers and supported job search. Due to the ownership of some of the materials from a prior role, arranging meetings and discussions with managers to look at introducing more employability specific workshops to ensure the full support, awareness and training of customers giving them the best possible chance of securing opportunities. Alongside the main duties supporting with the processing of Statement of Fitness for Work for both ESA and JSA customers, computer based job search support, and attending employer visits on behalf of the Employment Advisors, collating the experience and feeding back to staff huddles.

Working on the Employability Centre 2 contract in conjunction with Job Centre Plus. Delivering a 9 week intensive employability course for JSA/ESA claimants with a history of worklessness deemed work ready. This involved 3 weeks of development modules working on confidence, work preparation and interview, sector and job awareness ensuring candidates are given full knowledge to move forward with intensive job search. During the last weeks candidates are pre screened, given full CV, application and cover letter support. Throughout the process candidates were submitted to suitable vacancies through the internal Employer Services team and also other suitable external opportunities.

Prior to Secondment I spent 2 years as an Employment Advisor at Swansea Branch covering Swansea and later becoming Lead Advisor in Llanelli and Carmarthen. Working within these roles my biggest success was the ability to form strong working relationships with JCP staff liaising frequently with DEA’s and Employer Engagement Teams which generated excellent referral, support and job opportunities. Positive networking with SME's, National Employers, Service Providers and other education and training providers in all areas, through selling both the service and candidates often reflected in my KPI results. Whilst in this employment I prided myself on my multi disciplinary and partner provider relationships and felt in particular the work with JCP benefited the candidates for which we had joint responsibility.

Working in a homeless project for 16-25 year olds who were often from difficult backgrounds, had Mental Health issues, Drug/Alcohol addiction, displayed challenging behaviour and complex barriers. By forming a multi-disciplinary network with support agencies including Youth Offending Teams, YMCA, Social Services, Local Drug/Alcohol services and education providers offering a tailored support package to enable the clients to learn the skills and knowledge to move onto independence. I delivered various one to one and group sessions that formed OCN qualifications. These ranged from Independent Living skills to employability skills, effective application writing, interview preparation and workplace expectations. A large part of the personal development of the client was to liaise with multidisciplinary teams to create a personalised action plan to identify barrier/issue, educate individuals of the risks and dangers to Health, Wellbeing and personal development along with accompanying them to support meetings and interventions. This required complete trust between myself and the client and an empathetic and non-judgemental approach in order for them to accept and engage in the help provided. Engaging with partners, providers and internal staff enabled the client to have well rounded support which covered all aspects of their personal and professional development aiding them to gain the confidence and belief to move into independent living, further aspirations and achieve their set goals

Attending classes to support pupils with Special Educational Needs. The role involved working with pupils with Learning Difficulties, Speech and Language difficulties, Visual and Hearing impairments, Diabetes and Physical Disabilities. During the time in this position to in order enhance role there were several INSET based training programmes attended that included a talk on Child Protection and how to deal with disclosures. The Dyslexia Aware Classroom, which also included learning about Asperger's. A talk on Speech and Language that enabled skills to identify those who could be on the Autistic Spectrum as well as giving tools and techniques to use when supporting pupils with such difficulties. Also attended external course with Children in Wales called Children and Families in Wales. During the course skills acquired were a deeper knowledge of Policies and procedures that are put in place for the Wellbeing of Children, as well as gaining an insight into the external agencies that are involved in child welfare and support. Alongside the daily Teaching Assistant role I was proud to be involved in giving pupils the chance to raise funds for their own trip which taught the value of working towards rewards and team playing. Also getting local and national companies to engage including our local Sainsbury's store providing food for the whole weekend. I was also involved in Duke of Edinburgh both in educational and professional settings. All have which has enabled me to confidently lead, engage and equip individuals with skills and knowledge to achieve personal goals

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Performing Arts And Theatre Studies

English, Media, Drama A Levels

Education record

Activities and Societies: Prefect for Years 10 and 11 Part of the School Debating Team who were British Champions in the British Mock.