Posted 14.10.2021

‘Peter’* is now on a Trainee Deputy Manager Programme thanks to support from Workable NI. His employer wrote to our Workable NI Employment & Training Officer Claire Greene this month to thank her for her guidance and support and to share some good news.

Peter started working with his current employer in January 2018 and it was not identified at interview that there were any difficulties. His Manager tells us:

As we worked through our initial induction with Peter it became apparent that he was struggling with some of the duties he was required to carry out on a daily basis.

Peter’s customer service is good and he is popular with customers but some of the basic key skills required to fulfill his role were causing him difficulty. His Manager continued:

Our probationary period at that time was 13 weeks and we extended this ongoing while working to improve Peter’s skills.

However despite their best attempts and Peter's determination it was a struggle to achieve results.

The turning point for us was when seeking professional advice both myself and Peter met with Claire Greene from Disability Action and a plan was put in place targeting Peter’s needs at a pace to suit his learning style and addressing our requirement for him to be able to carry out the duties for his role at that time.

The support, guidance and direction provided by Disability Action has been a major contributor to Peter’s progress and I am delighted to share with you that in August 2021 he joined our Trainee Deputy Manager Programme.

Miriam Bacon Workable NI/Employment Support Scheme Manager said:

This really reflects our ethos and the impact of the right supports for someone's life and career.

*Name changed

Read more about how Workable NI supports employers and disabled employees in the workplace