West Lothian Council Supported Employment Service

West Lothian’s Supported Employment Service provides tailored support to help people with disabilities and long term health conditions gain skills, overcome barriers, and move into sustainable work

Supported Employment Service – West Lothian Council
The Supported Employment Service provides tailored, one-to-one support to residents who face barriers to work, including people with disabilities, long-term health conditions, and neurodivergence.
Our support includes CV and interview guidance, wellbeing support, confidence building, and assistance throughout the application and recruitment process. We also work closely with Jobcentres, including Disability Employment Advisers, as well as education providers and local partners to connect participants with training, volunteering, and sustainable employment opportunities.
We engage directly with employers to advocate for our clients’ needs and promote inclusive recruitment and workplace practices. This includes guidance on reasonable adjustments, supporting Access to Work applications, and providing ongoing advice to help employers create environments where individuals can thrive.
We deliver specialist programmes such as:
• Project SEARCH – supporting young people with learning difficulties or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) into work placements with a host employer.
• Parental Employment Support (PES) – helping disabled parents overcome barriers and move towards employment.
• Unlocking Potential – working with people with convictions to secure suitable job opportunities in partnership with criminal justice services.
By taking a holistic, person centred approach, the service ensures that residents receive the right support at the right time, helping them on their journey to gain and sustain employment while achieving meaningful, long term outcomes.