Work Trials, Placements and Supported Employment

Work Trials

Work Trials provide opportunities for a trial period for both employee and employer for a period of 1-30 days. This gives support to individuals moving into employment in the work place.

A Work Trial lets you try out a potential employee for up to 30 days, at no cost to your business, before you decide whether to make them a job offer. It is, in effect, a test period in a real job, and an ideal opportunity to fill a vacancy with minimum risk.

A Work Trial gives you time to find out how well suited a person is to the job, and to the culture and workforce of your company, and also gives the potential employee the time to decide if a job is right for them. This often means they are more likely to want to stay with your company.

A Work Trial is suitable for most jobs over 16 hours a week that are expected to last at least 3 months. You would usually offer a Work Trial to someone who has been out of work for more than 6 months or has been unable to work due to ill health or is a lone parent. The person will continue to receive their benefit, plus travel expenses and a meal allowance which we will pay.

There are some terms and conditions which Jobcentre Plus staff can give advice on. To find out more contact the Labour Market and Recruitment Adviser at your local Jobcentre Plus office.

Work placements and tasters

Work placements are part of an individual's training programme and are negotiated case-by-case. They can often lead to employer/recruitment opportunities.

Work placements are sought by many organisations (see the Directory). These provide individuals with opportunities to become familiar with a specific job and working environment. They allow employers to encourage more people into their sectors and often lead to recruitment into vacancies.

Organisations offering pre-vocational programmes often seek work placements to round off the preparation of individuals for employment.

Work tasters are more likely to be requested for people at an earlier stage, to help them determine whether they wish to enter a particular kind of work.

Supported Employment

Supported Employment gives ongoing assistance from a specialist organisation to an individual with conditions which may require specific support while at work; and to their employer.

Supported Employment involves preparing an individual for a specific job and also giving active support, if necessary, in the workplace. This normally involves preparatory work with the employer and ongoing liaison, as needed.

A number of organisations are funded to deliver supported employment places, often for people with learning disabilities or variable health conditions. See the Directory.