Twining partners with Shaw Trust to launch West London Works

Today we are delighted to launch West London Works (WLW), a free employment support service delivered in partnership by Twining Enterprise and Shaw Trust.  This exciting new collaboration offers clients almost 70 years combined experience of supporting individuals with physical and mental health challenges access rewarding employment opportunities to help accelerate their recovery and build a brighter future.

The West London Works (WLW) programme will deliver a well-established framework of employment assistance – the Individual Placement Support (IPS) model - which will be delivered for free in primary and community NHS settings throughout the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hounslow, Hillingdon and Hammersmith & Fulham.

To be eligible for the programme clients need to be registered with a GP in one of these seven London Boroughs, over the age of 18 and motivated to find and retain meaningful employment.  Eligible individuals can either refer themselves to the programme or have their NHS practitioner refer on their behalf.

Once registered on the programme, a dedicated Twining Enterprise or Shaw Trust Employment Specialist will work with clients alongside their health and/or social care practitioner to provide them with a bespoke support service tailored to their employment preferences.  The service will help clients identify their employment goals and create a realistic employment plan that will not impact on their existing benefits.

Chief Executive at Twining Enterprise, Oli Jacobs, said “We are thrilled to be embarking on this new partnership with Shaw Trust.  We have been supporting Londoner’s with mental health challenges find and stay in suitable work for over 25 years.  The WLW programme will take our service offering to a whole new level, encompassing those with musculoskeletal challenges whilst working in close collaboration with Shaw Trust to draw on our joint experiences to fine tune an already successful employment support offering.”

WLW Service and Partnerships Lead (NHS Talking Therapies) at Twining Enterprise, Frank Fallon, explained “At Twining Enterprise our team of Employment Specialists have fully integrated with their local London communities, providing knowledge and expertise to support individuals find and sustain work. Understanding employers and local services has also helped us provide tailored support to each individual we work with.  Our collaboration with Shaw Trust, delivering WLW, will build on those foundations and will give us further reach to place and support the most vulnerable people into sustainable work.”

The WLW programme is part of the national IPS in Primary Care (IPSPC) movement, commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and managed by the West London Alliance.

About Shaw Trust

Shaw Trust was established in 1982 with the aim of finding jobs for disabled individuals.  It’s now the UK’s largest not-for-profit social enterprise providing services and support to enable people to access rewarding employment opportunities, employing 3,000 staff and 700 volunteers across the UK, all of whom are committed to employment as the core pathway to a better life.  Working in partnership not competition, Shaw Trust are part of an eco-system of purpose-led organisations, striving for a fairer, more equal society, focused on opportunity for all.  You can find out more here: https://www.shawtrust.org.uk/.

About Twining Enterprise

Twining Enterprise exists to improve mental wellbeing by supporting people struggling with their mental health to find and stay in work; and for over 25 years it has been changing the lives of individuals across London.  Twining Enterprise has over 40 staff members, many of whom have a lived-experience of mental health challenges and are representative of the diverse communities it serves.  Twining Enterprise understands the effects of poor mental health, and its staff are passionate about assisting people in their journey to recovery.  To help create the right job opportunities Twining also works directly with employers, handpicked for their desire to create an inclusive and diverse workforce which values mental wellbeing, and challenges stigma and discrimination.  You can find out more here: https://www.twiningenterprise.org.uk/.

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