RDF Care CIC services

Support for Employment

Q: Can I or my family refer directly?

Formal admission is through Social Services or another professional body or organisation. You or your family can contact RDF for guidance and information about the service and the appropriate referral route.

Q: Can the service help if I am not ready for paid work?

Support can include exploring training, volunteering or other work-related steps when those are appropriate to the person’s goal. The next step should be agreed at a realistic pace rather than assumed.

Q: Will Support for Employment guarantee me a job?

No. RDF can provide practical preparation, planning and problem-solving, but a job, interview or particular outcome cannot be guaranteed. Progress can take time and may involve reviewing the plan along the way.

Encouragement and signposting to help individuals explore employment, build confidence and take steps towards work.

Ask about this service Make a referral

Who this may help

A practical route, shaped around the person.

The right level of support depends on the person’s circumstances, strengths, preferences and the referral conversation.

Adults who are thinking about paid work but are unsure where to start or what kind of role may suit them.
People who want help with a CV, application form, interview preparation or explaining their strengths to an employer.
Adults returning to work after a break who would like to rebuild confidence, routines and readiness gradually.
People exploring training, volunteering or a work-related activity as a step towards employment.
Adults who have started work and would value practical help to manage routines, communication or problems that could affect their role.
Families, social workers and other professionals looking for a realistic employment-support option to discuss with an adult they support.

What support can include

Useful help with the everyday.

The exact support is agreed around the person’s goals. These are examples of the practical areas that can be discussed.

Talking through interests, strengths, previous experience and the kind of type of workplace that may feel suitable.
Breaking an employment goal into manageable actions, such as gathering information, choosing roles to explore or setting a job-search routine.
Working on a clear CV and practising how to describe skills, experience and support needs in applications or conversations with employers.
Preparing for interviews by rehearsing questions, planning what to take and considering how to travel to and arrive at the venue.
Looking at practical work-readiness tasks, including timekeeping, planning a shift, communicating with colleagues and asking for help when something is unclear.
Exploring training, volunteering or other work-related opportunities when these are useful stepping stones towards a paid role.
Reviewing what is going well after a person begins a role and working through practical difficulties, with the person’s agreement about who should be involved.

What it can feel like

A clear, respectful way of working.

Support is not about taking over. It is about agreeing useful next steps and building confidence at a manageable pace.

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The first conversations focus on the person’s goals, past experience, interests and what has made work difficult or uncertain so far.
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Support is turned into small, specific steps—for example, updating one section of a CV, researching a role or practising a journey—so progress can be reviewed without guesswork.
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People can expect practical preparation as well as conversation: rehearsing interview answers, checking application details, planning a workday and identifying questions to ask.
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The pace can be adjusted when confidence, concentration, travel or other day-to-day circumstances make a task harder than expected.
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Once someone is exploring or starting an opportunity, conversations can focus on what is working, what feels difficult and what could be tried next.
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The experience should feel collaborative and respectful. The person’s views remain central, and family members or professionals are involved where appropriate and agreed.

Possible outcomes

Progress can start with small changes.

Each person’s goals and progress will be different. The focus is on practical improvements that matter in everyday life.

A clearer idea of the type of work, training or work-related activity the person would like to explore.
A more usable CV, completed application materials or a plan for approaching suitable opportunities.
Greater confidence in describing strengths, preparing for interviews and communicating at work.
Practical routines for searching, travelling, arriving on time and managing agreed work-related tasks.
A better understanding of questions to ask an employer or professional about support, adjustments and next steps.
A realistic plan for responding to difficulties and reviewing progress; employment is not guaranteed and progress may take time.

Referral-led admissionsFormal admission to RDF’s Support for Employment service is through Social Services or another professional body or organisation. If you are an adult considering support, or a family member, social worker or other professional seeking information, you can contact RDF for guidance about the service and the referral route. Contacting RDF for guidance is not the same as formal admission; the relevant professional body or organisation will need to make the referral or admission decision.Discuss a referral

Service questions

Helpful answers about Support for Employment.

Open a question to reveal a clear answer. These are a starting point, and RDF can also talk through the service and referral route with adults, families and professionals.

01What does Support for Employment involve?

It is practical, person-centred help with steps towards work, training or a work-related goal. This may include exploring suitable roles, preparing a CV or application, practising interviews, planning travel and routines, and reviewing challenges after an opportunity begins.

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02Can I or my family refer directly?

03Can the service help if I am not ready for paid work?

04Will Support for Employment guarantee me a job?

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