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Real Jobs

Real Jobs is a supported employment service that operates in the Lothians, for people with learning difficulties. It is a part of the Action Group.

A Real Jobs service user, Mr J, has been employed in a medium sized hotel as a Kitchen Porter since 1994. For years, because of the stability of his employment, the support had been confined to giving encouragement and advice on employment conditions and any changes to duties.

Then the management changed and the hotel changed the Kitchen Porter duties. Real Jobs meet with the new manager and it was decided Mr J needed job coaching and on-going support for a period of at least a month to enable him to learn his new duties.

Before Mr J began his new duties he was so apprehensive that he decided he would not continue with his employment and threatened to 'just not turn up'. Real Jobs reassured him that he would be supported through the process of change, and he agreed to a month's trial period.

During the instigation of a 'Continental Style' breakfast Mr J learned many additional skills and aspects of hotel work including customer relations, hotel security, health and safety and risk assessment. He increased his communication skills, became key to the success of the changes and most times expressed that he 'loved' his new job.

Without the on-going support process, reassurance, coaching and encouragement, Mr J could have walked out or lost his job.