YOURQUESTIONS ANSWERED
We understand that you may have questions about how our services work, from delivery through to funding. Below are some of the most common queries we receive..
INDIVIDUAL
Employee Support FAQs
Is this a free service?
We are a business, so we do charge for our expertise. We believe that the value we offer is life-changing.
Do you diagnose neurodivergence?
No. We can signpost to organisations that can help if you would like a formal diagnosis.
Do you work for my employer or me?
We work with both the employer and the employee, depending on our role. When you, as an individual, need our services, we will be working for you.
How do I know if you can help me?
The best thing to do is first to have a look through our website, where you should find all the information you need. Then, have a chat with us about what you would like to achieve and what your challenges are. We will always be honest and clear about how we can help.
Do I need an official diagnosis to access your services?
Not at all.
Do I need to converse with my employer first before I can get support?
It is always best to include your employer if you are looking for support in your existing workplace. If you are seeking support to help you achieve a career change or make the next step, then you can progress as an individual.
Is the service funded by me, my employer, or is there charitable support?
There is government funding available through Access to Work. The financial responsibility will depend on the recommendations and the outcome you are looking for.
Will I be assigned a dedicated support person and/or team?
You will have a dedicated person to work with. This enables us to focus on you as an individual and make sure that we meet your needs. We listen and learn and put together a bespoke solution to suit you.
How much reasonable access to support will I get?
There is in-person and remote support available as suitable on a case-by-case basis. We don’t believe in one size fits all, and that is reflected in our bespoke support solutions.
Job Hunting Support FAQs
Are your recruitment services funded by me or is there charitable support?
Are your recruitment services funded by me or is there charitable support? The Access to Work grant is only available to those in employment or who are starting work within the next six weeks. Any support provided by AWS for a job search would be your responsibility to fund.
Will I be assigned a dedicated support person and/or team?
You will work with a dedicated support person who can call on other members of the team should specialist knowledge or support be needed for a specific area.
How much reasonable access to support will I get?
We will assess what support you need and put together a bespoke schedule of support to meet your needs. This can be in-person or virtual, depending on your needs.
Can I still get support after I successfully find a job?
Definitely, and the Access to Work grant can help with that. Whilst the target is six weeks, it is currently taking around three months for the grant to come through. We can help you apply and talk to you and your employer about this.
COMPANIES
Business Support FAQs
Is the service funded by me, the employer, or is there charitable support?
The Access to Work Programme was introduced in 1994, designed to help anyone with a disability, including autistic people, to access the support needed to perform well in the workplace.
The employee needs to apply via the Government website. Depending on the size of your business, a contribution may be required. The threshold details can be found on the Government website, or give us a call to find out more.
The wait for the application to be considered, at the beginning of 2025, was reported to be three months. It may be more efficient to build this into budgets rather than risk the impact of the delay.
Will we be assigned a dedicated support person and/or team?
It depends on the service being provided. Normally, your support will be provided by one of our specialist workplace consultants, with the wider team providing support expertise as and when needed.
How much reasonable access to support will we get?
There is in-person and remote support available as suitable on a case-by-case basis. We don’t believe in one size fits all, and that is reflected in our bespoke support solutions. We offer retained packages with ongoing support, or we will put together a bespoke, specific output-focused package to suit your needs.
Recruitment for Companies FAQs
Are your recruitment services paid for by the business or is there charitable support?
If you have a neurodiverse employee who is driving this review, they can apply for the Access to Work grant, which will fund a service from AWS. If you look at the Government website, you can see the threshold of the grant and when the business may need to contribute.
Will we be assigned a dedicated support person and/or team?
You will have a named specialist lead who will partner with you. They will have access to the full team should a different area of expertise or advice be needed.
How much reasonable access to support will we get?
We will devise a bespoke support solution to meet your needs. As well as in-person support, we offer virtual support and, of course, are always available on the phone.
Can I still get support after we successfully find a candidate?
Yes. We offer a fantastic value retained service where we stay working with you to provide support as and when you need it. This could include coaching and support for line managers, one-to-one support for employees, ongoing training and work procedure reviews.
Training & Workshop for companies FAQs
Are your audit services paid for by the business, or is there support?
The audits do not fall under the remit of the Access to Work programme.
How long do workshops last and how are they structured?
Our workshops and training sessions are devised to be bespoke to suit your business, your team and your needs. It could be a two-hour session, a full-day session, or a series of workshops. We listen, understand the skill gap, and create a solution for you.
Can you deliver workshops remotely over video?
We can. We can tailor our services to suit your needs. If we feel that there is a need for face-to-face to assist with a specific communication need, we can discuss how we can make that work.
