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Support

There is a range of activities and support in the borough aimed at improving health and wellbeing and for people with sight or hearing loss.

If you or someone you know needs help with day-to-day tasks and is finding it hard to manage without support, you can ask us for a free social care needs assessment.

Support into employment

If you have a disability, you might need support or additional equipment to find or stay in work. Help is available whether you are working, looking for work, or about to start work. 

B&D Opportunities

B&D Opportunities is Barking and Dagenham Council’s dedicated portal to help you access training, jobs and business opportunities.

The Council’s free employment support service, B&D Works, has a specialist team and dedicated Supported Employment programme for adults with learning disabilities and autism.

Access this programme and 121 employment support by registering your interest. You can also explore their latest live job vacancies.  

Job Centre Plus

Jobcentre Plus disability employment advisers (DEA) support residents to find a job.

Each DEA helps clients with complex employment situations if:

• they have a disability or health condition
• they may need additional help with development
• they may need additional help with finding and retaining employment

DEAs will establish a close working relationship with the customer to decide the best way forward and gain the customer’s commitment to the decision.

You can request support from the DEA by email barking.enquiries@dwp.gsi.gov.uk, telephone 0345 604 3719, or at Barking Jobcentre Plus.

Access to Work

If you have a disability, you might need support or additional equipment so you can do your job. If you qualify, The Government's Access to Work programme might be able to help provide you and your employer with advice and help with extra costs to make sure you can work to your full potential.

Construction opportunities

The council is committed to supporting local residents in accessing employment and training opportunities in construction. All major developments in the borough now include a requirement on developers, contractors and sub-contractors to provide apprenticeships and job opportunities. 

Find out more by:

• registering with the Council’s B&D Works employment service to find out about local construction opportunities
• reading about the employment and training promgrammes we offer, including the Council’s dedicated onsite construction training centre, the LBBD Barking Riverside Innovation in Construction (B R I C)

Day services

Day centres and services offer fun, supportive and educational day time activities. Most day services are aimed at people who need adult social care. Day centres and services in Barking and Dagenham include:

• Heathlands Day Centre – aimed at adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities and additional health or social care needs
• Osborne Centre – focused on supporting people who have a learning disability, physical disability, mental health or other complex needs
• Eastway Care – daytime opportunities for people with a physical or learning disability
• Stapleford Abbotts Day Service – aimed at autistic people, people with a learning disability or complex needs