Building Employer Partnerships that Last in Supported Employment

August 29, 2025

📘 Blog 3 of 7 in our Supported Employment Series
Building Employer Partnerships that Last

Links to all 7 blogs in this series are at the bottom of this post.

🤝 Why Employer Partnerships Are Key

Supported employment succeeds when employers are active partners, not just recipients of candidates. This isn’t about “filling roles” to meet quotas — it’s about creating mutual value for both the person with a learning disability and the business itself.

Strong employer partnerships are what turn placements into sustained employment. Employers gain reliable, motivated staff, while individuals gain real wages, purpose, and belonging. Commissioners want to see this clearly evidenced, because it demonstrates both outcomes and social value.

A domiciliary care bid or learning disability tender that highlights genuine community and employer relationships nearly always scores higher on outcomes and innovation.

🔑 Elements of a Good Partnership

Building sustainable partnerships means focusing on long-term collaboration, not quick wins. Strong employer partnerships usually include:

Clear communication with employers about expectations, role requirements, and support available
Support for adjustments — helping employers understand and implement reasonable adjustments, from job carving to flexible schedules
Training and awareness for line managers and teams to create inclusive workplaces
Ongoing reviews to check the match is working well for both employer and employee
Celebrating success stories jointly, which builds trust and encourages further opportunities

Employers are more likely to stay engaged when they feel supported too. A partnership works best when both sides benefit — the individual secures meaningful employment, and the employer gains value, diversity, and reputation.

📊 What to Evidence in Bids

Commissioners want to see tangible evidence of your employer partnerships. When writing bids, focus on:

Numbers and types of employers you partner with — local businesses, national chains, public sector roles
Examples of sustained roles — how long people stayed in employment, and what progression they achieved
Evidence of added value — training offered, workplace adjustments, or reduced recruitment costs for employers
Alignment with local strategies — e.g. regional employment plans, social value frameworks, or NHS anchor employment commitments

Our proofreading & review service helps you capture these details with clarity, so commissioners see not only what you do but also why it matters.

🌍 Why Employers Stay Engaged

Employers continue to work with supported employment providers when they feel the relationship is a partnership, not a one-off favour. That means:

Being responsive when issues arise in the workplace
Offering a clear point of contact for adjustments and coaching
Sharing success stories internally so employers see the impact on their own teams
Recognising and thanking employers for their contribution to inclusion

Long-term partnerships are built on trust, communication, and evidence that both sides are better off through the arrangement.

➡️ Beyond Supported Employment

Employer engagement is valuable in many parts of social care. For example:

In learning disability tenders, it demonstrates real-world inclusion and outcomes
In home care submissions, partnerships with community organisations can strengthen evidence of social value
Across all tenders, employer engagement shows providers are outward-looking, building stronger communities and networks

This makes your bid not only about service delivery, but about your role as a strategic partner in the local area.

💡 Practical Example

One supported employment service partnered with a large supermarket chain. Instead of placing individuals in generic roles, they worked with managers to identify specific tasks that matched people’s strengths, such as stock rotation, customer service, or click-and-collect preparation. The employer gained dedicated staff in high-turnover areas, while individuals gained stable, valued employment. This kind of example is powerful in bids and inspections.

📚 Catch up on the full Supported Employment Series:

🌟 From Aspirations to Real Jobs
🧭 Person-Led Vocational Profiling
🤝 Building Employer Partnerships
🪜 Effective Job Coaching
📊 Measuring Outcomes that Matter
🧩 Making Reasonable Adjustments Work
🔁 Staying Employed: In-Work Support, Reviews & Progression