I work at a bus depot that has just been taken over by another company.
We’ve got a cleaner who, I suppose in modern language, would be described as having learning difficulties.
The new company has given us details of the new shifts and positions for all the engineering staff. It’s a bit complicated because there’s two depots involved.
There’s no mention of a position for a cleaner.

Now, I haven’t asked too much because I’m not sure where to draw the line between showing concern and prying, or being helpful and being patronising.
I believe there are schemes to help handicapped people find work, with the DSS subsidising the employer in some way. Putting it down as training or whatever.

How do I go about getting him on one of these schemes if I can, if he wants to and if the new company wants to as well ?

First piece of advice: don’t refer to him as being handicapped.

Very thoughtful of you Graham, what a nice thing to do.

No idea what I’m talking about but I’d talk to the cleaner first and ask him his thoughts. Could be the company have already discussed his position with him and an amicable agreement has been made. Assuming that’s not the case and he’s not opposed to what you’re proposing take it further, firstly by talking to the company HR dept (if they have one).

I wondered if someone would pick up on that franksinatra.
My sister is mentally handicapped. It’s a phrase I have used for over 40 years. I think intention is more important that the actual words.
If people are going to be offended by it, even when I’m clearly not trying to be offensive, then I suppose I will have to change with the times.
What is the current phrase ? Does “learning difficulties” cover it ?

tonyd, he definitely wants to stay and we (the other engineering staff) want him.
I know he got bullied at a previous job. He’s part of the gang now with us and I wouldn’t want to think of him being unemployed, with little chance of another job, or taking his chances somewhere else.

Why would a cleaner be on the Engineering shifts/positions information anyway?

They aren’t likely to overlook it, probably in a different department or outsourced to a specialist company, in which case TUPE likely to apply

He should have a contact in the local Social Services department, who might not be aware of the changing circumstances at your employers.

I’d definitely make them aware of the situation, so they can liase with your employers and see what their plans for him are, if any.

Now, I haven’t asked too much because I’m not sure where to draw the line between showing concern and prying, or being helpful and being patronising.

I’d say you were just being helpful and supportive.
Nice one.

What about casually mentioning to an appropriate person that you’d noticed your colleagues name wasn’t on the rota? If they have made arrangements re his work, no harm done, and if they have overlooked it, it brings it to their attention.

To clarify;

Does this chap work with you currently at your depot and you’re concerned that his position may be surplus to requirements at the “new” place ?
Or do you know the bloke from outside of work (i.e. he’s your domestic cleaner) and you’ve picked up on the fact that there might be a vacancy at the new depot(s) ?

Sorry, didn’t mean to be smart arse about it, just better that someone corrects you here rather than at work! You are right though, intention is much more important, good on you for looking out for your colleagues. Learning Disability is probably better, but in this context he is just your colleague.

Does sound though like you need a better idea of what is actually happening first. Irrespective of any disability, his employee rights are the same as anybody else. If his post is at risk, he should have had advance notice, redeployment etc etc. Check if this has happened, or if it is even needed.

Cheesy feet makes a good point – is he likely to be on another spreadsheet somewhere? You might want to do some asking tout de suite in case you’ve got him worrying un-necessarily (unintended consequences eh?!).

If they’re large enough to have an HR department I’d be suprised if this hasn’t already been dealt with to be honest. Most people these days are so worried about equality that he was quite likely the first person they looked at.

Is my brothers Autism now a ‘learning difficulty’? In that he stopped ‘learning’ at 3 years old.

Learning difficult is a patronizing term IMO. My bro is mentally handicapped- far easier to understand. Or ‘special’ which isn’t an appealing term but some use it.

It’s a bit hard for me to find out whats going on because of the shift Im on this week. The new management have been in discussing things, but I only get to hear about it later, so I havent had a chance to bring this up.

I suppose i feel responsible because of my sister.

Cleaners, refuelers and mechanics all come under “engineering”.
If there was a job, it would be on our rota.

I guess he must have somone at Social Services who looks after him. I dont know if he has asked them for help.

Graham,perhaps ask the chap in question,he may well know the answers,better than us.

‘Has learning difficulties’ sounds about right for me (I have a little lad with special educational needs / learning difficulties). I know the accepted terminology used to be ‘mental handicap’ but that’s pretty much outdated now. I agree with project on this one, just ask the bloke directly, you never know.

Put yourself in his position. Would you like someone to discuss your job with you in the first place, or with some strangers on the internet?

First piece of advice: don’t refer to him as being handicapped.

Yes, the OP should have used the more technical term that is “Mental Retardation”. 😈

Definitely.

Learning Disability

Now you’re insulting me by lumping a mentally handicapped (deemed IQ below 70) person in with someone with dyslexia.

God.

If you can find out who supports this guy; could be family/ social services/ charity etc. Pass it onto them if you can as they will know his history/challenges/status with benefits.

Project, that would be the best option, but because of our shifts, i missed him today and may only see him briefly tomorrow.
Our new shift rota starts on Monday. I dont think he even knows if hes coming back to a job or a weeks notice
Its a shabby way to treat someone who could accurately and politically correctly be described as a vulnerable adult.

Im hoping that there is some sort of YOPS type scheme where the DSS will pay him to work here.
I doubt either he or the new management will have thought to ask. Im just trying to find out how to get him on it.

By the way, Id like to spologise for my big finger, little keys phone typing.

He was either employed by First, or wasnt, and was on some sort of scheme, ask the old management, for brief details if youre concerned, but expect the rules of privacy to intervene, also surely the chap in question has a phone, so ring him and wish him the best of luck for the future etc,and ask what his plans are.

Sadly mentaly handicaped people dont figure in a lot of peoples companies, and especially this governments, as they have just closed Remploy.

Also route one magazine,this week has a small article about your new company.

Best wishes Graham in your new job, eg same job probably just new paymasters.

Firstly, lots of terms being bandied around. You’re right the old term ‘mental handicapped’ is now ‘learning difficulty’. Dyslexia – that’s a ‘specific learning difficulty’. Handicapped is now ‘disabled’. Autism, or more correctly Autistic Spectrum Disorder, by the way is a genetic mental disability, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a learning difficulty.

As for the chap concerned; a quiet word with your line manager expressing your concerns is probably the most suitable way forward.

If his post is now defunct then a lot depends upon how old he is. If under 25 then the local authoruty should have a learning disabiltity education and employment personal assistant (sort of old skool careers advisor, more recently became Connexions advisors but sadly they were all axed pretty much by the current government). Alternatively have alook on your local authority’s website. Adult social care (social services as was) might have a disability employment service or advisor. Find out some phone numbers, then offer them to your colleague, maybe with I’ll help you make the calls if you would like me to.

You may find that he is already very well supported.

It is refreshing to hear someone else worry about another human being. Helps restore a little bit of faith in human nature. Thank you

Disabled will end up just like “Special Needs”. PC for a few years until people start calling each other “special”.

Also the neuroscience textbook that I’m using for my med stats thesis considers ASD a specific learning disability – as it’s a difficult in learning about other peoples minds. The book by Kandel et al (2012) is the authoritative Principles of Neural Science – 5th ed.

As only about half of autistic patients suffer from an intellectual disability (if we want to be really up to date 😛 ) (IQ below 70)

Was reading the chapter involved as I need to learn more about cognition in general for my thesis and studying disease/disability mechanisms is a good way of studying function.