Guernsey Employment Trust (GET) is a charity that supports disabled and disadvantaged people to prepare for, find and maintain employment.
GET works closely with the business community, by offering advice on good practice regarding employment and disability matters. GET will assist employers on an individual basis to help fill job vacancies with the right people, as well as offering long-term support and training to colleagues while the individual settles in to their new role and working environment.
GET has been undergoing some changes recently, with in house promotions and new staff being recruited. The service is expanding following its success since becoming an independent Trust. Since the inception three years ago, GET has supported over 200 disabled people into paid employment and the response from employers has been extremely positive.
The former manager Nikki Ioannou-Droushiotis has taken on the role of Chief Executive. Nikki has worked for the service in its current and previous format for a total of 10 years. Nikki has been fundamental in shaping and developing the GET mission and service since it became a charity. She has been working with and helping disabled people since her school days and has worked within the field of supported employment for the last 12 years. “These are exciting times for all of us at GET while we have a change of staff, bringing fresh ideas and new experiences to the business. Our first three years have been a huge success thanks to the dedication of the team and the valued support from our employers and key stakeholders. We will continue to work hard to support disabled people to find and maintain suitable work and will focus on ways to improve on and continually develop our services.”
Alison O’Neill has been with GET for nearly 5 years and has been promoted to the role of Supported Employment Manager overseeing a team of Employment Support Officers. Prior to joining GET, Ally was in Team Leader positions withinDisability Services supporting individuals to live independently and to access respite. Before moving to Guernsey in 2008, Ally was a Learning Disability Nurse working as a Senior Staff Nurse at an Assessment and Treatment Unit.
Claire Nightingale has joined the team as Employment Development Manager, to focus on building relationships and opportunities with employers on the island. Claire has a 20 year career in Marketing branded and consumer goods. Her role is to liaise with employers on the island to help facilitate good practice in relation to recruiting, employing and retaining employees with disabilities. Claire will be developing the advisory service for employers as well as promoting the future employment and disability legislation.
Diana Brook has recently joined GET as the Job Club Leader. She will be developing the Job Club service to appeal to a wider audience who are preparing for and actively seeking employment. Diana has a background of working with students with social, emotional and behavioural issues. Prior to that, Diana spent many years in the finance industry both locally and as a Branch Manager in Los Angeles.
Following on from these appointments GET is currently in the process of employing new Employment Support Officers to join the team.
If you would like to find out more information about Guernsey Employment Trust please contact Nikki Ioannou-Droushiotis (Chief Executive) on 247999 or visit the website www.get.org.gg
