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New job for Joe with help of CSES

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 Joe Dillon with staff members Hilary Davis, Alana McGorrian and Rachel Ryan. Photograph by Declan MonaghanCUSACK Lawn man Joe Dillon has landed himself a job after proving to a potential employer what he was capable of.
Joe, who has an intellectual disability, has a wealth of experience of working in a catering environment and was keen to find work in Ennis. He went to Clare Supported Employment Service (CSES), a FÁS-funded agency that provides a free and innovative recruitment service for job-seekers with a disability and businesses in County Clare. Joe wanted to explore employment options that might be open to him.
Employment facilitator at CSES, Lorraine Hughes soon got a good idea of his capabilities, skills and interests and approached Hillary Davis, owner of Barney’s Kidzclub, Ennis, to discuss the potential of an unpaid work trial for Joe.
Keen to give Joe an opportunity to show what he could do, Hilary gave Joe his chance to shine by taking him on as a general assistant in her children’s activity centre, café, deli and sandwich bar. As catering work was Joe’s comfort zone and he has several nieces and nephews, he felt really relaxed around children and was very comfortable in a child-centred environment. It did not take Joe long to prove his worth, with the result that, last April, he became a formal member of staff and now works there on Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
“The lovely thing about this development is the impact it has on the wider community,” commented Alice O’Carroll, team leader with Clare Supported Employment. “As young children see Joe as an integral part of the staff at Barney’s, they learn about real integration, where people with all kinds of disabilities are part of the workforce.”
“I have found CSES to be extremely experienced and knowledgeable when placing their job-seekers in work experience and employment. Their support is continuous. Joe is a breath of fresh air. His infectious good humour and smile has a profoundly positive effect on staff and customers. He is a very popular member of our team and we have seen his role evolve, under his own initiative, to serving in the café,” she said.
Joe is equally pleased with his job. “I’m so happy working at Barney’s. It’s like my birthday every day down there,” he remarked.

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