Referral Organisations
How partner agencies refer people into Access to Employment support across Lancashire.
Who refers into the service
Access to Employment accepts referrals from housing teams, community health services, probation and resettlement services, voluntary sector advice centres and local authority departments. Each organisation keeps its own caseload and remains the lead contact for the person it supports.
Referrers do not need to hold a full employment history for an individual. A short, accurate summary of the barriers to work and the support already in place is enough to start the process.
Consent is recorded before any details are passed on. Referrers confirm that the person understands what will be shared and why.
What happens after a referral
First contact
An adviser calls the person within three working days to confirm eligibility and arrange a first meeting.
Action plan
The adviser and the person agree short-term goals, training needs and any support with travel, childcare or digital access.
- Referrer receives written confirmation of acceptance or next steps.
- Progress updates are shared at agreed intervals.
- Cases close with a joint review, not an automatic exit.
People who are not yet ready for work can still be referred. Advisers can connect them to pre-employment courses and wellbeing support before job search begins.
Information to include
A complete referral includes the person's name and preferred contact method, their local area, the reason for referral, and any access needs such as interpreter support or accessible venues.
Referral teams can reach the central coordination desk during office hours. Urgent safeguarding concerns should follow your own organisation's procedure first.
For partnership questions, visit our delivery partners page or contact the team.
Referral volumes and outcomes are reviewed each quarter with partner organisations so that pathways can be adjusted to local need.