A profoundly deaf lady from South Pembrokeshire is thrilled to have secured a full time permanent job with a major leisure company after 10 years of working in temporary seasonal jobs.

Kathleen Williams, who lives with her husband in Sardis, was diagnosed as deaf when she was just 10-months-old.

Despite her disability, Kathleen was determined to lead a totally independent life, and has managed to support herself with a variety of temporary and summer jobs.

When not working, she has kept herself occupied by supporting others in the deaf community and especially members of the Deaf Club in Pembrokeshire. However, she was still frustrated at not being able to secure permanent full-time work.

In April this year, she contacted her local Jobcentre plus office in Pembroke Dock where Angela Rogers, the Disability Employment Adviser acknowledged her plight and referred her to the Bluestone Leisure Ltd. Open Day.

With funding from the Access to Work initiative, an interpreter was secured to support Kathleen and she was able to apply for a catering assistant position on the day.

Kathleen impressed her prospective employers and was invited to return to the company's Assessment Day which ended with Kathleen being offered a full time, permanent job with Bluestone Leisure Ltd.

On starting work, Jobcentre Plus continued to support Kathleen by securing the services of the interpreter for her initial training and also giving advice to her new team to help them all communicate effectively.

Kathleen is grateful to her disability adviser, Angela Rogers, Stevie Lewis, Pembrokeshire County Council and Helen Morris her interpreter.

Kathleen said: "Thanks to Jobcentre Plus I now have a permanent job which I love and have the security of all year round employment. I am still able to attend the Deaf Club on Thursdays as my 40 hour a week rota allows me to work full time and still support the local deaf community."

Debbie Rainbow, human resources director with Bluestone Leisure Ltd is delighted with their new recruit.

"Kathleen has successfully completed her probationary period and has become a valued member of staff at Bluestone. We are extremely happy with the support we have received from Jobcentre Plus, Access to Work and Work Step. This is the Local Employment Partnership working at its best."

If you are a person with a disability and struggling to find work, or an employer wanting to know more about Local Employment Partnerships, please contact your nearest Jobcentre Plus office.