Alison Muir and Jaya Hopkins describe what a job with regular hours and pay means for service users and the organisations in which they work

People with learning disabilities have traditionally been excluded from the job market but, due to changes in national policies, such as those outlined in the Department of Health’s 2001 document Valuing People, they are being offered roles in the delivery of services. This article discusses the preparation and implementation of such a role, health access champion, in an NHS trust. The article also explains the effects of the appointment on trust staff and practices.