From Institutions to
Independence - through
Employment.
24th Jan 2011
Mark Hodges
Development Manager
Pluss
What is Learning Disability?
• Learning Disabilities are a variety of disorders that affect
the acquisition, retention, understanding or use of
information
• Cognitive impairment caused at birth or in an individuals
formative years (under the age of 5)
• Previously known as mental handicap or retardation
• Learning Disability is not a mental illness
• People with Learning Disability are intelligent and have
abilities to learn despite difficulties in processing
information (may find it difficult or take longer to learn)
• People with Learning Disability may require additional
support and / or assistance in order to maximise their
potential
Pluss
History of Learning Disability
Employment provision in UK?
• Similar timeline as with Toms previous presentation
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Pre industrial revolution -“idiots” (but included in society)
Hospitals / large institutions (Starcross - 1500 people!)
Segregation / Treatment / Medical model
Closure programme of institutions (70s onwards)
Development of Community Care (70 / 80s onwards)
Development of Social Model (ATCs etc)
Systematic Training & “try another way” in US (70s +)
Development of Supported Employment in UK (80s +)
• 2011 Supported Employment continues to evolve ….
Different terms & models…
Pluss
Assessment & rehabilitation
Vocational training
Sheltered Workshops
Work experience
Wage subsidies
Sheltered businesses
Work Crews
Enclaves
Welfare To Work
Intermediate labour Market
Self Employment
Social Firms
Social Enterprise
Customised Employment
Supported Employment …
Pluss
What is Supported Employment?
Paid employment, in community jobs, with individuals,
with ongoing support for long term success, with clear
opportunity for ongoing integration & interaction with
people who do not have disabilities in the workplace.
(Diploma in Supported Employment 1998)
A method of providing support to people with disabilities or
other disadvantaged groups to secure and maintain paid
employment in the open labour market.
(European Union of Supported Employment 2005)
Pluss
Features of Supported Employment
• Job Seeker Vocational Profiling / Discovery
• Employer profiling / Work Place Analysis / Task Analysis
• Marketing (identify, anticipate & meet customers needs)
• Training (in situ through the “Place – Train” model)
• Identification & use of Natural Supports
• Fading / withdrawal
• Ongoing support
7 phase Sequence
7.Reconsider
1.Natural Ways
Natural ways
If not successful
6.Reconsider
Natural Means
2.Natural means
If not successful
5.Support/substitute
/Assist
If not successful
Successful acquisition
3.Natural People
4.Facilitate
/Train
7 Phase Sequence
•
Essential tool for organising and planning
•
Holistic approach to the job, the tasks, culture, learning and problem solving
•
Balances naturalness and individual need
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Ensures natural drives training decisions
•
Designed to be flexible with emphasis on enquiry and negotiation
•
1-4 Bias to natural
•
5-7 back up for Individual need
Marc Gold & Associates
Pluss
Why Work?
Having a job offers much more
than just an income.
It offers independence, dignity
and self esteem.
Employment should be
available to everyone.
Pluss
What is work ?
Work is important – its not just about earning money.
Work helps people to make new relationships and take part
in communities.
Many people with Learning disability want to work, and can
work in real jobs, with real pay.
But, not enough people with learning disability get real paid
jobs.
Pluss
Everyone should have a chance to work
Everyone can work IF they get the right support.
Services should support anyone with a learning
disability who wants to work.
Nobody should be left out.
People should get support whatever their
disabilities, health care needs or behaviours that
are challenging.
Pluss
Some statistics…
The average employment rate is about 75%
Nationally about 48% of people with a disability or long
term health condition are in paid work
Nationally and locally only about 7% (or less) of people
with a learning disability are known to be in paid work
The Valuing Employment Now plan is to close the gap!
Pluss
Valuing Employment Now delivery plan:
1. Grow the assumption of employability & raise expectations
2. Joint working to create individual paths to employment
3. Better work preparation at school, college and adult learning
4. The role of personal budgets & social care
5. Increasing high quality job coaching
6. Clear up confusion about Benefits system
7. Promote self employment
Pluss
Valuing Employment Now Delivery Plan
8. The need for employers to see the good business case
9. Transport to get to work
10. Addressing the barriers with where people live
11. Employment for the most excluded adults with learning
disabilities
12. People with learning disabilities and their families leading
the way
13. Batter data and performance management
Pluss
Getting A Life project…
- 3 year national cross government project
-12 sites across England
- 2 involving Pluss at Torbay and Somerset
- Aims to identify what needs to happen to ensure that young
people with severe learning disabilities leave education and
then go on to achieve paid employment and lead full lives
- Emphasis on Transitioning
- Emphasis on Partnership working between agencies
- Final report to follow in March 2011
Pluss
Valued In Public
- Campaign with a focus on Public Sector employers to
lead through good practice to recruit & retain a diverse
workforce including people with learning disabilities (and
to reap the good business arguments that result!)
- Employer driven…
- Attract !
- Select !
- Employ !
- Various public sector organisations have participated
including local councils, hospitals, and others
(Anne O’Bryan, Employers Forum on Disability and others including Pluss)
Pluss
Summary…
Presumption of employment for everybody
Valuing Employment Now / National & Local Strategy
Harsh economic climate / financial austerity measures
Importance of wise commissioning & good quality delivery
Risks to good practice
Transitioning
The continued evolution of Social Enterprise, Self Employment
& Supported Employment
New initiatives e.g. Project SEARCH – link to Anne O’Bryan
and afternoon visit to Derriford Hospital
Plymouth Project SEARCH