EmploymentIn Devon

Presumption of employability

• What does it mean?

• It is a belief that everyone with a

learning disability has a quality or

a skill that someone will either pay

them directly to use or buy the

product of…..

...and….

• ….That people can work full time

What do we mean by employment?

• People being paid the national

minimum wage

…or

• People being registered with the

Inland Revenue as being

self-employed

Number of hours

• 16+ or more • This is only 4 hours a day for 4 days a week • This will enable people to be better off by having money they have earned and claiming working tax credit

The statistics now

• In Devon 70% of people in the general population are in employment

• Nationally 47.7% of people with disabilities are in employment

• Nationally 6.4% of people with a learning disability are in employment

• In Devon 5.7% of people with a learning disability are in employment and reviewed

• If we take out the review 8% of people with a learning disability in Devon are in employment

• General statistics from the Office for Disability issues (Aug 10)

Providers of support into people’s own homes

• We need providers of support to look at whether the services they are providing are acting as a disincentive to the people they support to work.

• We need paid providers to believe in the person and their ability work full time earning an income, assisting the supported employment consultant with ideas as to the person’s skills and talents.

Providers of support into people’s own homes

We need paid providers to actively

support people by assisting them to

• look smart for interviews

• be up on time for work

• organise their social life and

keeping their home clean and tidy outside

of their working hours, where this type of

activity is part of the support contract.

Myth busting………….

I cannot work more hours because I have art and drama

This quote came from someone with a learning disability whose remaining potential working time hours had been filled with leisure activities

Leisure activities are important but need to provided or facilitated during evenings or weekends. This frees the person up to seek employment.

Tenancy related support also needs to be commissioned outside of work time and in a way that provides the support to the person for them to keep their job.

You as an employer

• There is a strong business

case to diversifying your

workforce, including the

employing of people

with a learning disability.

You as an employer

• They are dedicated, hardworking and loyal

• It improves team and organisational performance

• It helps you to become an employer and service provider of choice

Increasing the supported employment support market

We want providers:- • Whose staff believe in the

presumption of employability

and people working 16+ hours

• that see the potential in people,

identifying their transferable

skills and what motivates them

Increasing the supported employment support market

• that employ staff who understand

and believe the business case

and can persuade employers• Whose staff can marry up the

needs of an employer with the

talents and interests of the person• Who find people a job and then break

down the task areas, teaches the

person and withdraws

Self employment

We want providers:-• Whose staff believe in the presumption of employability and people working 16+ hours regardless of the level of disability• that see the potential in people, identifying their transferable skills and what motivates them• that have knowledge around what is a viable business opportunity• That have the knowledge to support the person in the backroom functions that are essential but

complex.

What next?

Raising interest amongst skilled providers Identify what the market can provide Identify what the market would need from us as a

commissioner Make sure that the market knows what is expected of it Help and encourage development into the market by

providers who could be able to meet our requirements Run a competition within the market to select providers

with the right focus and quality to meet out requirements. Raising interest amongst skilled provide

Devon Success Story….

Sarah

Working at Sainsbury’s

Sarah’s Success Story

• Sarah had completed a work experience placement at Sainsbury’s in Newton Abbot a year earlier whilst attending South Devon College and had really enjoyed it.

• From day one of Sarah starting to job hunt she was adamant her dream job was restocking shelves at her local Sainsbury’s supermarket.

• They met the Newton Abbot HR Manager to arrange a work trial for Sarah, who was really excited.

Sarah’s Success Story

• The job coach started travel training Sarah for the first time from her home to the store and within a few weeks Sarah was walking to Sainsbury’s independently.

• Sarah’s work trial was a great success, but she was told it was going to be a couple of months until Sainsbury’s were in the position to offer Sarah a contract.

• Over the summer months the travel training progressed so Sarah could catch a bus.

• Whilst waiting for a job at Sainsbury’s, Sarah applied for many other jobs including Asda and Next but had no success.

Sarah’s Success Story

Sarah’s Success Story

• By this time Sarah’s summer holidays were over and Sarah was due to start another college course at South Devon College.

• Sarah and her family saw Vincent to look again at all the financial implications.

• Sarah decided that it would improve her chances of gaining a 16-hour job if she didn’t go back to college but continued to look for work.

Sarah’s Success Story

• In October Sarah was offered a job at Sainsburys

• Sarah, along with 6 other new employees, completed the Employee Induction Training at Sainsbury’s, supported by a job coach.

Sarah’s Success Story

Following the induction training, Sarah was handed her 16 hour contract and started working inthe dry goods department the very next day!

10 people?