Ruth D Woodfine

Employability Project Manager

Percy Hedley Foundation:

“Aims to promote the rights, needs and aspirations of disabled people through the provision of high quality

specialist services”

Northern Counties College:

• 55 students (11 residential)• Caters for young people aged between 18-25 with

complex disabilities

Mission:

• A College for a Better Life

“To improve the life skills of disabled

people who need significant support

to access high quality learning”

Curriculum:

• Based around developing Life Skills & Work Skills• Some students complete qualifications with Edexcel, City

& Guilds, AQA & NCFE• Individual targets

Life Skills:

This includes• Travel & Transport• Independent Living Skills

Work Skills:

Pathways are• Business Administration• Arts & Media• Catering• Horticulture

The Employability Project

Developing employability opportunities for disabled people

Employability

is defined as the development of skills, knowledge & experience leading to the world of work.

Employers

Supported Employment

Orgs

Disabled People

EP

Demand

• Employer focused

Regional Employability Framework

Engagement Action Planning

Employability/ Services Menu

Job Placement Aftercare & Retention

Effective Case Management:

Common Reporting, Definitions & Tracking System

1st Level

Initial Contact

2nd Level

Information

3rd Level

See & Learn Visit

4th Level

Job of the Month, Visits, Work

Experience, attends events etc

5th Level

Advocate for ProjectNetworking

Maintain Relationship

Employer Engagement

Employers’ Forum on Disability

• Strategic partnership• Largest employer led disability body in UK• National membership • 1st regional partnership of its kind

What does the project do:

• Employer Engagement• Organise work placements, site visits, voluntary roles for

disabled people• Organise Employability sessions• Organise events for employers• Deliver 1 hr free awareness sessions

Disability MegaQuiz

Achievements across the north east• 230 Employers Engaged• 70% SME engagement across a wide range of sectors• 20 Training Sessions• 25 Events• 170 successful work experiences

Example of employers engaged:Age Concern (Newcastle)Aspire 2AspoonfulAyres Veterinary HospitalAzure Charitable EnterprisesBarclays BankBliss-AbilityC2M (UK) LtdChristopher Best PhotographyChurch HighConnect (South Tyneside) LtdContact a FamilyDickinson DeesDisability NorthDTZ (International Property Advisors)DWPEasibatheEpicurus Events LtdEquality North EastEvening Chronicle & JournalEvershedsFinding Ways LtdGateshead Council

Gateshead International StadiumGreggs PlcLinskill CentreLive EasyLSCMarie Curie Charity ShopMarks & Spencer LtdMarley Hill Pre SchoolMatalan Retail Ltd, GatesheadMuckle LLPNational GridNCVSNewcastle City CouncilNewcastle Special Needs NetworkNEXUSNHS – RREMSNorth Tyneside MBCNorthern Learning TrustNorthumberland, T&W NHS TrustNorthumbria University

NUFCOne NorthEastonebestway designPeacocksPersuasion PRPilgrims CourtRising Sun Country ParkShopmobility (South Shields)Soluntions 4 Social Enterprise LimitedSouth Tyneside Arts StudioSt Johns AmbulanceSt Oswalds Charity ShopStepney Banks StablesTDR GroupThe Cooperative GroupThe Lawnmowers Independent Theatre CoThe Parks Leisure CentreThe SageTyne & Wear MuseumsVivid Acoustic Systems LimitedVODAWhizzKidzWorking LinksY Salon Ltd

Work Experience Examples:

DVD

Employers, Employability &

Disability: “What’s it all about?”

Toolkit Phase 2 & 3

Employability

It’s not just about work experience

Bright Ideas NE

M&S Fashion Show at DNEX

Assistance at

events:• Reception duties• Administration assistance

Newsletter:

Employability Development Pilot:

• Employers selected• Launch of pilot 14/10• Activity running between Feb & July 2011

Website:

www.employabilityphf.org.uk

“It’s like taking your equality & diversity policy off the shelf, blowing off the dust, giving it a personality and putting it into practice” Ian Young, TDR Group

In conclusion – what does this mean for the employer?

• Positive community/customer relations• Social responsibility/equality schemes• Awareness for staff• Free employer led service

‘We will not interrupt your business but we will add value to it’