Making it Work

1
Making it Work

• Embedding a supported employment approach in
  vocational education and training for people with
  learning difficulties
• yola.jacobsen_at_niace.org.uk

2
Making it Work

• This project will produce and pilot a training
  pack
• for staff working with people with learning
• disabilities in the post-16 education sector
• Why? - wide range of levels of understanding
  about
• supported employment exist
• Is it all about sheltered employment?
• We need to be shown how to do this, not just
  have
• information.

3
Policy Drivers

• LSC strategy Learning for Living and Work
• (2006), by 2010 no funding for vocational courses
• that dont have a focus on supported employment
• or learning in the workplace.
• Supported employment model not defined in the
• LSC strategy.
• Jan April 2008, nine regional LSC Learning for
• Work conferences, people keen to make things
• change but need guidance.

4
Policy Drivers

• Progression through Partnership(2007)
• DWP, DIUS and DOH joint strategy for
• education and training for disabled learners.
• Development programme to be published as
• part of the Machinery of Government changes,
• supported employment a key part of
• this.

5
Foundation Learning Tier

• The FLT is policy in the making. As such
• thinking may change.
• Foundation Learning Tier refers to qualifications
• at Entry Level and Level 1within the newly
• formed Qualifications and Credit Framework
• (QCF).

6
FLT Progression Pathways

• Four Progression Pathways intended to provide
• progression
• to a first full Level 2
• to Skilled Work (Apprenticeships)
• to independent living or supported employment
• to a Foundation (Level 1) Diploma or GCSEs.

7
Getting a Life project

• ODI and Valuing People Support Team ..to find
• new ways of doing things that will help people
• get better lives
• - 7 sites nationally
• - focusing mainly on young people going through
  transition
• - collaborative working across agencies
• - transition into employment a key focus
• - site to pilot Making it Work pack

8
Making it Work Progress to date

• Started April 2008, runs until March 2010.
• Project Advisory Group includes
• Chair, Steve Beyer, University of Cardiff
• BASE
• Lead from ODI Getting a Life project
• Colleges
• SEAs
• Remploy

9
Progress to Date

• Fieldwork visits included Colchester
• Institute ROSE project Havering College
• and Chichester College
• Call for information, nearly 100 responses

10
Next Steps

• Expert seminar in October to consult on Framework
• for Pack that will be written
• Three regional pilots of draft pack in Spring
  Term
• 2009, involvement of people with learning
• disabilities and parents and carers will be key
• Re draft pack in light of feedback
• Launch March 2010

11
Supported Employment

• BASE 2007 conference - How can we
• develop a supported employment approach
• in vocational courses and training?
• Suggested models included

12
Open employment S.E. Social enterprise workshop
DEA benefits advise
F.E.
Work Placements
Parent/ Carer Involvement
Connexions
Joint working
Supported Employment
College / School
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INTEGRATED FUNDING -- LSC -- DWP
-- DoH
COLLEGE
EMPLOYER
LEARNER / WORK SEEKER
WELFARE BENEFITS
SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT
14
Outreach communication
Community based
Short courses which are related to employer
needs Local market
SES
College FE
Work placement officer
Mentoring Event
Customer / client
School / Parents
Expectations Aspirations
15
TRAVEL you get to work
Share employment database How supported at
work Curriculum Parent / Carers expectations
Individualised learning / flexibility
PCP
FUNDING Conflict of Interest re.
qualifications Level Train to gain
--Short Courses -- Individualised to local
labour market Individualised budget plans
16
Questions for you

• Further suggestions for fieldwork visits?
• (Examples of interesting practice of joint work
  between
• education/training providers and SEAs)
• Case studies of interesting practice?
• particularly of
• - Parent/carer involvement
• - Supported employment and people with
• profound and complex learning disabilities

17
Making it Work pack

• What do you want to be in the pack to help your
• work with education providers? Please be
• specific
• What elements should be in a course curriculum
• that is taking a supported employment approach?
• Any ideas for useful resources you would
• recommend are signposted in the pack? please
• give details

18
Making it Work pack

• Good practice checklist What are your top three
  practical tips for colleagues in education and
  work based training starting out with developing
  a course or training using supported employment
  approaches?

19
What is your experience?

• Work with post-16 education and training
• Providers - what what worked well and why?
• Any strong case studies that could be used
• in the pack?