Annex 1
Mencap's Pathway Employment Services have,
largely in response to differing funders requirements, differentiated
elements of service provision. However, key principles remain
constant throughout all services, which are summarised below:
Services provide an integrated approach to assessing
and meeting individual needs in the employment context.
The following elements are available to all clients.
Following referral, each client is given confidential interviews.
At these interviews, the candidate's ability, willingness and
motivation to work towards entering the labour market is discussed
and assessed. If the ability (determined by assessment), willingness
and motivation are present, the individual will be offered support.
On entry, various "Pathways" to employment are
explored in more detail with the participant and an appropriate
individual package of support is negotiated and agreed. These
interviews will result in the drawing up of an individual action
plan, which details the chosen and preferred options.
Participants will be able to access elements of the
integrated "Pathway" from the following "menu".
These elements are available to the participant as required. Some
of these elements may be provided by others.
Basic Vocational Training
- A detailed Task Analysis of all elements of a
particular job leading to job specific training using Systematic
Instruction techniques where appropriate.
- Provision of off-the-job integrated training
to prepare the beneficiaries for the particular demands of their
chosen vocational area:
- e.g. Food Hygiene Certificate
Safe Manual Handling and Lifting
Customer Care Training
Social Skills including Life Skills
Intermediate Vocational Training
- Job Coaching to learn how to carry out particular
tasks in the workplace.
Higher Vocational Training
- Access to National Vocational Qualifications
in partnership with local further education providers.
Information Technology/Core Skill Support
- An analysis of the communication skills required
of the client in the working environment. An analysis will be
made to consider the ways in which beneficiaries acquire new skills,
knowledge and understanding and these will be taken into consideration
when determining appropriate career choices.
Vocational Advice and Guidance
- In depth interviews to establish previous job-related
activity by each client.
- Identification of a range of possible career
intentions which the client wishes to examine further.
- Clear information in an accessible format to
enable the client to make an informed choice about their preferred
career intention.
Individual Needs Assessment
- A detailed analysis of the degree and nature
of the individual support required by each client according to
the demands of the chosen employment option.
- An assessment of each individual's preferred
learning style and communicative competence.
Individual Action Plans
- Action planning with each client to detail appropriate
steps to achieving personal work-related goals in specified time
periods.
- Action Plans will be under constant review and
will be changed to reflect client needs and aspirations in the
light of job-related performance towards set targets.
- Clients will retain a copy of their Individual
Action Plan and will be asked to sign significant entries and
changes as agreed.
Motivation and Orientation
- Individual guidance and counselling given to
each client to increase motivation and provide orientation to
a preferred career intention.
- Opportunities to develop self confidence and
self-esteem in group and 1:1 situations.
- Opportunities to develop advocacy and self advocacy
skills to promote autonomy and self esteem in the employment context.
- Development of problem solving, decision making
and team working skills.
- Wage subsidy, by agreement with SPS contractors
and help in calculating the impact of earnings on benefits.
Help into Self Employment
- Help into self employment, where appropriate,
including the consideration of work teams or co-operative developments.
Work Experience/Trials
- Work Experience Opportunities with local employers
who are part of Mencap's network of employer contacts.
- Opportunities for Job Sampling to give clients
the chance to make informed choices about the kind of job they
want to do.
- Individual support and monitoring during the
early stages of work experience or job placement.
- Work experience placements.
Job Search Assistance
- Advice and information about job and training
opportunities locally.
- Job Search Skills including Units on "How
to Find a Job" and "Interview Techniques".
- Access to a register of local employment opportunities
in conjunction with the ES.
- Help into self employment, where appropriate,
including the consideration of work teams or co-operative developments.
- Liaison with other service providers (eg Social
Services Departments, Job Centres, Employment Services personnel,
Benefits Agency staff etc).
Grants to Individuals:
- These will be considered and funding sources
examined where appropriate.
Job Guarantee:
- Job Guarantees will be negotiated with employers
where possible.
In addition each service provides:
- Targeted support to the employer to ensure that
the impact of a person's disability is taken into account without
this being seen as a barrier to employment. This will necessitate
Disability Equality Training for front-line and Supervisory staff
and a thorough analysis of the particular working environment
which is proposed for each individual; i.e. levels of supervision;
degree of self motivation required; nature and range of communication
requirements; the need to function as a member of a team; the
instances where job tasks and roles change and providing support
to enable the client to cope with these changes.
- Direct support to the employer and the individual
beneficiary to ensure satisfactory job performance and to deliver
skills training in context, i.e. directly on the job. These techniques
are therefore passed on to work colleagues who can provide on-going
and long-term support as required, with the available back-up
of the Pathway Employment Officer as required.
- Long term support to the family to ensure that
concerns of parents, carers and siblings are taken into account.
This ensures that the client receives positive support from those
close to them to sustain motivation, deal with particular problems
and provide positive encouragement.
The above represents elements of best practice in
this field as developed by Mencap's Pathway Employment
Service (recognised as the leading provider of specialist employment
services). However, we fully recognise and embrace the need to
continually reflect upon service delivery and development from
all perspectives, including both those of employers and participants,
in the design implementation, monitoring and review of services.
|