‘REAL PEOPLE, REAL JOBS ’ Supporting Young People with a Learning Disability into the World of Work Stuart Mackinnon – Services Manager Mencap Cymru
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OVERVIEW UNDERSTANDING LEARNING DISABILITY MISCONCEPTIONS, SOLUTIONS AND SUPPORT REAL OPPORTUNITIES PROJECT AN EMPLOYER / EMPLOYEE VIEW MENCAP AWARDS
What will we be doing today? Finding out more about learning disabilities
Thinking about some of the barriers faced by people with a learning disability seeking employment
Looking at the benefits of employing someone with a learning disability, and the support available to employers.
What is a Learning Disability? ‘A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability, which affects someone for their whole life. People with a learning disability may take longer to learn and develop new skills, understand information and interact with other people The level of support someone needs depends on the complexity of their learning disability. For example, someone with a mild learning disability may only need support with things like getting a job, whereas someone with a profound learning disability may need full-time care and support in every aspect of their life.’
A learning disability may affect: •
Learning
•
Understanding
•
Communicating
People are all different • Everyone with a learning disability is an individual. Learning disabilities can be mild, moderate, severe or profound. • A learning disability lasts all your life. It is not a disease or illness that can be cured.
How can I tell if somebody has a learning disability? You will not necessar ily know!
Some people have physical things you can see. The way someone speaks or responds can give you a clue - some people may not use speech at all
How many people have learning disabilities? • About 60,000 people in Wales have a learning disability
This number is growing
40% of people with a learning disability also have a physical disability
Causes of learning disability • We don’t always know the exact cause of learning disabilities • All learning disabilities are caused by the way the brain develops: - before birth - during birth - soon after a baby is born
What is the difference between mental ill-health and learning disability? Learning Disability • From birth • Affects the way you learn, communicate and understand • Can not be treated medically or cured
Mental Ill-Health
•
Can start at any point in life
• Affects the way you think, feel and behave
•
Can be treated with therapy or drugs, which can help some people
POPULAR MISCONCEPTIONS Live in nursing homes
ALL
Cant Communicate
OF
Need care all the time
THESE
Cant travel independently
STATEMENTS
No skills or Qualifications
ARE
No Work Experience
SWEEPING GENERALISATIONS!
Living Independently
Studying
Working
Travelling
Mencap and it’s Partners want society to change its negative assumptions about people with learning disabilities so that they are valued positively and equally.
Employment Statistics
Only x in 10 people with a learning disability have any sort of paid employment.
Only 1 in 10 people with a learning disability have any sort of paid employment.
Only x in 50 people with a learning disability earn a living wage.
Only 1 in 50 people with a learning disability earn a living wage.
x% of people think that people with a learning disability can’t work.
62% of people think that people with a learning disability can’t work.
Why Employ
People with a Learning Disability?
1 – SKILLS
2- LOYALTY 3 –COMMITMENT
4 – DIVERSITY 5 – ADDED VALUE 6 – DDA / EQUAL OPS
JRF Research 2004 – ‘disabled
employees generally stay in the job for longer than their nondisabled counterparts. They have a strong commitment to work, as well as good punctuality records and low absentee rates.’
POTENTIAL BARRIERS -Benefits -Culture -Family Influence -Infrastructure -Lack of Opportunity!
How we support people with a learning disability to gain work placements or employment
•Vocational profiles and C.V • Job searching and action plans •Applications and interview support • Building individual confidence through team building events • Workshops on social skills • Travel training
• Work tasters and trials • Consistent support through entire process
• Initial health and safety checks
• Support to make reasonable adjustments • Monitoring and review • Support to address difficulties and concerns • Buddying system •Ongoing support of employment officer for both employer and employee
SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYERS •Training and Awareness •Disability Employment Advisors (DEA’s)
•Funding / Access to Work •Personal Support •Assessed Labour Pool
Real Opportunities is a project that works across 9 local authorities in
South Wales to support young people aged between 14-19 who have severe and complex needs, a learning
disability, those with an autistic spectrum disorder, and their families/carers.
The project offers a comprehensive package of support based on individual need. Working in a person centred way the project aims to increase young peoples’ vocational skills, live more independently, overcome psychological barriers and move towards employment. Support Offered: •Transition Planning •Person Centred Planning & Family Liaison •Skills for Living Independently •Work Preparation & Employment •Psychological Support & Behaviour Management •Youth Inclusion & Peer Mentor Development
The project is funded by the European Social Fund and supported by the Welsh Government and match funded by the Local Authorities it operates within:
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Bridgend Caerphilly Carmarthenshire Merthyr Neath Port Talbot Pembrokeshire Rhondda Cynon Taff Swansea Torfaen
For employers the project offers:
•1 – 2 -1 Support for all Clients from a specialist Job Coach • Structured Approach to work through OCN / ASDAN • Fully Risk Assessed •Preparatory visits to employers •Disability Awareness Training • Positive publicity Benefits
Employer Case Study:
Luigi Ciaburri – Manager Carwyn Owens – Employee Co-operative
Cross Hands
MENCAP / REAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER AWARDS!
Thank You/Diolch Stuart Mackinnon – Services Manager 01267 23256 ext 303 Stuart.Mackinnon@Mencap.Org. Uk