Regional SEN Transition to Employment Initiative
Sept. 2010‐ Sept. 2014
Regional SEN Transition to Employment Initiative Priority 1: Supplying Young People with Skills for Learning and Future Employment Theme 1: Tackling Underachievement Cost:
£16,639,131
(Grant £9,583,874 Match £7,055,188)
Participants: Primarily young people aged 14 – 19 years who have severe and complex needs, a learning disability, those with an autistic spectrum disorder and their families/carers. (Participants can still access the project after they are 20 yrs if there is an identified need)
Project Sponsors 9 Local Authorities
• Bridgend • Caerphilly (Lead) • Carmarthenshire • Merthyr • Neath Port Talbot • Pembrokeshire • Rhondda Cynon Taff • Swansea • Torfaen
5 Contracted Service Providers
• Elite Supported Employment Agency • Learning Disability Wales • Mencap Cymru • Remploy/N.A.S • W.C.L.D. at Cardiff University
Work Preparation Results (to end May 2014) •
Employers collaborating
•
Work experience placements completed
1,195
•
Work preparation accredited units achieved
1, 166
•
Participants achieving 1 or more work preparation accredited units
•
Participants achieving L1 QCF Award Developing Skills for Employment
38
•
Participants gaining paid employment
57
•
Participants gaining voluntary work
67
•
15 peer mentors supported work placements Supported employment agencies worked with 879 participants
751
674
Employer Feedback “An excellent work placement. B worked hard and showed good work ethic. Excellent enthusiasm throughout.” “C is a lovely, intelligent young man. He really enjoyed the painting, would be nice to spend more time with him. Pleasure to work with him.” “If D lived closer to the base I would have offered him a part time job. A good worker and good personality.” “K has been given a number of tasks by staff and had always completed each of them without any issue. As each new week has begun we have noticed how K has automatically started his day with the tasks previously completed with out the need to be prompted by the team, this has been excellent and is exactly what we would expect from a new member of staff. Always polite and courteous to staff, K has also spent time clearing tables and interacting with customers which has shown great confidence on his part. K has very much been part of our team and staff have enjoyed working with him.”
Parent/Carer Feedback “X has changed so much, he’s more chatty, independent and confident.” “X enjoyed the whole experience – although initially reluctant when it was first planned he thoroughly embraced and learned a great deal from the placement. It increased his self-worth and he perceived it to be a very grown up and adult thing to do.” “It have him more confidence outside the school environment and was a good introduction to the everyday adult working way of life.” “It gave X confidence and a sense of belonging”. “X enjoyed his work placement, he enjoyed the social interaction; the placement made him feel important and gave himself worth.” “X thoroughly enjoyed her time, she is now looking for a part time job and the experience has given her this confidence.”
Young People’s Feedback • • • • • • • •
It was better than school it was the best ever. I was happy with my overall experience at the farm. The staff were nice and helpful and also the animals were nice as well. I’ve been happy playing with the children. Would have liked to do longer. Awesome. I’ve liked the experience of doing something new. In the future I’d like a job where I can be creative. Good idea of how to fit wheels and tyres now, hooked on going to work. Everybody is decent here and I’ve enjoyed myself.
Project Aims To deliver a comprehensive model of support, tailored to individual need, for young people and their family/carers, that will: • Raise aspirations and motivation, increase participation in learning, volunteering, employment and social opportunities • Motivate young people and others in their life to prepare for the future by working with them in a person centred way to plan, foster a greater degree of independence and inclusion in the community • Address key barriers to employment and increase employment prospects • Work towards a change in practice of those working with the young people and their family/carers through delivery of training and provision of support • Develop a Framework and Toolkit of good practice and procedural guidance that can be replicated elsewhere
Project Model Five Pathways in the Transition to Adulthood Independent Living
Life Long Learning
Employment
Person Centred Approaches, Peer Mentor Support, Collaboration
Leisure Opportunities
Relationships
Training, sharing practice/information, networking/events, Advisory Group, support – families/staff/other professionals
Delivery Referral → Getting to Know You → Intra-team Referral
Independent Living Skills Worker
Peer Mentor Support Worker
Youth Inclusion Worker
Psychology Support Worker
Employment Training Co-coordinators & Advisors
Duke of Edinburgh Development Officer 1 to 1, Group work Practical, community based activities, Accredited Training, Residentials, Celebration/Awards Events
Accredited Units wide range offered including……
Level One
Entry Levels • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Friends Safety with Strangers Anger Management Understanding Sex & Relationships Understanding Substance Misuse Introduction to Community Leisure Activities Introduction to Countryside Awareness Peer Mentoring Personal Hygiene An Introduction to Road Safety Introduction to Using a Bus Gathering Information to Enable Use of Public Transport Personal Shopping
• • • • • • •
Person Centred Planning Internet Safety Awareness Healthy Eating through Practical Cookery Skills Basic Nutrition, Food & Hygiene Skills Tackling Bullying Confidence Building Anger Management & Emotional Wellbeing Level Two
• • •
Mentoring Skills Respect Disability Awareness Managing Children’s Behaviour
+ Entry & Level One Units related to vocational topics, work preparation & employment + QCF – NOCN L1 Award in Developing Skills for Employment
L.A Hub Results to date (May 2014)
Participants enrolled 1761 • • • • • •
Transition Key Workers Independent Living Skills Psychology Support Youth Inclusion Family Liaison D. of E. Award (3 Hubs)
1080 938 896 739 659 183
Person centred examples: • Getting to know you • One Page Profiles • Portfolios • Digital Films • Transition Plans
4705 accredited units delivered to participants
+ • • • • •
80 family members attended accredited PCP course 10 parents completed sex & relationships unit 6 parents completed a Disability Awareness unit 5 parents completed managing behaviour unit 5 parents completed aromatherapy/massage course
• Peer mentors trained (mainstream schools, colleges, youth groups) 1077 • Participants trained as peer mentors • Family trained as peer mentors
80 30
3198 870 248 83 738
Success Story ‐ Gerraint • Youth Inclusion: Bowls Club • Agored courses: Friends, Sex & Relationships, Strangers, Internet Safety, Managing Anger, Travel Training, Mentoring Skills • Politics: Youth Forum Chairperson Environment sub-committee • Young Inspector: Inspects youth provisions • Chairperson: Project Youth Council • Chairperson: Learning Disability Wales National Conference 2012 & 2013 • Peer Mentor: Support for other young people • Finalist: Autism Hero Awards – Outstanding Personal Achievement “The knowledge and skills I have gained from courses has helped me to cope with every day life.” “Over the years I have been with you I can not thank you enough for all the support you gave me. Without you I would not have understood my autism or had the confidence to achieve all the opportunities open to me.”
Feedback ‘I’m really pleased that Gerraint is so busy, he has grown in confidence and has a better social life than me.’ “The project has had a big impact on Nathan’s life. If it wasn’t for the project I don’t know where we would be.” “If it wasn’t for you lot Ceri wouldn’t be where he is today, he wouldn’t be doing anything.You are the only people that have helped me and Ceri, Ceri wouldn’t be like he is today.” “I have always felt isolated since my son was diagnosed with Aspergers… then I was put in touch with the Real Opportunities team and I have to say it has changed our lives for the better.” “The Transition Team has been fantastic in their support towards my daughter Chloe and us as a family. Chloe is a changed girl and it’s all thanks to them.” “Since meeting with (psychology support worker) to talk about anger, I have calmed down a bit and learnt how to walk away from arguments and not lose my temper so much. Working with the Real Opportunities team is going well, I’ve found them helpful and supportive.”
Training (Learning Disability Wales)
Aim To widely disseminate the aims, objectives and ambitions of the project to participants, their families and carers, project staff and all other relevant staff from the participating organisations. This also includes professionals working outside of the project, with project participants.
This is to promote and ensure: • • • • • •
Continuity of work A more comprehensive model of support Partnership working Networking, problem solving and idea sharing Continuity of PCP between school, home, work and leisure. Arising issues are dealt with through appropriate and timely training.
Attendance to date (May 2014) • • • • •
Project briefing Project Induction I Day PCP 5 Day PCP Masterclasses
776 333 157 49 214
•
Staff Conference attended by 75 from across all 9 authorities
•
Dissemination Conference attended by 81 professional + participants + staff
Networks • • •
Employment Planning for the Future Inclusion
76 113 105
2013 •
Staff Conference attended by 75 from across all 9 authorities
•
Dissemination Conference attended by 125 professionals, participants, parents + staff
Residentials (pan project) • •
Young people & staff (2012) Young people & staff (2013)
80 89
Celebration Event (pan project) 2014 •
Young People, staff, families 244
2012
2014 •
Dissemination Conference attended by 125 professionals, participants, parents + staff
Information & Toolkit (Learning Disability Wales)
A central aim of the project is to disseminate and share best practice as widely as possible so that the Real Opportunities Model can be successfully replicated elsewhere. To meet this aim: • • • • • • • •
Monthly Project Newsletters – 300 email recipients + 120 hard copies p.m. Project Website www.realopportunities.org.uk 1801 sessions (March-May’14) Social Networking (@Real_Opps Real Opportunities) (Twitter@Real Opps) Twitter 809 followers Facebook 245 likes, average ‘reach’ 300 people each week Flyers, Leaflets Articles in Publications - Wales, UK, Europe Presentations/training – Wales, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Finland
• Toolkit
External Evaluation (W.C.L.D.)
Proactive external evaluation throughout the life of the project to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the model/methods and project outcomes as they develop Reports received:
Reports due:
• 1st Staff Web Survey
• Leaver Study
• Supported Employment
• Peer Mentor Study
• Transition Key Working
• Inclusion Study
• Ministerial Briefing
• 2nd Staff Web Survey
• Travel Training
• Sustainability Study
• Work Experience
• Final Report
• Person Centred Planning
Contact Details Angela Kenvyn Project Manager Trinity Fields School & Resource Centre Caerphilly Road Ystrad Mynach Hengoed CF82 7XW Tel: 01443 814447 E-mail: kenvya@caerphilly.gov.uk