Working in partnership with

Background 3,200 staff Merthyr, Cynnon & North Rhymney Valley Three hospitals Aberdare, Merthyr & Mountain Ash 21% of working population receive Incapacity Benefit

Requirement Hotel Services -Porters -Domestic -Catering -Health Care Assistants -Bank

Partners Neighbourhood Learning Centre Working Links Remploy Job Centreplus Merthyr Borough Council

Characteristics Long Term Unemployed No Particular Age Group Unskilled Want to work Stress / Depression Enthusiastic for a job start

Course Content 11 days duration Interview with feedback for real jobs Pre Course Overview Team Building Customer Care Emergency First aid Health & Safety COSHH

Course Content Welsh Language Awareness Confidentiality Basic Food Hygiene How to Complete an Application Form Basic Interviewing Skills Manual Handling Skills

Data 4 Courses held to date 54 Participants 38 Job Offers with Trust 4 with other Organisations Further courses planned for 2006 Cost £200 per participant

Next steps Welsh Assembly Government Interest Trust Skills Audit Roll out to other Organisations Roll out to other Sectors

TRAILBLAZER Partnership between North Glamorgan NHS Trust and Remploy Assist in the recruitment and retention for people with disabilities and those with a health condition

STRATEGIC GOALS Coincide in a number of areas: Overcoming social exclusion Securing a balanced workforce Recruitment and retention Rehabilitation

4 SPECIFIC COMPONENTS Recruitment Plus Retention Plus Opportunities Plus Rehabilitation Plus

RECRUITMENT + Aimed at supporting people with disabilities or health conditions who are seeking mainstream employment Makes it easier to apply for the job Advice leaflets Dedicated Helpline number with Remploy….leading to Confidential Support Service Normal recruitment processes followed ‘Soft landing’ for rejected candidates

RETENTION + Provides support with: Situations where health or disability factors affect a persons ability to do a job Linking (via Remploy) to other appropriate agencies Retraining to aid redeployment An individual, confidential service for each employee Formulating a Retention Agreement between the employer and employee

RETENTION+ A typical action plan includes: A graduated return to work Adaptations/reasonable adjustments Departmental DDA and/or Disability Awareness training Personal development plan Mentor/support worker Personal advice on in-work benefits Specialist training and/or skills update Interface with specialist agencies where health intervention is required, eg, mental health – Health minds at work. Regular monitoring and review to ensure everything going to plan

OPPORTUNITIES + This scheme in no longer in operation since 2006 Work placement scheme (for up to 6 months) in vacant post Totally funded by Remploy (at appropriate Trust grade for post) Posts: clerical, catering, housekeeping, nursing assistants, portering,…. Structured training programme Guaranteed job interview

BENEFITS TO THE TRUST Job-ready applicants for posts Improved relevance/quality of applications Minimising barriers in recruitment Proactively developing recruitment and retention policies Access to specialist benefits Developing and strengthening relationships with external agencies Acquisition of badging (eg, two ticks) raises public profile of Trust as a good employer National interest from central government (Westminster and WAG) Funding secured

BENEFITS TO THE INDIVIDUAL Access, confidential help, advice and support Equipped with vital employment skills Capable of making a valuable contribution to the Trust Access to appropriate vacancies Feedback/coaching service Retraining to aid redeployment Overcoming external barriers to unskilled employment

TRAILBLAZER LAUNCH Success rates : Retention + Assisting existing employees return to work after a prolonged absence due to ill-health. Currently working with 10 people. 5 6 people have been on the scheme since it commenced 26 people have progressed back to employment within the Trust.

TRAILBLAZER LAUNCH Opportunities + Paid Work Experience – During people completed the programme 6 people obtained employment with other care providers 20 people have obtained work with the Trust

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