Collaboration in Supporting Employment John Dolan Chief Executive Disability Federation of Ireland

DFI a collaborative resource The only national voluntary disability umbrella body with member organisations across the sector –Over 100 in membership Wide range of organisations are members –By disability / condition, size, geographic range, types of supports and services provided Building capacity of members for collaborative working. Expanding representative role, nationally & locally.

DFI: National & Local Ten Regional Support Officers DETE & FAS Advisory Committees developing a comprehensive employment strategy DSFA Advisory Committee re adequate income, benefit traps, activation programmes Disability Stakeholders Group comprehensive, high level oversight

NDS/T16 “Ireland where people with disabilities have, to the greatest extent possible, the opportunity to live a full life …” Five high level goals for people with a disability set out in Towards 2016 Balances disability-specific and mainstream initiatives Inter-agency working responsibilities

T16’s Five Goals Every person with a disability would have access to an income which is sufficient to sustain an acceptable standard of living; Every person with a disability would, in conformity with their needs and abilities, have access to appropriate care, health, education, employment and training and social services; Every person with a disability would have access to public spaces, buildings, transport, information, advocacy and other public services and appropriate housing; Every person with a disability would be supported to enable them, as far as possible, to lead full and independent lives, to participate in work and in society and to maximise their potential, and; Carers would be acknowledged and supported in their caring role.

NDS & Supported Employment Mainstreaming = belonging in a work- oriented culture Person-centred approach Recognise different capacities; a range of “work” scenarios, some heavily supported long term Grey area in the range of ‘rehabilitation’/‘pre-development’/’job ready’ where collaboration critical

‘Bridging’ Programmes in T16 DETE & HSE work together to enable people to move from rehabilitation to vocational training –Slow to progress DSFA activation for people with disabilities –Small pilot in Midlands Role for Office for Equality, Disability & Mental Health

Supported Employment Programme Static despite growth economy WRC review Recent announcements: –Drop to 8 hour minimum –Assessment, and intensive support if appropriate –Employer focus

What getting a job probably looks like for a person with a disability …

What hiring a person with disabilities probably looks like to an employer …

Applying What We Already Know The person with a disability sees a chasm between his/her current situation and a job S/he needs confidence to jump That depends on trust and an on-going relationship An employer faces the unknown S/he needs on-going access to reliable expertise

Building Collaboration Voluntary disability organisations can do more to facilitate/activate/support –On the (potential) employee side –On the employer side They know well the individual and the disability or disabling condition They can be the confidence builder

Building Collaboration Voluntary organisations traditionally have focussed on special, health services With the new environment under NDS/T16, need to collaborate with more partners –More voluntary organisations need to look outwards –More employment-oriented agencies to seek out voluntary organisation links

Building Collaboration Commit human and financial resources Agree nature of scale and scope of changes which need to take place Policies and framework for co-operation Commitment by the whole organisation Transparency and trust between organisations

Building Collaboration Co-operation sufficiently prioritised Any legacy of past failures or disappointments overcome Not trying to rush things too quickly Comfortable not giving too much up or too much away Confident consistent with own self interest

Barriers to Working Together  Trust (Lack of)  Turf (Competition, Cost Exceeds Benefit,)  Resources (Time, Finance, Human Resources)

Collaboration for Employment Easy to say; hard to do, but essential to reach the long term goals

Disability Federation of Ireland Fumbally Court Fumbally Lane Dublin 8 Website:

DISABILITY FEDERATION OF IRELAND Regional Support Officers Anthony Carrick DFI Dublin Office Din Laoghaire Dublin South East Wicklow Mobile: Office: Louise McCann DFI Dublin Office Dublin South City Dublin South West Dublin West Kildare / West Wicklow Mobile: Office: Martin Naughton DFI Dublin Office Dublin North Central Dublin North West Dublin North Mobile: Office: Joan O’Donnell DFI Dublin Office Meath Louth Cavan Monaghan Mobile: Office: Alison Ryan DFI, c/o Comhairle 101 North Main St. Cork Kerry Mobile: Office: Michael Corbett c/o DFI, Acres, Newport, Co. Mayo Galway Mayo Roscommon Mobile: Office: Toni Gleeson The Forge Croke Street, Thurles Co Tipperary Limerick North Tipperary East Limerick Clare Mobile: P.J Cleere Tinryland Carlow Kilkenny South Tipperary Waterford Wexford Mobile: Office: Marcus Hufsky DFI NRC Forthill, Sligo Sligo Leitrim Donegal Mobile: Office: Jacqueline Thomson DFI, Fumbally Court Fumbally Lane Dublin 8 Laois Offaly Longford Westmeath Office: Mobile: