VALUING EMPLOYMENT NOW 4 th March 2010 Susan Underhill

The Strategy  Valuing Employment Now was launched in June 2009  It is a cross government strategy to radically increase the numbers of people with learning disabilities into employment by  Focus on people with moderate to severe learning disabilities.

Understanding the Need for Change  For non-disabled people of working age employment levels are currently at more than 80%  " For disabled people employment levels are at 47% (up from 38% a decade ago – Valuing People Now: Three Year Strategy 2009)  " For people with learning disabilities employment levels, for paid work, remain disappointingly low. Less than 10% known to services, and of these only half are in employment as defined by the DWP.  65% of people with learning disabilities would like to have a job

Overarching Principles of the Strategy  If real disability equality is to be achieved work needs no longer to be seen as optional. The default must be that everyone will have the chance to get a job.  Work means real jobs in the open market that are paid at the prevailing wage or – Self Employment  As many people as possible working at least 16 hours per week because this is the point at which they are better off.  People with profound and complex disabilities should not be excluded from the world of work.  Delivering change will need strong leadership at all levels.

Economic and Financial Realities  No new funding. The emphasis is on making better use of existing funding for adults with learning disabilities  More effective use of existing resources including education, adult learning and employment support.  Local authorities will be encouraged to refocus spend on adult day services to supported employment and review and align provision under their new learning funding responsibilities.

Valuing Employment Now – What needs to happen?  Changing attitudes  Growing the presumption of employability from an early age  Joint Working for individual employment paths  Close partnership working and aligning of funding streams  Better work preparation at school and college  Foundation Learning, better work experience opportunities  The role of Personal budgets and social care  Personal budgets can and should be used to support adults with learning disabilities into work  Increasing high quality job coaching

The Delivery Plan  At national level a Cross-Government Delivery Team will report to the Minister for Disabled People and the Minister for Care Services as well as the national cross- government Learning Disability Programme Board.  At regional level Deputy Regional Directors for Social Care and regional Valuing People Leads will coordinate delivery and support local areas.  At local level Learning Disability Partnership Boards will include progress on this strategy as part of their annual reports London Skills and Employment Board

Valuing Employment Now - What’s Happening Now?  Getting a Life programme  Running in 10 Local Authority Areas  Project Search  Access to Work  New Work Choice programme  Foundation Learning  Local Authority Commissioning for

Valuing Employment Now –Discussion What are the challenges to delivering Valuing Employment Now?  How can we raise expectations?  How can we provide better and more effective work experience?  How can a partnership approach increase opportunities for sustainable paid employment?

Valuing Employment Now –Discussion  What are the challenges to delivering Valuing Employment Now?  How can we raise expectations?  How can we provide meaningful work experience  How can a partnership approach increase opportunities for sustainable paid employment?

Find out more The following websites will give you more information on some of the projects and programmes outlined in this programme: Valuing Employment Now - Strategy Valuing Employment Now – Delivery Plan Real Roles website Project Search Getting a Life Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities

Susan Underhill JH Consulting