Next Step Project Main findings of the NextStep project A Leonardo Da Vinci partnership Peter Furlong

Partners Work Research Institute, Oslo, Norway (coordinator) Universidad de Salamanca. Instituto Universitario de Integración en la Comunidad, Salamanca, Spain University of Lapland, Finland Welsh Centre for Learning Disabilities, Cardiff, UK Northern Ireland Union of Supported Employment, Belfast, UK Optima arbeidslivsmestring Grete Wangen, Oslo, Norway Salva Vita Foundation, Budapest, Hungary Uniwersytet Warszawski, Warszaw, Poland KARE - Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities, Newbridge, Ireland Misa AB, Solna, Sweden Kiipula Foundation / Vocational Rehabilitation Centre, Turenki, Finland

The Process The aim of the project was to identify how the 5-stage process for Supported Employment works as a model since it was developed as a standard by the EUSE in The aim was to examine the process looking at its implementation in various local, regional, and national settings. To examine the strengths and weaknesses of the 5 stage model after 5 years in operation. To identify lessons learnt and the exchange of experiences and the identification of improvement procedures.

What happened The steering group was a representation of practitioners and researchers. Each practitioner carried out a case study of the implementation of the 5 stage supported employment project in their country describing: The organization and resources of any agency acting as a case study. The processes operating in relation to the 5-stage supported employment model The client groups and employers served in the case study. The work and personal outcomes delivered for the clients and employers involved in the case study. The national and local policies and legal frameworks that underpin the success of the case study.

Main Findings 1. The EUSE 5 stage process is well known and service providers use it 2. Perceived as a guide for performing Supported Employment in Europe 3. Lacks clearcut measurable quality criteria – service providers can do almost as they wish and still call it Supported Employment. 4. Main activities appear at stage 2, which indicates that service providers focus on pre- employment activities rather than activities directly at the work place. 5. There has been very little attention to how Supported Employment performed according to the EUSE 5 stage process works with and supports employers, and how the work place is used in partnership with employers for training purposes and job development. 6. Also very little attention has been paid to develop natural and on-going supports

Observations and Questions Why does stage 2 of the Five Step Process take so long? Has the old regime of «train then place» returned into SE: o Training o Other issues than work o The job readiness paradigm Shouldn’t stage 2 be rather short according to the place-train principle? Why does it happen that clients of Supported Employment following the EUSE 5 stage process are seen as not “job ready”? Is it up to individual employment specialist to judge whether a client is “job ready”? Should SE be ‘work focused’ or ‘whole life focused’?

Questions and Observations Is SE about «job development» or «recruitment of labour for employers»? What competencies should funders expect from a job coach?

Further Information on Next Step http;//