Peer support for employment Liz Sayce Disabled People Leading Change

Origins A group of Disabled People’s Organisations started meeting regularly, with DR UK, to consider what would help halve the disability employment gap and realise the right to work Conclusions: peer support could make an important contribution, alongside policy levers to increase opportunities and changes to how work is structured So we shared experiences – from Job Clubs to peer mentoring and disability employee networks; from on-line to face to face Disabled People Leading Change

Why peer support? Forbes top business trends 2016: We are in a connecting economy – top performing businesses will focus on the value that comes from connecting customers: Airbnb is the largest global provider of accommodations – yet owns no buildings Facebook is the largest media company – yet creates no content Could employment support create human value through connecting people, not rely only on ‘provision’ of professional support? Effective connecting requires investment Disabled People Leading Change

Why peer support? History The independent living movement from the 1970s showed how deeply disabled people learnt from each other: eg how to employ PAs and lead the life you choose The mental health recovery and survivor movements showed the value of user-led groups, peer support workers – to foster hope and mutual support, in our chosen life paths We learnt there was nothing quite so powerful and motivating as sharing stories and drawing on lived experience – learning from ‘ordinary role models’, changing power relations, reducing fear Disabled People Leading Change

Capturing knowledge Disabled People Leading Change Radar 2007: evaluation of sharing work stories (Doing Work Differently publication). Unanimously positive response from diverse disabled people, and welfare to work providers ‘The publication supported me through a traumatic work experience. It gave me more confidence in myself to apply for jobs. My last job had made me lose all confidence and now I am in a job I love’ ‘When I was given the publication I thought ‘here we go, another waste of time’. In fact it boosted my morale. You made me realise that I am not on my own’ But we needed to go beyond publishing to wider sharing……

Disabled People Leading Change

Local DPO employment work Learning from many DPOs suggests people who may believe they cannot work gain encouragement, understanding of barriers and how to overcome them, new possibilities, jobs/self employment – and gains in self esteem from supporting others in peer support (giving not just receiving) Journey to Employment: Pilots in 3 areas. Community employment specialists in DPOs, with lived experience, working with Job Centres Disabled People Leading Change

Career development Disabled People Leading Change

DR UK Leadership Academy Community leadership programme with mentoring and coaching by and for disabled people: 82% of over 500 participants said they were more likely to act on leadership aspirations at end of programme. Went on to be trustees, school governors, entrepreneurs, campaigners, a local Mayor, Muslim leader….. Leadership Academy career programme: 80% of participants achieved their career development aims, from promotions and new jobs to leading new projects and using new skills Disabled People Leading Change

Separate worlds Peer support in disability/health condition organisations mainly geared to general well- being/health outcomes Large scale employment programmes geared to work outcomes – without peer support There is small scale peer support for employment entry & progression; networks in some companies Relatively little learning from peer support for employment in fields of ex-offenders, homelessness etc Can we bring these worlds together? Disabled People Leading Change

Opportunities Peer support/mentoring as part of the new employment support offer to disabled people Peer support offered before ‘work programme’ is available? Building on DPOs’ peer support track record in gaining skills (eg traineeships, apprenticeships), job entry, retention and progression Building partnerships and scale Being clear on how to enable peer support that is intensive where needed, sustainable. Disabled People Leading Change

DR UK is pulling together report on good practice examples: we will be in touch Disabled People Leading Change