Agenda item

To receive a report on the Local Employment opportunities for residents affected by special educational needs and disabilities.

RECEIVED the report of the Executive Director – People, to update the Board on the Council’s work to increase good quality employment opportunities for disabled people set out within the Fairer Enfield Policy.

The report was introduced by Shirley-Anne Wheeler, Integrated Learning Disability Service Therapies and Employment Service Manager, LB Enfield. It was aimed to get adults with learning disabilities into jobs and maintain them in their jobs. The report contained details of what had been done and the successes in Enfield. The Equals Employment Service and ESF funding was highlighted.

There was also support for young people affected by SEND to be aspirational in their vocational pathways. A goal was to double the number of internships. Andy Johnson, Head of Post 16 Provision, provided detail on the supported internship programme.

Additionally, the Mental Health Enablement Service supported Adult Social Care clients into employment.

Officers worked hard for the Council to be a beacon employer, working with HR to make adapted roles, and be a model for other employers.

Questions were invited from Members.

In response to Members’ queries, it was confirmed that this was a very person centred service, with each individual and their skills identified, and appropriate employment for them. Language and cultural needs were also considered, for example with interpretation, BSL, Makaton, etc.

Nick Chanda asked about the biggest employers of 16 to 24 year old clients. It was advised that SMEs tended to be more reluctant than large employers, so the majority traditionally went into organisations like B&Q, Homebase, and hospitals. Individuals were asked about their own aspirations and areas of interest, and now there was a local brewery, retailers, and hospitality businesses providing a broader employer base. Challenges were in getting employers or particular departments/managers to take a chance on a young person, and in encouraging parents that it was right to prepare for adulthood through employment. The employment ranged from high level jobs at top accountancy firms to stacking jobs with retail companies.

Cllr Cetinkaya asked about support to the employers and tax incentives. It was advised that they had access to work funding from the Department for Work and Pensions for support needed for the workers, such as for personal care needs.

The response from employers, once they had taken a chance on a person, they were frequently recognised as an asset to the company and it was likely they would go on to employ a further person the following year.

In response to queries on numbers, it was advised that this year, 58 young people were going through the Supported Internship Programme and it was anticipated 54 would complete the programme, which would be similar to the usual success rate of around 70%. Numbers in respect of the individuals referred via the Mental Health Enablement Service could be forwarded after the meeting.

The supported internships involved dedicated classroom staff and job coaches to support a young person in the workplace as necessary. For those not ready to apply, there was a supported preparatory internship to get to the required level. It was also important that those going through internships had an employer at the end of the programme, and it was difficult to scale up further. There was also an aspiration for more sheltered employment places, such as at Café 311 at Community House.

The Chair thanked the officers for attending and providing the update to the Board, which was noted.