Job boost for people with learning disabilities
NEW funding will help a number of adults with learning disabilities and autism in Gloucestershire move into work.
Around £210,000 will be made available to support 60 jobseekers.
The Government’s new Local Supported Employment initiative will provide grant funding to 24 local authorities in England and Wales.
The investment will total £7.6 million over the next three years.
It is hoped that adults with learning disabilities, autism, or both, will be able to move into competitive employment and will have the help they need to maintain that employment.
The funding and support will include assigning job coaches who can carry out vocation profiling, engage employers and provide in-work support to help develop more careers.
The Government hopes to see a million more disabled people in work by 2027, five years early.
Minister for disabled people, health and work, Chloe Smith, said: “Disabled people deserve the same opportunities to start, stay and succeed in employment as everyone else.
“We know that those with autism and learning disabilities can face particular barriers to employment, which is why we’re spending £210,000 here in Gloucestershire through the Local Supported Employment initiative. We hope to break down those barriers and use local networks to help more disabled people reach their full potential.”
The Department for Work and Pensions ran an LSE pilot with nine local authorities for 18 months from November 2017. Following a consultation process with those involved, it has incorporated feedback and lessons learned into the design of the latest initiative.
Evidence from other supported employment programmes suggests that at least 30 per cent of participants should start some form of work following involvement in the initiative.
The longer-term aim is to provide further evidence to local authorities of the value of supported employment to help drive further investment and secure effective employment for more people with learning disabilities, autism, or both.