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Social work support for employment of people with learning disabilities: findings from the English Jobs First demonstration sites
- Authors:
- STEVENS Martin, HARRIS Jess
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work, 17(2), 2017, pp.167-185.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Summary: This article brings together two key themes in recent public policy in England affecting social work practice: the value of having a paid job for social inclusion and increasing self-worth, and the personalisation of public services. The article draws on a mixed method evaluation of Jobs First, which was a government-funded demonstration site project that aimed to show how personal budgets (a key mechanism for personalisation) could be used by people with learning disabilities, often with their families, to purchase employment support. The evaluation involved secondary analysis of case record data and 142 semi-structured interviews with a wide range of participants (we mainly draw on 79 interviews with professionals for this article). Jobs First is placed within the frame of Active Labour Market Policy. Findings: The attitudes of social workers to Jobs First were broadly positive, which was an important factor supporting employment outcomes. However, social workers’ involvement was often limited to a coordinating role, undertaking basic assessments linked to resource allocation and ensuring that support plans, which had often been developed by non-social work practitioners, were ‘signed off’ or agreed by the local authority. Applications: The study points to important elements of the role of social workers in this new field of practice and explores potential tensions that might emerge. It highlights a continuing theme that social workers are playing more of a coordinating, managing role, rather than working directly with individuals to support their choices. (Publisher abstract)
Jobs First evaluation: final report
- Authors:
- STEVENS Martin, HARRIS Jess
- Publisher:
- King's College London. Social Care Workforce Research Unit
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 181
- Place of publication:
- London
Jobs First was a Department of Health demonstration project which ran from April 2010 to October 2011. This project aimed to test out the use of Personal Budgets combined with non-social care funding streams to increase the number of people with moderate to severe learning disabilities in paid employment. It also combined a focus on personalisation and increased employment, both of which remain important elements of central government policy as highlighted in the White Paper on adult social care ( ‘Caring for our future’, 2012). Five local authority adult services departments participated: Herefordshire; Leicester City; London Borough of Newham; North Tyneside; and Northamptonshire. Each aimed to select a cohort of 20 people with learning disabilities, eligible for adult social care, who were judged to have moderate to severe learning disabilities for whom assessments, reviews and support plans were to be refocused on employment. A comparison group of 20 people, who received standard services, was matched in terms of demographic variables and level of learning disabilities. The Department of Health commissioned this independent evaluation, to investigate whether and how Jobs First made a difference to employment outcomes for people with learning disabilities; and to Identify organisational and practice developments that support this goal. This report presents findings on the methods and sample descriptions; contextual factors to Jobs First implementation; professional attitudes to the employment of people with learning disabilities; attitudes and experiences of people with learning disabilities and their family carers; the process and practicalities of arranging employment related support; job coaching and employment brokerage with people with learning disabilities; the impact of Jobs First on local authorities; working with other departments and agencies to support employment of people with learning disabilities; funding supported employment; and employment outcomes and views of employment. This research supports other findings about the positive impact of employment for people with moderate to severe learning disabilities and, most clearly, about the value of good quality supported employment services as being the key to getting and keeping paid work. The report is accompanied by a summary report, easy read summary report, and a document about research tools used. (Edited publisher abstract)