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Supported employment for people with learning disabilities in the UK: the last 15 years
- Authors:
- MELLING Kathy, BEYER Stephen, KILSBY Mark
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 16(2), April 2011, pp.23-32.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
In the April 1997 issue of Tizard Learning Disability Review these authors wrote of their aspirations for the development of supported employment in the United Kingdom. This paper revisits these aspirations against a changing policy context with the introduction of Valuing People and Valuing People Now. It reviews developments in employment policy, innovation, the framework for funding supported employment and changes in the level of employment for people with learning disabilities since 1997. Despite significant improvements in policy, not much has changed for England in terms of the number of people with learning disabilities employed. However, there are a number of positive developments to draw on to ensure that this number increases. This article summarises the progress in this area over this 15 year period and the challenges that remain. It suggests the need for further action to deliver the Government's vision of employment inclusion and to secure the rights of people with learning disabilities to a place in the workplace.
A comparative study of the situation of supported employment in Europe
- Authors:
- BEYER Stephen, DE URRIES Francisco de Borja, VENDUGO Miguel Angel
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 7(2), June 2010, pp.130-136.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
A web-based questionnaire about the services at agencies offering supported employment (SE) in the European Union (EU) yielded responses from 184 organisations from mostly, Spain, Finland and United Kingdom, (also Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal and Romania) in October-December 2006. Most respondents offered a wide range of services, with 83% offering SE (50% beginning in last 5 years). Services such as vocational training and sheltered work provision were offered by 40% and 25%, respectively. Significant variation in the provision of the 5 elements of SE, vocational profiling, job finding, analysis and placement, job training and support (skilled job trainer/on-the-job co-worker) and follow-along services was evident which could disadvantage people with intellectual or learning disabilities (ID). Funding of SE varied with 22% relying on short term European financing. People with ID were the largest (35%) group of users of SE. Working hours varied with 73% working over 24 hours-a-week and a minority on permanent contract, except in the UK where SE remains largely part time (37% less than 12 hours-a-week) suggesting poor harmonisation within welfare benefit legislation provision across the EU, disproportionately affecting people with ID, say these authors. Variation in models used, financing, hours of support (already low, say these authors) may lead to less effective SE and a call is made for follow-up studies.
The cost-effectiveness of supported employment for people with severe intellectual disabilities and high support needs: a pilot study
- Authors:
- SHEARN Julia, BEYER Stephen, FELCE David
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 13(1), 2000, pp.29-37.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The costs and outcomes of supporting seven people with severe intellectual disabilities and high support needs in part-time employment were compared with those of a Special Needs Unit (SNU) of a day centre, both within-subject and against an equal-sized comparison group. The income of those employed was described. Direct observation of the employment activities and representative SNU activities were undertaken to assess participant engagement in activity and receipt of assistance, Social contact in general and social contact from people other than paid staff. Costs of providing service support were calculated taking account of staff: service user ratios, staff identities and wage rates and service-administrative and management over-heads discusses the results.
Financial costs and benefits of two supported employment agencies in Wales
- Authors:
- BEYER Stephen, KILSBY Mark
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 11(4), 1998, pp.303-319.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The costs and financial benefits accruing from two employment agencies were analysed over the two years of their operation. The analysis determined the net costs for society as a whole, the taxpayer and the supported employees, when reductions in welfare benefit payments and costs to previous day services, and increases in tax were taken into account. The results indicated that supported workers generally benefited financially as a result of their uptake of paid work but that costs outstripped financial benefits for the taxpayer and society as a whole. The results also indicated that the cost-benefit performance of the two agencies was improving over time, suggesting that the financial benefits of providing the service could ultimately outweigh the costs involved.