Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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The role of supported employment agencies in promoting the health of people with learning disabilities: a briefing report for Department of Health and agencies
- Authors:
- VIGNA Elisa, BEYER Stephen, KERR Michael
- Publisher:
- Welsh Centre for Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 22p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
Health promotion is particularly important for people with learning disabilities. Particular health problems faced by people with learning disabilities include obesity, smoking and alcohol use. This research examines the role of supported employment agencies (SEAs) in promoting the health of people with learning disabilities. A web survey was set up to investigate the strategies used by the UK SEAs to prevent behaviour that risks health. Fifty agencies completed the survey: 79% from England; 13% from Wales; 4% from Scotland; and 4% from Northern Ireland. The report presents the results regarding the activities of SEAs in assessing, training and providing ongoing support in relation to health and well-being promotion initiatives. Data on the agency’s awareness of the health problems people with learning disabilities face were included in the survey results. The research identified health promotion assistance agencies either delivered directly or outsourced to health professionals. The paper identifies the potential for agencies to capitalise on their role as employment mediators to promote healthy lifestyles for employees with learning disabilities.
A guide to implementing assistive technology for people with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- BEYER Stephen, PERRY Jonathan, MEEK Andrea
- Publisher:
- Home Farm Trust
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 50p.
- Place of publication:
- Bristol
This handbook has been produced for for organisations and families who wish to implement person centred technology. The guide expertly lays out the case for assistive technology and telecare, putting it in context - how and why it should exist alongside existing services - and provides a clear guide to implementation.
Planning for the all Wales strategy: a review of issues arising in Welsh counties
- Authors:
- BEYER Stephen, et al
- Publisher:
- Mental Handicap in Wales Applied Research Unit
- Publication year:
- 1986
- Pagination:
- 67p., diags.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
An overview of issues that have arisen since the implementation of the All Wales strategy in 1983.
A financial cost:benefit analysis of Kent supported employment: establishing a framework for analysis: an interim report
- Authors:
- KILSBY Mark, BEYER Stephen
- Publisher:
- Kent County Council
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 26p.
- Place of publication:
- Maidstone
The aim of this study, commissioned by Kent County Council, is to develop a cost benefit framework that is robust enough to accurately identify the potential costs and savings to the local authority and taxpayer of delivering supported employment for people with learning disabilities through the Kent Supported Employment Agency service. The first phase of the 3 phase study, focusing on people with learning disability who had gained work from March 2009 to February 2010, is summarised in this report. The report sets out the method used, descriptive results, and cost benefit outcomes. The estimates show that there is a notional saving on average for people going into supported employment compared with average day service costs. The discussion of results notes that there are a number of uncertainties in the data, and that further work will be needed in phase 2 to obtain more detailed information and refine the analysis.
The costs and benefits of supported employment agencies
- Authors:
- BEYER Stephen, GOODERE Lara, KILSBY Mark
- Publisher:
- Stationery Office
- Publication year:
- 1996
- Pagination:
- 62p.,tables,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Report of a project looking at the operation and effectiveness of supported employment agencies for disabled people. Examines the net cost and financial benefits of the agencies and compares these with other employment schemes for disabled people. A number of non-financial benefits were also identified and discussed.
A systematic review of the literature on the benefits for employers of employing people with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- BEYER Stephen, BEYER Annie
- Publisher:
- Mencap
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 42
- Place of publication:
- London
This report reviews the literature on the business case for employers of employing people with a learning disability. For the review, systematic searches for research and grey literature were conducted on five databases, including Social Care Online. The results are presented broadly under the following areas: economic benefit to employers, in terms of work quality and reliability; improvements to workforce cohesion and staff morale; benefits from customer reaction and reputation; and perceived additional costs for employers, such as the need for additional support supervisors and making ‘reasonable adjustments’ in the workplace. Although the review found limited research literature on the financial costs and benefits to employers, it found that with the right support and job matching, people with a learning disability are valuable employees. It identifies research that people with a learning disability generally do stay in work longer, are sick less; are reliable time-keepers; and help promote good relationships with, and between co-workers. In addition, many of the ‘reasonable adjustments’ employers need to make are often cost neutral. The report concludes by highlighting the need for good supportive government policies and for job coach supported employment to be more widely available, for employers to deliver good employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities. (Edited publisher abstract)
Economic impact of inclusion of disabled persons in the labour market
- Author:
- BEYER Stephen
- Publisher:
- EASPD
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- iv, 80
- Place of publication:
- Brussels
This literature review was commissioned by EASPD to improve its understanding of the employment of people with disabilities in Europe and the strength of the financial case for inclusive employment. It provides cost-benefit analyses of labour market inclusion of people with disabilities can have for governments and public authorities, as well as the wider benefits for businesses and individuals. The review carried out extensive and structured searches on a number of database for research articles in English, published between 1980 and 2016. The main findings show that disabled people, taxpayers and government are likely to benefit financially in the long term from greater investment in employment in the open labour market of persons with disabilities. It also identified a large variety of models, working to different objectives, which support people with disabilities in work, training and employment. In terms of models supporting persons with disabilities into the open labour market, supported employment and individual placement and support have proved to be effective in doing so and with high cost-benefit return to the taxpayer. (Edited publisher abstract)
Regional SEN Transition to Employment Initiative (Real Opportunities): impact of the Real Opportunities project
- Authors:
- BEYER Stephen, et al
- Publisher:
- Real Opportunities
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 36
- Place of publication:
- Ystrad Mynach
An evaluation of the Real Opportunities project, which set out to address gaps in the support for young people with a learning disability, severe and complex needs and/or an Autistic Spectrum Disorder going through transition, by providing services designed to tackle the problems directly. The project provided a broadly integrated service approach linked to schools, driven by a person centred approach, with the availability of hands-on support to deliver selected transition goals. The report presents an overview of the project and the key problems in transition and considers the impact of this intervention in relation to: transition key workers, person centred planning, supported work experience, inclusion work, independence, and engaging peer mentors. (Edited publisher abstract)
What works?: transition to employment for young people with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- BEYER Stephen, et al
- Publisher:
- Shaw Trust
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 34p.
- Place of publication:
- Chippenham
Previous research has suggested the system of transition from school does not provide adequate support for young people with learning disabilities, particularly in relation to employment. This study set out to look at 6 different local authority areas providing different approaches to supporting young people with learning disabilities to make decisions about employment through external employment organisations (EOs). In all, 16 special schools, 1 mainstream school, and 5 colleges were included in the study. A total of 145 young people and their carers were interviewed about their experiences of transition and employment, including information on the vocational input the young people had in their last year from their special school, college or EO. The young people were followed-up 6 months after they had left to see how many had gone into employment. The findings revealed that young people received different types of vocational input from school, college and their EO. EOs mostly provided work experience, schools provided more qualifications based courses, and colleges more practical skills courses. Six months after leaving, 60% had gone onto college and only 16% to a job. The report concludes that there continues to be barriers for young people with learning disabilities who want to pursue paid employment on leaving school or college. The implications for local transition policy and practice are discussed.
Working lives: the role of day centres in supporting people with learning disabilities into employment
- Authors:
- BEYER Stephen, et al
- Publisher:
- Corporate Document Services; Great Britain. Department for Work and Pensions
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 161p.
- Place of publication:
- Leeds
The qualitative research took place in nine Local Authorities across England, to obtain the perspectives of users of day services, their carers, managers and staff of days services, and managers of employment-related providers, both within the Local Authority and independent of it. Key findings include: the majority of people interviewed who worked were paid. Most people earned only the minimum wage or just above; most people worked for less than five hours per week, some worked five to 15 hours, and a small minority worked more than 16 hours; carers were more critical of day services than were people with learning disabilities; carers views on employment varied widely, but many carers were powerful advocates for employment. Many carers we talked to valued work highly and felt that being employed was beneficial to their relative; day centres varied greatly in the emphasis they placed on achieving paid employment outcomes. Some focused on employment and understood good practice in the area, while other were imprecise about how their activities helped people to get jobs; it is easier for people to find and stay in work if they receive specifically targeted support in which employment of their choice is assumed to be a goal; evidence suggests that a comprehensive range of work exploration, work placement and support services are required to help a greater number of people into paid jobs; the reason people work few hours is mainly due to the perceived and potentially real loss of earnings due to Income Support rules which acts as a disincentive, rather than due to limits deriving from health and support needs.