Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 7 of 7
Jobs that challenge
- Author:
- HOPKINS Graham
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 30.09.04, 2004, pp.44-45.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Reports on a project from Yarrow, a London-based housing association, which is looking to improve the employment changes of people with learning difficulties and challenge employers' perceptions. The project aims to match up job seekers who have learning difficulties with suitable employers. Two staff work with local businesses to identify vacancies, provide continuing support and help employers to better understand the nature of learning difficulties.
Making social inclusion real for people with learning disabilities in North Lanarkshire
- Author:
- MACKAY Duncan
- Journal article citation:
- Soundtrack, 30, September 2004, pp.5-6.
- Publisher:
- National Development Team
States that people with learning disabilities have been among the most excluded. Describes examples of supported employment, supported living, day opportunities, education and empowerment. Gives 3 examples of people helped in North Lanarkshire.
Working lives: the role of day centres in supporting people with learning disabilities into employment
- Author:
- BEYER Steve
- Journal article citation:
- Llais, 73, Summer 2004, pp.3-7.
- Publisher:
- Learning Disability Wales
Summarises a research project jointly commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health, which explored how day centres are addressing employment, the relationships between day centres and employment related organisations, and the views and experiences of those who attend day centres and their carers. The research was undertaken to understand current provision and how employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities can be extended. The research used qualitative interviews with managers of day centres, organisations that help people into employment, people with learning disabilities in day centres and family and professional carers conducted in 9 local authorities across England.
Supported employment: a route to social networks
- Authors:
- FORRESTER-JONES Rachel, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 17(3), September 2004, pp.199-208.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Evidence suggests that social networks mediate social functioning, self-esteem, mental health and quality of life. This paper presents findings concerning changes in the social lives, skills, behaviour and life experiences of a group of people with intellectual disabilities (n = 18), who gained support from an employment agency to find paid work. The composition and quality of individuals’ social networks were mapped using a Social Network Guide. Changes in skills, behaviour and life experiences were assessed using standardized measures. The social network size of participants increased over time, with most social contacts being drawn from community contexts. This linked to improvements in life experiences, particularly in relation to leisure activities. Some improvements in adaptive behaviour were also found over time but no significant relationship between social network size and changes in adaptive behaviour were evident. Whilst work will not guarantee social relationships, it can help maintain network size and provides a good opportunity for people with intellectual disabilities to meet others who are not associated with intellectual disability services.
Network page
- Author:
- POZNER Adam
- Journal article citation:
- A Life in the Day, 8(3), August 2004, pp.30-32.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Profiles the in-house employment projects developed by City and County of Swansea over the last 15 years. For individuals recovering from serious mental health problems, these offer a good choice of supportive work environments in which they can rebuild confidence and develop skills needed for the wider labour market. The range of social enterprises includes use of computer and digital camera technologies as well as more traditional catering and gardening ventures. The enterprises with the most commercial promise are those that have developed good links with local public sector agencies. Highlights the importance of the role of statutory agencies in supporting such enterprises through commercial contracts and through positive action strategies in recruitment.
Nice job if you can get it: work and people with learning difficulties
- Authors:
- WILLIAMS Val, et al
- Publisher:
- Norah Fry Research Centre
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 39p.
- Place of publication:
- Bristol
This report is about employment opportunities and day centres and jobs for people with learning disabilities. It examines the policy background, and the motivation and barriers to work experienced by people with learning disabilities. Suggestions for enhanced advocacy and user led decision making are included.
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.