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People into Employment: supporting people with disabilities and carers into work
- Author:
- ARKSEY Hilary
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 11(3), May 2003, pp.283-292.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Carers and people with disabilities are disadvantaged groups at risk of social exclusion. Work is an important route to inclusion, but carers and people with disabilities are under-represented in the workforce. Reports key findings from a new study that evaluated People into Employment (PIE), a pilot employment project in north-east England designed to support people with disabilities, carers and former carers in gaining mainstream work, aiming to identify what clients, partner agencies and employers perceived to be PIE's most important services, its strengths and areas where there was scope for further development. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected at the mid-point and at the end of the project through 2 questionnaire surveys and interviews with clients, the project development officer, partner agencies and employers. Drawing on the 'pathway model', the findings show that PIE's interventions included mobilising, matching, mediating and supporting activities. Key ingredients of success include: tailor-made job-search activities and training; adjusting the pace at which people move towards sustained employment; recognising and responding to the differing needs of people with disabilities, carers and former carers; confidence boosting; accompanying clients to job interviews; good job matching; and ongoing practical and emotional support for both clients and employers. Rudimentary calculations suggest that the cost per job to the project is less than the cost per job for large national projects. Overall, these findings illustrate how access to employment via flexible job-search services geared up to the local labour market can successfully promote social inclusion for carers and people with disabilities.