Adult Social Care continues to be a key player and will work in partnership to ensure that the MENCAP Now model is not only delivered in the Penwith area of Cornwall, but across the county with the other colleges and further education providers. Adult Social Care has also signed up to the In Control/Individualised budgets process, as part of initial pilots they would hope to identify people involved with transitions and the MENCAP Now project to further assist with the individual and personalised services at a local level. Further Information...

2. Somerset
Job Coaching

Aims to offer job coaching to the leavers from Bridgwater College in September 2008

Somerset will put in place necessary resource, including staff (2 job coach assistants and supervisors), information, advice and guidance plans for the exercise of inviting current 08 cohort to participate in job coaching programme.

Preparatory advice and guidance sessions will start in January 2008 to enable better communication and coaching programmes to be established prior to applicants graduating in summer 2008. The opportunity for weekly job experience opportunities would be valuable (1 day a week). Activities will be undertaken in association with the Local Employment Partnership [Job Centre Plus]. Further Information...

3. Transition House
New model of delivery

Project funding for a fourth year at the West of England college, aiming to introduce learners to housing provided by a visual impairment housing charity. If successful the intention is to introduce independent living to learners in the third year at the college, thus introducing sustainable progression. Further Information...

4. Weston College/NAS
Increased capacity

One of the reasons for the increase in referrals is the success of the specialist provision being developed for young people with Asperger's at Weston College. At the moment students requiring this higher level of need are catered for at residential college funded by LSC. Further Information...

5. Bridgwater College
Increased capacity

New provision for learners with mobility difficulties, improved facilities for wheel chair users within the college, developed on the Cannington College site. The current provision is able to support 7learners this will increase to 26 learners by 2009/20010; first intake 2007/08.

6. RNIB Weston
Resource base for visually impaired learners

To further develop the excellent work established with City of Bristol College more widely within the region and specifically with Weston College.

RNIB National Employment Services Manager and the SW (Somerset) Jobcentre Plus Incapacity Benefit Reforms Implementation Manager to take forward a SW RNIB specific project modelled on Pathways to Work.

7. Gloucestershire project: Northern Hub
Personalise learning

New models of provision to personalise learning for living and work including a “Fast Track” work skills curriculum and placement / brokerage staff.

An LLDD employment, information and advice service for Gloucestershire.

Accredited modules / programmes and training sessions for staff, delivering new programmes to standardise and develop consistency of approach. Development of key partnership agreements for agencies and providers

Employment Projects

8. City of Bristol College/Remploy
Supported employment

The following outlines a proposal designed to pilot and prove a model where, by taking an employer demand-led approach, an FE college, supported employment provision, work-based learning provision and specialist disability support can be effectively connected to deliver significantly improved rates of transition to sustained employment for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The model is based on the early development of a ‘Hub & Spoke’ approach, with Remploy’s specialist recruitment centre being the “Hub” and on-site facilities being developed in local FE colleges as the “spokes” Further Information...

9. Brandon Trust
Social enterprises

As part of our ongoing working relationship with various partners we have developed 3 new projects to deliver vocationally accredited qualifications within, whilst working in partnership with local communities to develop 3 new vibrant social enterprises that will become an asset within the local and business community. Further Information...

10. North Somerset Adult Care
A resource that will offer training in the 'hospitality industry' (probably a Bed & Breakfast type facility).

This proposal wishes to take advantage of the tourist / hospitality industry prevalent in North Somerset by establishing a local residential / day college opportunity for you people with learning disabilities to receive training and support in these service areas with the goal of supporting people into employment opportunities. Further Information...

Research/information

11. Work Together to Learn Together
Mental Health conference

A conference for providers of post-16 education and training, and

employers promoting the business case to support people’s mental health

South West Conference Wednesday 10 October 2007

12. Mental Health Project
Direct Payments

‘Is it for me?’ will develop an awareness raising and decision making course for mental health service users eligible for Direct Payments. It will be a pilot project leading to a sustainable model of delivery linked to the ‘Skills for Life’ curriculum.

13. Somerset Council
Research into FE provision

The project aims to: Establish current needs and wishes of young people with a learning disability (aged 14-25) in Somerset. It aims to find out to what extent current FE provision meets those needs, both locally and at a distance. Document the transition outcomes for FE students, with learning disabilities. Strengthen the information base about potential learners in this group, and to provide for more joined-up forecasting and communication between the key agencies. Make recommendations for future developments in all these areas

14. Southern Hub
Workforce Development for Learning Support Workers.

Identify current qualifications and CPD opportunities for Learning Support Workers

To identify significant gaps in provision, commission modules and materials in line with Sector Skills Council (LLUK) requirements

To evaluate and trial existing and new CPD opportunities.

To develop a partnership Quality Improvement group to ensure collaboration and meaningful improvement. Further Information...

15. BANES Council
Data Sharing between LA and Connexions

Database was up and running but further training was needed for people who would be inputting information onto the database. This will be piloted with Connexions Personal Advisers working at Fosseway and Three Ways Schools. Further amendments to the database would be made and circulated and the improved format will be circulated to the group. There would also need to be clarification and agreement on terms used within the database so that all those contributing to it used the same terms to mean the same things.

16. BANES Employment Action Group.
Improving Vocational Pathways

Feasibility Study: a research project into options for non-residential hospitality and catering training, work placements and training in life skills for supported living.

It has been agreed to take forward a combination of a food production unit, possibly on an industrial estate (though the suggestion of using redundant farm buildings was also put forward and members agreed that this would be worth further exploration as there may be rural diversification funding opportunities), together with a café in a town venue. Again members agreed that the ideal café would be a council-controlled site which could then provide the opportunity for other employment e.g. maintenance of tennis courts – a model which is apparently working well in Poole.

17. Transition Toolkit
Advice and professional development materials

This project is aimed at improving retention, achievement and employment outcomes for Learners with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities when they move from specialist residential and day schools and colleges to mainstream providers and into employment.

The project will achieve this by ensuring that the transition process for these individuals is managed more effectively. The project will identify the key issues around transition and will develop a toolkit and professional development programme for education/training providers and employers. The toolkit will provide advice and professional development materials as well as a set of common transition standards. The toolkit will be supported by a series workshops and web based learning resources.

18. South West Skills Conference
National Star College: regional employment

16 - 17 May 2007
NATIONAL STAR COLLEGE
ULLENWOOD,
CHELTENHAM,
GLOUCESTERSHIRE.
GL53 9QU

19. LSN Research Project SW LLDD Provision
South West regional review of provision for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities

The study identified a number of key findings which are outlined below. (Further information can be found in the full report.)

There is a strong increase in demand for provision for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities across the South West region and an increasing trend in the proportion of these learners in both FE and ACL.

The demand from learners with high support needs is also increasing and there are gaps in provision for learners with:

· autistic spectrum disorders

· profound and complex learning difficulties

· complex emotional and behavioural difficulties, and adult learners.