Embedding Supported Employment with City of Bristol College and Beyond

Investment for Change Funding

Project Name: Embedding Supported Employment with City of Bristol College, and Beyond

Project Start Date: 01/07/07
Project End Date: 31/03/08

Project Description: To pilot and validate a model for the city of Bristol, to improve rates of transition to sustained employment for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The project uses a “hub and spoke” approach, where The Remploy Recruitment Centre in Bristol acts as the hub for all employment-focussed activity. City of Bristol College (“the spoke”) will also provide on-site facilities to include IAG services, programme enrolment, benefits advice, etc.

Project Aims:

Remploy will set up a facility to ensure its services can be promoted and accessed across all 5 main sites of the College.
Remploy will employ one full time Employment Advisor to service the 5 sites. This role will include:-

Providing advice, guidance and support to any learner who has self-declared a disability and who is interested in securing sustained, paid employment.
Liaising with Disability Employment Advisors to identify appropriate eligibility for employment support programmes
developing an individual plan with eligible learners, which outlines actions required to gain entry to employment
Liaising with appropriate college staff to highlight the needs of employers in the Bristol area with the aim of enabling the college to ensure learning provision is more suitably aligned to employer needs.

Learners will be invited to attend Remploy Vocational Development Programs, facilitated job search activities and site visits to employer premises.
Remploy will support learners, the college and employer throughout the employment process, including post-employment support.
Once established in employment, Remploy will endeavour to broker an introduction for a work-based learning provider to deliver on-going vocational learning solutions.
For learners with specific or complex needs Remploy will broker suitable support from relevant specialist disability organisations.
Candidates accessing Remploy services, who are identified as having significant learning needs prior to being ready for work, will be referred to the College for suitable learning provision.

Contribution to LSC objectives & priorities:

Supporting learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to develop skills which help them progress to further learning and employment remains a key priority for the LSC. Through partnership working, this project aims to help learners to make realistic decisions regarding the options available to them and where appropriate support them throughout their transition into employment.

The LSC has committed to supporting the development of personalised provision which is appropriate to the particular strengths of the learner and adheres to the principles of “Access for All” (source: The South West Regional Strategy for LSC funded provision: 2006/07 to 2009/10).

Linking to national and regional priorities, the project aims to:
promote and increase learner choice;
improve access to employment for learners;
provide them with the necessary skills to obtain and maintain employment; and
develop their self confidence and ability to live independently.

In support of the regional LLDD strategy, this pilot will provide the opportunity to develop and test a sustainable model of provision that can then be replicated through other partnerships across the region.

Key milestones:

End Dec 07

Employment advisor in post and based at the college to promote opportunities to learners and college staff (copy of job advert passed to LSC)
Employer research report produced, outlining employer needs and issues in relation to the LLDD agenda. Research will identify areas such as potential sectors, job roles, and minimum entry requirements for employment (copy of research report given to LSC).
Development of marketing materials completed – working with College department heads, student union, etc (copy of marketing materials passed to LSC)

End Mar 08

Screening and profile assessments of identified learners completed and available for audit.
Employment transition plans in place and available for audit
Profile of learner community completed and available for audit
Forward Action plan completed and passed to LSC – detailing Remploy’s ongoing commitment to deliver “Ready for work” programme. The Forward Action plan will include further milestones and a commitment to evaluate the programme and report back to the LSC by 30/11/08.

Project Partners:

Primary partner - City of Bristol College

Supporting partners – YMCA Training, RNIB, MENCAP

Contact Details:
Gareth Parry
Head of Learning
Remploy Limited
PO Box 4408
Leamington Spa
CV31 9DU
07977 436157
Gareth.parry@remploy.co.uk

Progress to date: Employment Advisor recruited and due to start in college on 7^th January 2008. Employer research planned for January 2008.