Help tackling barriers to gaining employment
A pilot scheme that will help certain groups of people tackle barriers to gaining employment is set to be approved by Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet.
Young people – including those with education, health and care plans – care leavers and adults with physical and learning disabilities are the main groups set to benefit.
The Supported Employment policy is set to deliver a new approach which offers the following within the Council:
•Work experience – open to those aged 14 plus and will include professional placements as well as adults returning to work following career breaks
•Ring fenced apprenticeships for care leavers – for a minimum of one year including at least 20 per cent on the job training
•Work placements for adults with learning disabilities – participants will have completed a 12 week “Stepping Int Work” support programme which includes initial work experience placements
•Supported internships for young people with Education, Health and Care plans – participants will be in the final year of a course at Telford College
Councillor Rae Evans, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for People Services, Visitor Economy and Partnerships, said: “As an organization committed to equality of opportunity we have developed this in-house program so that we can lead the way in the business community, with this is a wide-ranging package of measures that will help people who need additional support to enter the work place.
“We firmly believe that people from the groups identified can make a real and positive contribution to the workplace provided they get the right support and that’s what we’re going to be offering.
“As well as directly impacting on the participants in these schemes, this new approach to supported employment will be a major stepping stone to the council achieving Disability Employer Scheme “leadership” status.”
Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet meets on Thursday 18 October.
