Introduction
The inequality between disabled people’s employment rates and those of the general population is stark. Despite, in the last decade, improved legislation and various employability initiatives to tackle the disparity, it’s still the case that:
“little progress has been made in increasing the level and quality of disabled people’s labour market participation”
— Meager and Huggins (Briefing for UKCES, 2011)
Changing this situation requires increased understanding of the contribution and support disabled employees can make and require. More high-quality specialist employability services are needed, and the approach with the most evidence of success is supported employment. The aim of supported employment is for disabled people to obtain sustainable, fairly paid work in the open labour market.
Supported employment is, by necessity, an individualised approach. Job coaches or employment support workers work with a client to determine their skills, needs and aspirations. Equally, the job coach works with employers: matching a job and employer to the client. The job coach has a role in supporting both the client and employer to ensure a mutually successful placement and on-going employment.
SUSE (Scottish Union of Supported Employment) is an umbrella organisation for public, private and voluntary bodies interested in supported employment. The four case studies that follow feature people supported in their employment by different SUSE member organisations. Together they provide a picture of the outcomes that supported employment can achieve, both for the clients of supported employment services, and for employers.
* All statistics from Labour Force Survey and Office for Disability Issues
Julie has systematic lupus erthymatosis. Following a long period of unemployment and depression, Julie has found a way back into employment with help from Cornerstone.
Victoria graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Perth College UHI and now works as a Marketing Co-ordinator. She also lives with cerebral palsy.
In 2012 Lyndsay won Employee of the Year at the Scottish Business Diversity Awards for her work with RNIB Scotland’s Café Tiki initiative.
Elizabeth recounts her story of finding her way back into employment after a long period of severe depression.
Kate Storrow, Chair of SUSE, provides a summary of the four Journeys Back Into Work digital stories.
Journeys Back into Work was developed by Iriss in partnership with SUSE (Scottish Union of Supported Employment).
We wish to thank all those who participated for their contribution, their help and their time.