“ Improving Diversity through

Supported Employment ”

An innovative and sustainable international model for

employment success – Project SEARCH

Anne O’BryanLorraine CameronCarmel McKeogh

Maura Lynch

hosted by:

In association with:

Project SEARCH

Programme PhilosophyPeople with disabilities have the right to choose a path toward education and employment. However, while freedom of choice is given, the right to work is earned. Earning the right to work is dependent upon the student's preparation.

Stephen Simon, ADA Quarterly, 1998

Why should government bother?• Drivers

– Austerity– Ever increasing demand– Education– Social care– Project Search gets you UPSTREAM– Perfect timing– Makes economic sense for government and business

sense for employers– Demonstrating Leadership - the business lead

Project SEARCH Young Adult TransitionProject SEARCH is an education-to-work programme for young people with learning disabilities and Autistic Spectrum Conditions

One academic year

8-12 students with a variety of learning disabilities

Accredited instructor and job coaches

Immersed in host business culture

Internship rotations for career exploration and job skills acquisition

Customised job-search assistance

Ongoing In-work support as needed

Overall Goal Full time paid employment

And improved quality of life

Project SEARCH Partners (UK)

Project SEARCH Partners (UK)

Host Business

The business provides:•Business liaison•Internships•Classroom base

The educator provides:

Full time Instructor

Curriculum

Student Conduit

On site coordination

The supported employment agency provides:

Full time job coach

Additional job development/ job coaching (1/2 to 1 employment specialist depending on numbers)

During the Project SEARCH year

After the Project SEARCH year

The supported employment agency provides:Ongoing long term support to the employee as needed

Follow along, changes in employee and mandatory education

Reasonable Adjustments Ongoing liaison with the business

Building trustDealing with change!

Annual Project SEARCH Calendarmirrors local education calendar

September July

1st Internship 10 weeks Graduate &

Begin Work at Host Site or in Community

2nd Internship 10 weeks

3rd Internship 10 weeks

3 week Induction

Transition Week

Transition Week

Begin PS Programme

Regular Employment Planning Meetings held twice each internship and led by intern

Job Search Beginsin 2nd Internship

Next Year’s Student Recruitment begins late autumn/early winter

9:00 Employability Skills 10:00 Internship site12:30 Lunch 1:15 Internship site3:00 Review, Plan,

Journaling3:30 Depart

A Day in the life of a Project SEARCH Intern

22 Project SEARCH sites inEngland, 8 in Scotland, 1 in Ireland and growing. . .

21 Hospitals 4 Councils 4 Private Sector Businesses 2 Universities2010 - 13: 17 sites – 176 Jobs (60%)

2014: 20 sites – 98 Jobs (65%)2015: 10 new programmes

preparing for Sept 2015

2016: 4 preparing for Sept 2016

Changing Expectations

Bradford Project SEARCHLorraine Cameron, Business Liaison

Who is involved?

Southfield provides:

• The franchise with Cincinnati Children’s hospital

• Full time Tutor (Ali Sholi)• Full time Project Assistant

(Andrea Bailey)• Facilities for the base room• Petty cash for incidentals• Support for Steering Group

hft provides:

• Full time Job Coach (Bryony Dolby/Vikki Ellis)

• Additional job coach for initial placements

• Resources for Base Room• Job search support for interns

Travel Training Unit provides:

• One to one travel training for all Interns (and providing confidence to families)

• For many interns, this is the first time they have ever travelled independently

• Member of steering group

Bradford Council Provides:• Funding for the Job Coach role• Member of the steering group

• 3 work placement opportunities per intern

• A Mentor for each placement• Base Room (Field House)• Induction programme including

Infection Control, Information Governance, Fire Safety and HR

• Business Liaison

Bradford Teaching Hospitals provide:

Our Project SEARCH DVD…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lshbiihJZac

Our second year…

Benefits of Project SEARCH• Project SEARCH is a tried and tested model that has proven to work • Expertise of the Project SEARCH European Lead in what works and

what doesn’t work in developing work opportunities for people with learning difficulties

• Conflict resolution• Models of working• Systematic instruction as a means of building a role and providing Interns

with confidence to do a whole job

• Critical friend when it comes to continuous improvement and model fidelity

• Shared resources so you don’t have to “reinvent the wheel”!

Business Advisory Committee

In November 2014 we established a BAC with members who:o Advise on skill shortages and entry level jobs

that are hard to fill in Bradford and District (bring Job Descriptions from their own business or where they have contact/influence)

o Identify skills that should be taughto Provide external business link for an intern on

the programmeo Provide interview experience for internso Possible third rotation for individual interns

Business Advisory

Committee

Sophie Wade

Rotation 1: Catering Assistant

Rotation 2: The Hub café and hospitality

Rotation 3: Hospitality Assistant Midland Hotel

What people say about Project SEARCH

“The hospital was providing twelve internships for people with learning disabilities. This gave people valuable work experience and encouraged integration within the community”.

CQC Inspection report 27 April 2015

“Area of Outstanding

Practice”

Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability SCLD

MAURA LYNCHDepute Chief Executive

A managed national response to the employment needs of young people with a learning disability or autism in a small European country, Scotland.

Project SEARCH

Project SEARCH

SCLD – Role of a National Coordinating body

•Generate interest and assist partnership development•Negotiate site contracts and pay start up fees•Become member of individual site steering groups•Host national steering group•Arrange and/or deliver training as needed

How many sites are there?

SUCCESS

Project SEARCH

Contact Information:Project SEARCH Programme Specialist - Europe

Anne O’Bryan

T: +44 1225 858886

E: anne.o’bryan@projectsearchuk.com