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Supported employment and the National Disability Strategy

Supported employment and the National Disability Strategy. Eithne Fitzgerald Head of Policy and Public Affairs National Disability Authority. Outline. Facts and figures National Disability Strategy Promoting partnership. Low participation in work.

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Supported employment and the National Disability Strategy

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  1. Supported employment and the National Disability Strategy Eithne Fitzgerald Head of Policy and Public Affairs National Disability Authority

  2. Outline • Facts and figures • National Disability Strategy • Promoting partnership

  3. Low participation in work • A third of people with disabilities have a job v. three quarters of others (Census 2006) • 60% of people with disabilities not working are restricted in type or amount of work they can do • Raising employment rates will mean more emphasis on supporting people to get and to keep work

  4. Employment and disabilityCensus 2006

  5. Highest level of education achievedAge 24 who have completed education (Census 2006)

  6. Employment rates, disabled and other men by education level (age 25-34; Census 2002)

  7. Difficulty in types or amount of workpeople with long-term illness or disability QNHS 2002

  8. National Disability Strategy Employment and disability commitments • Develop a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities • Numerical targets for increased employment • Develop and enhance FÁS supported employment programme • Cross-departmental co-operation across Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Health; Social and Family Affairs • Specific commitments to enhance supported employment; to bridge between HSE and mainstream training; systematic process of engagement with people with disabilities to establish employment aspirations • 3% target mandatory under Part 5 Disability Act

  9. National Disability Strategy TargetsEmployment and disability • Sectoral Plan • 7,000 more in work by 2010 • National Development Plan - 2016 • participation in education, training and employment up 50% • proportion at work up from 37% to 45% (QNHS)

  10. Comprehensive employment strategyNDA report - Key pillars • Make work pay, remove benefit traps • Equip pwd to compete in labour market now and future • Enlist public and private sector employers • Prevent flow into inactivity • School leavers • People acquiring a disability • Systematic process of engagement • Comprehensive across individuals and levels of ability

  11. Supported employmentAlmost 4% of workers with a disability • Two separate state-funded arrangements • FÁS scheme • In principle 18+ hours a week • c. 900 in work; 1,100 in job assessment/job search phases • HSE-funded supported employment • Less than 18 hours a week • c.1,000 receiving HSE or service provider job coach support

  12. Joined-up thinking • HSE review of Adult Day Services • Decline in sheltered workshop nos. – opportunity for alternative forms of employment support • Review of ETE Supported Employment programme • Earnings disregard of 50% over €120 a week • Social Welfare developments • Commitment in Government programme on medical card continuation • Importance of dovetailing changes in HSE, ETE and social welfare • Less rigid conditions for FÁS support may allow more opportunities under FÁS rather than HSE umbrella

  13. Part 5 Disability Act • Legal obligations on public bodies to • Promote and support employment of people with disabilities • Achieve 3% target of employees with a disability • People with ID under-represented in the public service relative to other employments • Good models of partnership with local disability services and supported employment consortia could be built on • Small bodies that find it hardest to reach 3% could use supported employment work experience placements

  14. Conclusion • Lots happening in employment/disability policy • Opportunity for partnerships and joined-up thinking • Supported employment partnerships with both public and private sectors

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