Supported Employment and National Occupational Standards (NOS) Viv Berkeley

1. Supported Employment and National Occupational Standards (NOS) Viv Berkeley viv.berkeley@lsis.org.uk

2. The Historical Context • The concept of supported employment has been around since 1982 • Valuing People (White Paper 2001) • Valuing People Now (2007) • Valuing Employment Now (2009) • Getting in, staying in and getting on (Sayce Review, 2011) • Support and Aspiration (2011) Green Paper But • We need skilled, qualified staff to support people with disabilities make a reality of their dream of having a job…..

3. Defining NOS • National Occupational Standards set out measurable performance outcomes to which an individual is expected to work in a given occupation. Developed by employers across the UK, NOS set out the skills, knowledge and understanding required to perform competently in the workplace

4. What has been happening? • Supported employment; best practice principles published (March, 2010) • Government wanted an agreed definition for Supported Employment • MOG and change of Government interrupted the flow of work • Key VEN and BIS colleagues displaced – work passed to LSIS with no associated budget • People working hard in the background • SEN Green Paper (March, 2011) – was, for me, a lever to get things moving again

5. Developing NOS • Work had already started in the Southwest using the best practice principles • Stakeholders meeting 19th October 2011- to get a consensus on the way forward • LSIS agreed to fund additional work to develop a full set of NOS for Supported Employment – had to include 4 nation consultation • The team consisted of myself, two SE experts (Kathy Melling and Steve Beyer), one expert NOS writer and the support team at UK Qualifications and Skills team at LSIS (ex LLUK)

6. Where we are now….. • NOS for Supported Employment finalised last week • Will be on the Excellence Gateway within the next 4 weeks • LSIS preparing the UKCES submission • The next phase of the work will look at developing qualifications It is important to remember that SE happens across many sectors – housing, Welfare to Work, NHS, Supported Employment Agencies - it doesn’t just happen in FE (and there is some debate about if FE do SE well!) – these NOS will be shared across sectors

7. What do the NOS for SE look like? 1)Develop and apply values and ethical practice within supported employment 2) Advise employers about the benefits, processes and practices to recruit and retain a diverse workforce 3) Assist prospective job seekers to aspire to paid employment 4) Identify the needs of the job seeker 5) Create and agree development plans 6) Ensure employment opportunities meet the needs of job seekers 7) Enable individuals in supported employment to be productive and integrated in their workplace 8) Develop as a reflective supported employment practitioner

8. How are they set out? • Performance Criteria (P) • Knowledge and understanding statements (K). For example: (P) You must be able to: adhere to relevant codes of ethics and conduct standards and guidance required by your organisation Therefore (K) You need to know and understand:  • relevant codes of ethics and conduct standards and guidance required by your organisation • current UK legislation and organisational requirements and procedures and practices for accessing records, recording, reporting, confidentiality, health and safety, safeguarding and equality

9. How are NOS used? • To develop qualifications • To write job descriptions • To develop quality improvement processes • To inform appraisal systems • To inform CPD audit systems • To inform and underpin training courses

10. Further sources of support • British Association of Supported Employment - • A free downloadable book aimed at the FE sector (NIACE)