9 February 2004 - Publication of DWP research report 203: Working lives – the role of day centres in supporting people with learning disabilities into employment
Research published today which was jointly funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health, and undertaken by the Learning Disability Research Partnership explores how day centres are addressing employment for people with learning disabilities, and their relationships with organisations providing employment services. It also examines the views and experiences of those who attend day centres and their carers. The research helped us to understand how employment opportunities for this group could be extended.
The main findings are as follows:
- Some day centres are focused on employment and backed up by dedicated employment placement teams – providing support into actual paid work and using established practices from organisations already providing supported employment. Others were engaged in formal work preparation, but it was not always clear how this led to paid work. Some day centres provided little or no employment related activity and tended to refer their clients onto other agencies.
- Despite the importance of partnership and referrals to employment organisations, links between day centres and mainstream services (Jobcentre Plus, Connexions and Education) are weak and those with specialist employment agencies are variable and sometimes ineffective.
- People with learning disabilities who participated in this project were enthusiastic about work and its benefits and reported they wanted to work more hours, however most worked less than five hours a week in low skilled, low paid jobs.
- There was a potentially real or perceived fear that by taking part in paid work or increasing the numbers of hours worked people would be worse off. The main reason people reported they were working few hours was that they did not want to lose Income Support and linked benefits. There were also anxieties about making the transition to work and being able to manage health conditions and support needs.
- Other perceived barriers to employment were reported –employers and in some cases carers and day centres were seen as resistant to the idea of integrated paid work for this group. Day centres and employment services are sometimes perceived as not providing appropriate or adequate support.
Notes for editors
- The research was based on in-depth interviews with people with learning disabilities who attend day centres, their carers, day centre and employment organisation staff in 9 local areas.
- The research was conducted by the Learning Disability Employment Research Partnership. The report’s authors were Stephen Beyer, Bob Grove, Justine Schneider, Ken Simons, Val Williams, Anna Heyman, Paul Swift, and Emma Krijnen-Kemp.
- “Working Lives: The role of day centres in supporting people with learning disabilities into employment”, DWP Research Report Series (no. 203) is published on 09 February 2004. A summary and copy of the report are available on the DWP website: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/index.html
- Those on Income Support (IS) are permitted to disregard an overall maximum of £20, before IS and linked benefits are deducted. Those on Incapacity Benefit (IB) are permitted to earn up to £20, or may undertake work which is supervised by a person employed by a public local authority or voluntary organisation which provides or arranges work opportunities for disabled people and earn up to £72.00 a week.
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