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SUPPORTING
PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY
Adults with a learning disability
Services for people who have a learning disability are a local
priority in the HimP.We welcome the recent publication of 'Valuing
People ',the government 's new strategy for learning disability
in the 21st Century,which provides additional impetus and direction
for our work.
HELPING
HANDS:23 year-old Andrew Shalcross was employed as a catering
and general assistant with Age Concern in New Ferry.He is pictured
here with service users at the Bramwell Court Day Care Centre.
WORKING OPPORTUNITIES
The Working Life project aims to combat the acknowledged negative
health effects of unemployment by increasing access to jobs for
young adults with learning disabilities.It has been developed
by Wirral Social Services in partnership with Pentra Services
(an intermediate labour market company).
However,people who have been unemployed for six months or more
are also given employment opportunities by being trained up as
employment support workers.Their role is to mentor a number of
young adults with learning disabilities into supported employment.
Initially they provide intensive hands-on support in the workplace,
followed by supervisory assistance then occasional review visits
as the employee becomes increasingly proficient.
In the two years it has been running,Working Life has placed 25
young adults in employment; nine have been in employment for over
six months and two have progressed from receiving benefits to
being in full-time waged employment. These results are well above
expected targets.
In the project 's first year 70 per cent of the Employment Support
Workers achieved NVQ Level 2 in Social Care and moved on to sustained
employment.
The project has been highlighted by the Local Government Association
as an example of good, innovative practice and its initial success
has led to continued funding through to July 2003.
"Undoubtedly,employment is beneficial to the health and well-being
of young adults with learning disabilities.We aim to continue
the present high level of work placements and eventually hope
to become a mainstream project benefiting the community," reports
Service Manager John Prosser.
Adults with a physical disability
Focusing on improving home life,access to work and rehabilitation,our
HImP is driving improvements in services such as occupational
therapy,community equipment and the Supported Living Service.
Examples include:
- improving
the shared planning of care for people with an acquired brain
injury and people who have a deteriorating prognosis
- seeking
joint funding for the Welfare to Work scheme
- developing
the Disability Register in order to plan services more efficiently
-
developing day services with strong community links
-
increasing short-term residential respite places.
For
further information regarding the Health Improvement Programme,
please contact:
Dr
Janet Atherton
Director of Public Health
Wirral Health Authority
Admin.Block
St Catherine 's Hospital
Church Road
Birkenhead
CH42 0LQ
Telephone:0151 651 0011
For
further information about Wirral 's Community Care Plan, please
contact:
Jean
Doherty
Planning and Policy Officer
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
Social Services
76 Hamilton Street
Birkenhead
Wirral
CH41 5EN
Telephone:0151 666 5260
or
Christine Heron
Planning and Policy Manager
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
Social Services
Head Quarters
63 Hamilton Street
Birkenhead
Wirral
CH41 5JF
Telephone:0151 666 3628
This
document is available in large print and on audio tape from the
contacts above.
For interpretation to other languages contact Colin Chee at Wirral
Multicultural Centre on 0151 666 4547.
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