Making the most of the SEND Preparation Employment Grant money Gatwick Hilton – 1 st July 2015 Kathy Melling

 Low aspirations and expectations of what young people can achieve  By the age of 26, disabled people are nearly four times more likely than their non-disabled peers to be unemployed  But we know that people can work!!

 Build the key messages into your Early Years work  Ensure young disabled people are employed in places families use the most  Provide information on what is available to help people achieve good outcomes (local offer) and get feedback from families.  Provide opportunities for families to meet young people and families who are in paid employment, independent living, have good health and are part of communities with friends and relationships

Research evidence shows that there are number of approaches that work:  Raise employment aspirations and expectations of children and young people, families and everyone who supports them  Person-centred transition planning with a focus on employment  Welfare advice, advice and guidance and positive work experience, so that families see that work is positive and possible  A vocational curriculum that supports young people’s aspirations and meaningful work experience for young people in community-based settings  Supported employment agencies working with young people whilst they are at school, and good supported employment from 16+

 Presumption of employability  Inspiring role models  Employment focussed person- centred transition planning  High quality careers advice  Meaningful work experience  Accessible vocational training

 One-off grant to promote employment activity for young people with SEND  Focus on supported internships, but not exclusive to this  Need to spend the money to best meet local need  Need to focus on how they money can be used to affect sustainable change  Local authorities can pool their grants!

 Accredited and non-accredited training for job coaches  Support to develop local employment pathways  Support to develop study programmes with the core aim of work experience  Support to develop supported internships  Support to ensure that apprenticeship offer is accessible  Support to develop employer engagement strategies

An Access to Work grant can help pay for:  Travel (when young people are unable to use public transport)  Support workers  Job coaches Young people will not have to pay any money back and it won’t affect their benefits

Eligibility:  Your disability or health condition must affect your ability to do a job or mean you have to pay work-related costs  You might not qualify if you get Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, Income Support, National Insurance Credits

To apply:  Application must come from the education provider  Must use the stencil on the Preparing for Adulthood or BASE website  to and put supported internships in the subject do/supported-internships/access-to-work-fund

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