1. Facilitating access to employment and skills development Mental health problems, Poverty and Social exclusion 8 th October 2010

2. Europe 2020… turning the economy towards smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Inclusive growth means “building a cohesive society in which people are empowered to anticipate and manage change, thus to actively participate in society and economy.” Proposal for a Council Decision on Guidelines for the Employment Policies of the Member States: Part II of the Europe 2020 Integrated Guidelines

3. Inclusive growth can be supported by… “Ensuring effective functioning of the labour markets through: - investing in successful transitions, - appropriate skills development, - rising job quality and - fighting segmentation, structural unemployment and inactivity - while ensuring adequate social protection and active inclusion to prevent and reduce poverty…” Proposal for a Council Decision on Guidelines for the Employment Policies of the Member States: Part II of the Europe 2020 Integrated Guidelines

4. In line with Europe 2020, the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Inclusion… Has further emphasised the EU’s 3-fold approach to overcome discrimination and increase the inclusion of vulnerable and marginalised groups: increasing access to mainstream services and opportunities enforcing legislation to overcome discrimination where necessary, developing targeted approaches to respond to the specific needs of each group.

5. Employment & Training Corporation Supported Employment Section The Supported Employment Section through its Registered Disabled Persons Unit is commited to support the integration of persons with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities and mental health illnesses in the labour market.

6. ETC – Registered Disabled Persons Unit Offers support services such as: Specialised Employment Advisers who offer personalised service to clients. Ad-hoc training courses for particular groups. Work exposure schemes and employment wage subsidy Job Coaching and Learning Support Assistance when required.

7. Bridging the Gap Scheme (BTG) Aims and objectives Facilitates the transition period from unemployment to employment. Allows the employer to evaluate the Client prior to proper employment. Gives the Client an opportunity to achieve the skills required for that particular job. Duration Between 4 and 52 weeks. Depending on the Client’s adaptability to the work situation. Allowance ETC will pay the Client a weekly allowance of 80% of the National Minimum Wage whilst maintaining the right to any Social Security benefits up to 28 weeks of work exposure.

8. Work Trial Scheme (Mainsteam) Objective The objective of the WTS are two-fold, serving both the requirements of the employer who offers to train the work exposure participant and the needs of the unemployed jobseeker. Duration Eligible applicants can be placed for a maximum of 12 consecutive weeks. The work experience will be based on a 20 hour week (4 hours a day) in all cases. Allowance The Employment & Training Corporation grants 50% of the national minimum wage per week for the duration of the scheme to the participant.

9. Financial Support to Employers Employment Aid Programme – ESF Project Eligible employers who employ an ETC Registered Disabled Person, benefit from a wage subsidy for the first 3 years of employment. Year 1 – 75% of the wage Years 2 & 3 – 60% of the wage Refund of N.I. Contributions Employers who employ an ETC Registered Disabled Person are eligible to claim their part of the National Insurance Contributions for the first 3 years of employment.

10. ETC Statisitics Registered Disabled Persons 481 RDPs were trained by ETC from 2007 till 2009, of which 71 suffer from mental illnesses. 1072 RDPs were employed from 2007 till 2009, of which 149 suffer from mental illnesses. 274 RDPs were placed by ETC from 2007 till 2009, of which 40 suffer from mental illnesses. As at August 2010, the number of unemployed registrants was 6589, out of which only 55 persons are registering as suffering from mental health illnesses.