The National Training Organisation for Employment: 'To enable and empower people disadvantaged in the labour market by disability to maximise and realise their full employment opportunities... Provide opportunities for people' establish employment options' assess skills and needs' identify support requirements' assist people to prepare for work' identify' re-evaluate and negotiate supported employment opportunities.' Employment and Disabilty Functions in the UK - Purpose Statement (2002)

Access to Employment is a project jointly funded by the European Social Fund and Devon Social Services and will run until 31st December 2005. The project is for beneficiaries with learning disabilities who have the necessary motivation to access employment opportunities. Our strong and well-developed network of local employers and associated agencies provides employment opportunities for our beneficiaries. We have recently moved to new premises at Exeter Community Centre which is much closer to the city improving our links with the local community.

Research conducted through a Service Users Regional Forum (SURF) demonstrated that many of our beneficiaries want to improve their skills but are unable to secure employment for reasons which include lack of formal qualifications and poor social and interpersonal skills.

A survey of our network of supportive employers indicates that many of our beneficiaries are currently unable to enter mainstream employment successfully as they have little awareness of the demands of the workplace.

This project aims to overcome discrimination in the labour market creating a culture of acceptance and inclusion.

Access to Employment aims to address these issues through:

• Assessing individuals through volitional questionnaires - designed to evaluate motivation in different learning and working environments
• Undertake assessment of motor and process skills that identify the levels of support necessary for individuals to achieve their potential
• Create a flexible programme of training opportunities designed to meet identified individual need
• Vocational-profiling' job matching' work tasters and work experience
• Work placements' part- and full-time paid placements securing national minimum wage
• Offering a person-centred approach
• Delivering a range of training courses leading to nationally recognised qualifications such as OCR’s New CLAIT and CLAIT Plus
• Providing a range of soft and hard outcomes that demonstrates a measurable improvement in training and employability

We recognise established networks and partnerships together with ongoing monitoring and evaluation will be crucial in achieving successful outcomes and maintaining quality. Choices' opinions and aspirations are valued and support will be provided to enable and empower individuals to achieve their full employment potential.

Tel: 01392 667765