The Skills and Employment Opportunities Project: report of an evaluation

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Pilling, Doria^;

Affiliations: Rehabilitation Resource Centre, City University, Northampton Square, London, ECIV OHB, UK

Note: [] Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 0181 9924302, fax: +44 0181 9924302. e-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: Objectives: the research was designed to evaluate the success of a Project set up to find employment or training in ordinary firms or organisations for people with disabilities. Methods: three main sources of data were used: the Project's data-base, which included information on client ‘outcomes’; postal questionnaires and interviews with Project clients; postal questionnaire and interviews with referrers to the Project. Results: the rate of referral to the Project vastly exceeded expectations. According to the Project's ‘outcome’ categories, 66% of the clients were successfully placed, and clients' accounts verified this. The expectations of referrers of people with learning disabilities for their clients exceeded ‘outcomes’ but referrers of people with physical disabilities under-estimated them. Clients' views were generally favourable but they would have liked more choice and aspired to improving their work placements. Conclusions: The evidence indicated that the Project had a role in the area not filled by other agencies.

Keywords: Work, Supported employment, Mental health, Physical disabilities, Learning disabilities

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-1997-8207

Journal: Work, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 171-179, 1997