British Association of Supported Employment awards service in West Yorkshire that supports adults with learning disabilities and autism to find work
A council-led employment service in West Yorkshire has been praised for ‘outstanding progress’ in a new accreditation report by the British Association of Supported Employment (BASE).
Photo by Marten Bjork / Unsplash
The REAL Employment programme run by Kirklees Council supports adults (aged 18+) who have with learning disabilities, are autistic and / or have additional needs, helping them into paid, sustainable employment.
The way it does this is simple: it matches each person’s interests and skills to a job they want. The service then provides personalised support through the job search and employment process, building skills and confidence needed to ensure the individual can find, maintain and excel in their chosen job(s).
Partnerships with local businesses mean there is a great variety of employment on offer. For example, a partnership with Kirklees College and the restaurant Nando’s in Huddersfield led to a successful scheme offering 12-week, paid work trials. As a result of this initiative, the branch of Nando’s has been formally recognised as a Disability Confident employer.
The REAL team says that there are many benefits to a business in employing people with a learning disability, additional needs and/or autism, such as greater diversity in the workplace, increased staff morale and enhanced business profile. For more information, see the REAL Employment website.
BASE is a registered charity established in 2006 with the aim of ensuring that every disabled, neurodivergent or disadvantaged person in the UK can access the support and training they need to have a good-quality career. Its supported employment quality framework (SEQF) was developed as a means to drive continuous improvement across the sector.
Cllr Nosheen Dad, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care at Kirklees Council, says: ‘REAL Employment has been supporting adults with learning disabilities and autism for more than 30 years, and we remain deeply committed to helping individuals achieve financial independence wherever possible. Our highly dedicated team provides tailored, one-to-one support to some of our most vulnerable residents, assisting them in securing employment opportunities that align with their abilities and aspirations.
‘This accreditation from BASE stands as a strong endorsement of the team’s professionalism, dedication, and unwavering commitment to empowering people with learning disabilities and autism to access meaningful, sustainable employment.’
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