Oldham trial for job-seek scheme

A scheme to support people with learning disabilities find work will be trialled in Oldham.

Care Services Minister Phil Hope announced Oldham will be one of seven areas which will focus on getting people jobs and developing careers for the next 12 months.

The scheme “Jobs First” is a cross-government strategy to increase the number of people with learning disabilities in work by 2025.

Less than 10 per cent of adults with learning disabilities known to councils in England are in paid employment. It is believed it can lead to greater disadvantage and social exclusion.

Mr Hope said: “Being employed offers many benefits both to your pocket and in giving you a sense of independence.

“I’ve met many people with learning disabilities who would love the chance to get a job but too often they find it incredibly hard to overcome the barriers they face.

“Personal budgets allow them to get the tailored job support they need.

“This pilot scheme sets out to show how this can be done so that many more people with learning disabilities can get real jobs and careers.

“I’m confident that this initiative will help us improve the effectiveness of support across the country.”

Jobs First will be closely aligned with Right to Control, an initiative run by the Office for Disability Issues, which aims to give disabled people more power to decide how they live their lives.

Since 2007, people with learning disabilities have had the right to choose what care they receive and pay for it with a personal budget. Jobs First will help them use this money to get the support they need to move towards lasting employment.

Earlier this month Oldham was chosen to pilot the Right to Control scheme where disabled people will be able to choose their care package to suit their needs, either through a cash payment to buy their own support services or equipment, or a combination of both.