Bracknell

Bracknell Forest Mayor Cllr Gill Birch, Ian Smith from A4e and service user Marc Humphrey look over the new servicePeople with learning disabilities in Bracknell Forest will be some of the first in the country to benefit from a pioneering new scheme to develop their work skills, write CVs and get a job in the local community through a national employment agency.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council has teamed up with A4E - a national organisation that already provides services to increase employment and training opportunities to the public- to create a unique employment service for people with disabilities.

The Council asked A4E to develop a programme designed for people in the Bracknell Forest area, initially for people who have learning disabilities - specifically CV building, letter writing, completing application forms, job searching efficiency, interview skills and looking at meeting employers' needs.

It is believed to be the first type of arrangement in the country - which could see other areas following suit in the future so that mainstream employment agencies offer tailored support for people with disabilities - hence providing real job opportunities, training and skills development through recruitment professionals in the future.

People in Bracknell Forest who have a learning disability have been telling the Council they would like to get employment and gain work-based skills - this pilot scheme is in place to help them get the right advice, apply for jobs and give them interview tips.

It will also use a recruiter, who will work with people with learning disabilities to find local companies with vacancies that are appropriate to their skills and abilities.

The Council's Breakthrough team, which has been helping to encourage employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities, will refer Bracknell Forest residents to the scheme - eventually all people with disabilities will be able to access the service directly.

The scheme will initially provide people with learning disabilities with essential skills and confidence to gain employment and independence while giving employers in the Bracknell Forest area a pool of skilled workers to meet their business requirements.

It is hoped that the agreement between the Council and A4e will be a revolutionary new way of providing job and skills advice for disabled people, and that other areas across the country will use this an example of how to offer real employment opportunities - eventually radically changing the way recruitment support is offered to people with disabilities nationwide.

Glyn Jones, Assistant Director of Bracknell Community Care, said: "This agreement between the Council and A4e could revolutionise the way people with learning and other disabilities access employment opportunities in the future - not just in Bracknell Forest but maybe even across the country.

"If other areas follow us in linking up with a national employment agency it could end the way in which disabled people go about finding a job as they will be able to go to a high street recruitment consultant and access jobs which are suited to their needs and abilities just like anybody else would."

Cllr Dale Birch, Executive Member for Bracknell Adult Services, Health and Housing, added: "From speaking to people with disabilities on a regular basis we know they want to go out to work and live as independently as possible.

"As a Council we have listened to what they have been telling us and so we have joined up with A4e to provide real employment opportunities. This agreement with A4e provides them with the opportunity to sit down with a dedicated recruitment specialist who is used to tracking down jobs suited to skills and ability - which is much different to what is currently offered and is a real positive step in giving people with disabilities what they want."

Gary Buckley, Regional Manager A4e Work South East , added: “As an organisation we work alongside a wide range of partners to deliver training and employment opportunities to over 60,000 people every year.

"In Berkshire we are the prime provider for the New Deal and also provide LSC-funded English training for speakers of other languages. We also work alongside Hounslow Borough Council to support lone parents back to work.

"We pride ourselves in ensuring that our customers get the advice, training and opportunities that they need to change their circumstances. We enable people to identify their barriers to employment and then support them while they overcome them and work towards getting a job”.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council