Inclusive Economy Project
The Sheffield First Health and Well-being Partnership Board have shown their commitment to engaging employers and the important role they have in being inclusive of all groups. The Inclusive Economy project is committed to delivering by increasing the number of people with a severe mental health condition in work by 0.5% and the number of people in work with a learning disability by 0.8%.
Two new members of staff have recently been appointed to the Employment and Skills team to drive up the numbers of people with learning disabilities and mental health conditions in employment in Sheffield.
John Griffiths, Development Manager for Mental Health and Gillian Dinsey, Development Manager for Learning Disabilities, will be working alongside partners from the public, private and third sectors to develop a coordinated approach.
They are working closely with the health sector in Sheffield to develop real employment opportunities for people with mental health conditions and support them to remain in work.
Third sector partners, Deploy, Sheffield Occupational Health Service and Bridge Employment have been contracted to deliver a piece of work mapping the current provision for people with mental health conditions or learning disabilities who wish to enter employment across Sheffield. The Partnership aims to find out whether gaps in provision exist and develop a robust model to address these.
The Supported Employment Programme, commissioned with King Ecgberts School, has got off to a great start engaging 36 people with learning disabilities, 11 of whom are care managed by Sheffield City Council, to support them along the way to employment. Their waiting list continues to grow showing a real demand for the support they offer.