Agenda item

To inform the Committee about progress to date on the area of

improving the inclusive employment offer.

Councillor Richardson welcomed Jo Baty, Helen Green and Kamal Motilib.  Kamal Motilib provided a brief introduction which highlighted some of the key socio-economic issues facing residents such as the high number of low paid jobs and correspondingly fewer opportunities for work that attracted higher salaries. There was also an increased use of foodbanks and debt advice agencies.  More robust analysis was needed but there were high numbers of people within the borough that were suffering from poor outcomes.

Helen Green expanded on the local offer details of which were provided on the Council’s website and outlined the collaborative work undertaken with Parents Active regarding training and development for the workforce.   Events such as the Youth takeover day, co-production and plans to recruit new posts within the service to look at post 16+ employment opportunities, pre-employment support and the journey to improve pathways and better integrate support services was all work in progress that would take careful and robust planning.  Key to this was to develop a person-centred approach that facilitated better engagement with young people and young adults with disabilities.  The lack of a more integrated approach in a challenging economy was a concern. 

Jo Baty explained that the opportunity to work with colleagues in The Economy Department was welcomed particularly in terms of developing the currently weak employment brokerage function with employers.  The challenge was to identify barriers and to understand what would benefit businesses. The Council had been facilitated supported internships for approximately 6 years focusing on the 16-25 age group partnering with local businesses such as Loreal, offering experience within the workplace with continued education on day release as appropriate.  While there were gaps within industries such as construction there were placements within the NHS and there was an intention to broaden this.  Through the West London Alliance and highlighting initiatives such as H&F Brilliant Business Awards, Jo Baty explained that they had worked across boroughs to improve access to work placements but a key part of this was ensuring sustainable employment.  

Focusing on the Council’s past activities, Kamal Motilib observed that there had little departure from what was a generic local offer on retail opportunities.  Groups that required more support had not been targeted and most opportunities had been accessed by those who lived outside the Borough.  A more nuanced approach was required if the Council was to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse Borough.  Kamal Motilib commended the growing work undertaken at Charing Cross Hospital as an inclusive employer. A Cabinet report was planned which outlined the Council’s industrial strategy to ensure a more inclusive strategic approach.

A member of Parents Active observed that it was very difficult to navigate and engage with the Council and commented that this could be addressed.  In addition to accessing opportunities it was also important to maintain support for vulnerable young people in a way that was sustainable.  Helen Green concurred and responded that it was important to streamline the process, for example, undertaking disclosure and barring service (DBS) checks once. 

Kamal Motilib added that interaction with employers was critical and was reflected in achieving positive outcomes.  He explained that they were trying to increase special educational needs (SEN) access to workplace opportunities for priority groups (young people and adults).  Two members of staff worked with potential employers and access to work placements in schools on brokering opportunities.  Jo Baty commented that extending provision required refinement and the development of internal job coaches within the Council would support this. Helen Green highlighted plans to create a hub and reiterated that sustaining people in placements was key, in addition to developing and signposting clear and easy to navigate pathways, linking Council staff with residents and offering co-ordinated support.  

Councillor Coleman welcomed the report and sought clarification about the planned report to Cabinet.  It was confirmed that the Council did not currently have capacity to provided sustained support for those on supported employment work placements and how this could be provided would be addressed within the report, supported by evidence-based data and analysis.

Members explored the issue and were keen to understand the current lack of provision, the challenges and obstacles for residents, and the need to understand what the definition of being in work meant to different groups and how this was perceived by employers. Councillor Lloyd-Harris observed that the Council had performed well in some areas but that this was inconsistent, querying the robustness of the data sets.

Jim Grealy enquired about the work undertaken with schools in terms of developing employability skills pre-16.  Employers exhibited some bias and there was a culture of reluctance to employ vulnerable groups. He was keen to understand how this was being addressed, which groups were being helped and how were large, local employers being encouraged to work with schools.  Kamal Motilib and Helen Green responded that the issue would need to be further explored with schools.  There were some supported internships in the Borough, some of which were in schools so the opportunity of accessing the most suitable placement depended on the individual’s area of interest. 

A key priority was to ensure a compassionate Council workforce, and this was being tackled with internal training programs for frontline staff. Linda Jackson confirmed that a total review of departmental form and structure, including staff competency had been undertaken, addressing staff communication and interaction skills. Councillor Caleb-Landy welcomed the approach and observed that it had been a fundamental error in judgement by Government to decline to fund supported employment programs.  He asked what other charities the Council was working with and Jo Baty confirmed that the Council had worked with organisations such as Mencap and MIND. 

Sharing resources and developing networks was critical and Councillor Richardson sought further information about links to data sources on groups with, for example, disabilities such as the Downs Syndrome Society.  Jo Baty that the Council’s aim was to continue to develop links, to illustrate, one ambition was to become a dementia friendly Council.

Jen Nightingale highlighted her personal experience where she had struggled to engage with patients who required additional support, either through day services or supported employment placements.  She asked officers to explain their pathway experience within the Borough. Jo Baty clarified that day services had always been traditionally organised and there were plans to review and update such provision.  It was noted that opportunities for young people transitioning to adulthood were often limited, hence the importance of day service provision.  Reformation could see the service replicating colleges, accessible in the same way as generic college services, possibly utilising direct payment schemes for funding.  These were opportunities that most groups took for granted and vulnerable groups should have similar provision and support in place.

BC commended Councillor Richardson’s work on driving forward the supported employment agenda.  The following actions were noted:

ACTIONS:

·       Develop plans for an inclusive employment event, bringing together our residents to identify and understand what opportunities were available; and

·       Data and analysis to be provided to indicate and understand the number of internships available locally.

RESOLVED

That the Panel noted the report.