12th Conference EUSE Lisbon 2015

1. “ Improving Diversity through
Supported Employment ”

2. An innovative and sustainable
international model for
employment success –
Project SEARCH
Anne O’Bryan
Lorraine Cameron
Carmel McKeogh
Maura Lynch
hosted by:
In association with:

3. Project SEARCH

4. Programme Philosophy
People with disabilities have the right to choose
a path toward education and employment.
However, while freedom of choice is given, the
right to work is earned. Earning the right to
work is dependent upon the student's
preparation.
Stephen Simon, ADA Quarterly, 1998

5. Why should government bother?
• Drivers
– Austerity
– Ever increasing demand
– Education
– Social care
– Project Search gets you UPSTREAM
– Perfect timing
– Makes economic sense for government and business
sense for employers
– Demonstrating Leadership - the business lead

6. Project SEARCH Young Adult Transition
Project SEARCH is an education-to-work programme for young
people with learning disabilities and Autistic Spectrum Conditions
One academic year
8-12 students with a variety of learning disabilities
Accredited instructor and job coaches
Immersed in host business culture
Internship rotations for career exploration and job skills
acquisition
Customised job-search assistance
Ongoing In-work support as needed

7. Overall Goal
Full time paid employment
And improved quality of life

8. Project SEARCH Partners (UK)

9. Project SEARCH Partners (UK)Host
Business

10. The business provides:
•Business liaison
•Internships
•Classroom base

11. The educator provides:
 Full time Instructor
 Curriculum
 Student Conduit
 On site coordination

12. The supported employment agency
provides:
Full time job coach
Additional job development/ job
coaching (1/2 to 1 employment
specialist depending on numbers)
During the
Project SEARCH
year

13. After the Project
SEARCH year
The supported employment
agency provides:
Ongoing long term support to
the employee as needed
Follow along, changes in
employee and mandatory
education
Reasonable Adjustments
Ongoing liaison with the
business
Building trust
Dealing with change!

14. Annual Project SEARCH Calendar
mirrors local education calendar
September July
1st
Internship
10 weeks Graduate &
Begin Work
at Host Site
or in
Community
2nd
Internship
10 weeks
3rd
Internship
10 weeks
3 week
Induction
Transition
Week
Transition
Week
Begin PS
Programme
Regular Employment Planning Meetings
held twice each internship and led by intern
Job Search Begins
in 2nd
Internship
Next Year’s Student Recruitment begins late
autumn/early winter

15. 9:00 Employability Skills
10:00 Internship site
12:30 Lunch
1:15 Internship site
3:00 Review, Plan,
Journaling
3:30 Depart
A Day in the life of a Project SEARCH Intern

16. 22 Project SEARCH sites in
England, 8 in Scotland, 1 in
Ireland and growing. . .
21 Hospitals
4 Councils
4 Private Sector Businesses
2 Universities
2010 - 13:
17 sites – 176 Jobs (60%)
2014: 20 sites – 98 Jobs (65%)
2015: 10 new programmes
preparing for
Sept 2015
2016: 4 preparing for Sept 2016

17. Changing Expectations

21. Bradford Project SEARCH
Lorraine Cameron, Business Liaison

22. Who is involved?
Southfield provides:
• The franchise with Cincinnati
Children’s hospital
• Full time Tutor (Ali Sholi)
• Full time Project Assistant
(Andrea Bailey)
• Facilities for the base room
• Petty cash for incidentals
• Support for Steering Group
hft provides:
• Full time Job Coach (Bryony
Dolby/Vikki Ellis)
• Additional job coach for initial
placements
• Resources for Base Room
• Job search support for interns
Travel Training Unit provides:
• One to one travel training for all
Interns (and providing confidence to
families)
• For many interns, this is the first time
they have ever travelled
independently
• Member of steering group
Bradford Council Provides:
• Funding for the Job Coach role
• Member of the steering group
• 3 work placement opportunities per
intern
• A Mentor for each placement
• Base Room (Field House)
• Induction programme including
Infection Control, Information
Governance, Fire Safety and HR
• Business Liaison
Bradford Teaching Hospitals provide:

23. Our Project SEARCH DVD…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lshbiihJZac

24. Our second year…

25. Benefits of Project SEARCH
• Project SEARCH is a tried and tested model that has proven to work
• Expertise of the Project SEARCH European Lead in what works and
what doesn’t work in developing work opportunities for people
with learning difficulties
• Conflict resolution
• Models of working
• Systematic instruction as a means of building a role and providing Interns
with confidence to do a whole job
• Critical friend when it comes to continuous improvement and
model fidelity
• Shared resources so you don’t have to “reinvent the wheel”!

26. Business Advisory Committee
In November 2014 we established a BAC with
members who:
o Advise on skill shortages and entry level jobs
that are hard to fill in Bradford and District
(bring Job Descriptions from their own
business or where they have
contact/influence)
o Identify skills that should be taught
o Provide external business link for an intern on
the programme
o Provide interview experience for interns
o Possible third rotation for individual interns
Business
Advisory
Committee

28. Sophie Wade
Rotation 1: Catering
Assistant
Rotation 2: The Hub café
and hospitality
Rotation 3: Hospitality
Assistant Midland Hotel

29. What people say about Project SEARCH
“The hospital was providing twelve internships for people with
learning disabilities. This gave people valuable work experience and
encouraged integration within the community”.
CQC Inspection report 27 April 2015
“Area of
Outstanding
Practice”

30. Scottish Consortium for Learning
Disability SCLD
MAURA LYNCH
Depute Chief Executive

31. A managed national response to the employment
needs of young people with a learning disability or
autism in a small European country, Scotland.
Project SEARCH

35. Project SEARCH
SCLD – Role of a National Coordinating body
•Generate interest and assist partnership
development
•Negotiate site contracts and pay start up fees
•Become member of individual site steering
groups
•Host national steering group
•Arrange and/or deliver training as needed

36. How many sites are there?

37. SUCCESS

40. Project SEARCH

41. Contact Information:
Project SEARCH Programme Specialist - Europe
Anne O’Bryan
T: +44 1225 858886
E: anne.o’bryan@projectsearchuk.com