European Union of Supported Employment What we have achieved 2007 - 2009

1. European Union of Supported EmploymentWhat we have achieved 2007 - 2009 Robert Elston Treasurer

2. EUSE: Development & Progress • Updated Constitution • Each National Association has a voting right • Code of Conduct/Responsibilities • Terms of reference for office bearers • Standards of etiquette at EUSE Council meetings • Cluster Group Formation • UK/Ireland • Nordic • Southern countries • German speaking • Opened new bank accounts • Attract more interest • Euro accounts and Sterling account • Increased financial management and planning

3. EUSE: Development & Progress • Increased Council member participation at meetings • 5 Council meetings • Averaging 18 members from 13 countries • Increased EUSE membership • Switzerland & Wales • Influence on European Commission • Presentation at HLG Brussels • Adoption of EUSE Definition, Values and Process • Questionnaire on SE to member states • Funding of Study of SE in Europe • Participation at 9th EUSE Conference

4. EUSE: Development & Progress • Making formal partnerships with other groups with similar objectives and influences. Notably with EASPD and EDF • To join with the Ramus organisation in putting a tender together for The European Commision study into supported employment

5. EUSE: Development & Progress • EUSE Scholarship Awards • €5000 made available • Strict eligibility criteria • 4 Awards (Northern Ireland, England, Finland and Czech Republic) • Visits to Ireland (2), Netherlands and Portugal • Reports published on EUSE website • 9th EUSE Conference in Prague • 400+ delegates from 34 countries • Workshops from EUSE Council members • Increased collaboration between EUSE and CZuSE • 10th conference in Denmark June 2011 announced

6. EUSE: Development & Progress • Development of Leonardo Partnership • Preparatory Meeting – Edinburgh January 2008 • Agreement on What, Why and How • 14 out of 17 National Associations signed up • 12 out of 14 approved worth €147,000 to Partnership • Position Papers completed • How To Guides started

7. What is the Leonardo Project ? • EUSE had developed some very good quality standards but there was no training available for many countries to achieve those standards. • There was a need for position papers on the 5 stage process. These could be used in redefining supported employment, to services, funders and politicians • There was a need to develop this work right across Europe as a standard.

8. Project initiation • We had an initial meeting in January 2008 to scope the project define the aims and objectives and start the bid writing process. • It was decided to do 14 position papers on various aspects of the 5 stage process these were on

9. The Project: Position statements • Client Engagement/Job Readiness • Vocational Profile • Job Finding • Working with Employers • On and Off the Job Support • Supported Employment for Employers • Supported Employment for Policy-makers/Funders • Values, Standards and Process of Supported Employment • Paid & Unpaid Employment • Quality v. Quantity of Supported Employment Outcomes • Career Development/Progression • Work Experience Placements • Developing a Local/National Partnership

10. The Project: How to guides • It was also planned to develop 9 how to guides on the following topics • Client Engagement/Job Readiness • Vocational Profile • Job Finding • Working with Employers • On and Off the Job Support • Work Experience Placements • Developing a Local/National Partnership • How to Recruit a Person with a Disability • How to Recruit a Job Coach/Support Worker

11. Project development • From there it was decided to develop training guides that each national association could use: • Client Engagement/Job Readiness • Vocational Profile • Job Finding • Working with Employers • On and Off the Job Support • Work Experience Placements • Developing a Local/National Partnership • How to Recruit a Person with a Disability • How to Recruit a Job Coach/Support Worker

12. Project development • This would then develop a thorough toolkit that could be used by individual country membership to improve the quality of supported employment throughout Europe as well as properly inform services, funders and politicians. • 14 countries applied for the funding which would allow for 12 mobility's throughout the project and therefore would allow us to develop a quality product. • Twelve countries were successful in gaining the approval.

13. Leonardo: the countries involved • Scotland Northern Ireland • England Austria • Ireland Sweden • Germany Norway • Greece Finland • Spain Denmark

14. Leonardo: Progress so far • We have had 4 Leonardo meetings where we have finished all of the position papers • We are on schedule to finish the How To Guides by November 2009 and to develop the training guides by June of 2010. • These will then be available to each individual country as well as the rest of the EUSE membership who were not successful in the funding. • The project will be disseminated at the 10th EUSE conference in June 2010

15. Developing Supported Employment: Strengths • Offers equality of opportunity • Combats discrimination and exclusion • Person-centred approach • Can be used for a wide range of client groups • Supports both the client and the employer • Focus is on paid employment/full integration • Existing established network (EUSE)

16. Developing Supported Employment • Mainstream funding of Supported Employment • Advantages • Disadvantages • Funding dictates the programme • Absence of regulations and standards • Limited training opportunities • Inconsistency • Lack of reliable data and results • It is not so easy!!

17. EUSE: Areasfor Future Development • To provide practical leadership • Develop and improve supported employment standards • Assist achieve more consistency • Expand membership and help new nations develop national associations • Participate and have influence in SE Study • Complete European SE Toolkit • Design relevant training events • Increase influence nationally/internationally • 10th EUSE Conference • Focus on increased Results and Outcomes

18. Establishment of a European Model • Definition “providing support to people with disabilities or other disadvantaged groups to secure and maintain paid employment in the open labour market” • Core values & principles • 5 stage process • Engagement • Vocational Profile • Job Finding • Employer Negotiations • On & Off Job Support • Appropriateness for new client groups