Address: 17 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5SG Telephone: 01792 538538 Email: admin@wisewales.org.uk

About Wise

BACKGROUND

WISE was set up in 1985 by a group of parents who believed in giving people with learning disabilities the opportunity to work.

WISE is a registered charity, a limited company and a community co-operative. The type of supported employment offered by WISE is as defined by The Association for Supported Employment:

"real work in an integrated setting with ongoing support provided by an agency with expertise in finding employment for people with learning disabilities".

FUNDING

Originally the agency received funding from Europe and from the All Wales Strategy. Since 1985 funding has come through contracts held with the Social Services departments of the City & County of Swansea and the County Borough of Neath Port Talbot.

WISE also operates contracts with the Employment Service, that include WORKSTEP and Work Preparation, whilst Children in Need,LloydsTSB, Objective 1 and Big Lottery Fund fund additional projects.

STRUCTURE

The organisation is governed by a Management Committee which is responsible for overall policy decisions. The day to day running of the company is in the hands of the Director who heads the staff team. Staff roles tend to be specialised in that the Employment Consultants carry a caseload of Jobseekers while the Job Trainers carry out the workplace training.

AIMS

WISE aims to provide Jobseekers with enough understanding and experience of work to enable them to make informed choices. They will also be given the specialised training and support they need to succeed in work. The Agency also recognises that it has a duty to employers, and so aims to provide them with employees who are matched to vacancies and trained to company standards.

PROJECTS

In addition to the basic service, WISE runs projects which may vary according to the availability of funding. These include the

THE SERVICE

Each jobseeker has different needs. The Employment Consultants provide vocational guidance and agree with the jobseeker upon a plan of action.

This may include a work preparation course and one or more work experience placements. Some jobseekers will be ready to move directly into employment.

Once an employer has been found with a vacancy to fill or a placement to offer, the job trainer will learn the job and will then train the jobseeker one to one until independent performance of the job is achieved. The job trainer will reduce the input of training and support only gradually and with the agreement of the employer.

Jobseekers can also be given training to travel to the workplace.

Support and training do not end when a jobseeker has found employment. The Employment Consultant will monitor and will be available at any time to sort out any problems, including any difficulties with welfare benefits.

The job trainer will return to the workplace if further training is required at any time. This on-going service promotes job maintenance and career development.

For further information about WISE please contact us:

Address: WISE, 17 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5SG Tel: 01792 538538 Email: admin@wisewales.org.uk website: www.wisewales.org.uk

SCHOOLS WORK PROJECT

BACKGROUND

The white paper "Training and Education in the 21st Century " makes work experience a statutory right for school children. However WISE through its work as a supported employment agency for people with learning disabilities was finding that many pupils with special needs were not getting the same opportunities as their peers.

Having placed over 750 people with learning disabilities into paid employment WISE realises that early intervention can be critical in developing vocational awareness and skills as well as raising awareness of an individuals potential.

FUNDING

In May 1997 WISE secured funding through Children In Need and Social Services to run a one year pilot project to work with young people with learning disabilities who were in their last year of school. Due to the success of the project Children In Need have continued the funding year on year and we are now in our seventh year.

STRUCTURE

The project employs a co-ordinator who links with schools in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot to provide one to one vocational awareness and support to pupils with learning disabilities on work experiences which have been canvassed locally within the business community. The co-ordinator is based at WISE and has access to the wide range of experience and knowledge available from a supported employment agency

AIMS

The project aims to provide young people with learning disabilities the opportunity to access work experience placements with the support of a job trainer. Work skill sessions which include health & safety and work related social skills assist in developing the pupils understanding of the world of work.

THE PROJECT

Using the innovative techniques that WISE has developed over the last 17 years and working closely with Careers Advisors, young people and their parents.

A programme has been devised which not only meets the need for individually tailored support but that informs and educates agencies and employers about the abilities of these young people.

We have seen the very a real difference that paid work makes on an individual's self esteem and confidence, with four pupils getting paid part time jobs.

For many young people with special needs, the barriers to success in employment are not their special needs but the barriers that society puts in their way through low expectation and lack of extra support. It is up to us to change this and put work on the agenda as a realistic goal for these young people.

For further information about the Schools Work Project please contact Christine Evans or Cheryl Stansfield on/at:

Address: WISE, 17 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5SG Tel: 01792 538538 Email: christine@wisewales.org.uk Email: cheryls@wisewales.org.uk website: www.wisewales.org.uk

W.A.V.E - Wise Access to Volunteering and Education

BACKGROUND

Through consultation and participation groups W.I.S.E. became aware that although employment remains high on the agenda for people with learning disabilities increasingly there was an emphasis on developing skills through volunteering and learning. However the situation for the majority of people with learning disabilities was that they could only access discrete provision through segregated Day Services. For those people who had chosen not to attend Day Services, no other support was available to attend integrated learning opportunities in the community.

FUNDING

The W.A.V.E. project is funded for three years by the Community Fund and provides a service to people with learning disabilities living in Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot.

STRUCTURE

The project funds a full time co-ordinator and six support workers. The co-ordinator places individuals in their chosen options and arranges for a support worker to accompany/train them until they are confident to continue independently.

AIM

The project is about enabling people with learning disabilities to access adult education and voluntary opportunities independently and in doing so support them to become active members of the local community.

THE PROJECT

The WAVE project focuses on providing an individually tailored service through allocating paid support workers to accompany individuals to the learning opportunity of their choice.

Adult Education - individuals can choose from the broad range of adult education courses available in their area, both vocational and non vocational. Support workers accompany individuals to classes, providing travel training and learning assistance.

Volunteering - people interested in the volunteering option can choose from a variety of placements within the local voluntary sector organisations. Support workers are available to accompany individuals to placements and provide one to one training and support.

As with all W.I.S.E. initiatives the ultimate goal of the project is independence and therefore gradual withdrawal of training and support leaving the individual to continue volunteering or on their course.

For further information about W.A.V.E. please contact Mandy Watson on/at:

Address: WISE, 17 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5SG Tel: 01792 538538 Email: mandy@wisewales.org.uk website: www.wisewales.org.uk

Social Services Contracts - Swansea, Neath & Port Talbot

BACKGROUND

W.I.S.E. was set up in 1985 by a group of parents who believed in giving people with learning disabilities the chance to work. The definition of work in a supported employment environment is:

"Real work in an integrated setting with on going support provided by an agency with expertise in finding employment for people with disabilities."

FUNDING

Initially W.I.S.E. was funded by West Glamorgan Social Services however since 1996 we have two Social Service contracts with The City & County of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.

AIM OF CONTRACT

The aim of the contract is to improve the quality of life, self esteem, and general circumstances of Social Services clients with learning disabilities via the opportunity of paid work, once work has been identified as an objective in the Individual Care Plans of the clients concerned.

THE CONTRACT

The contract allows for Care Managers (social workers and other health professionals) to refer identified learning disabled clients to WISE for both assessment and placement. On registration with WISE, an initial first meeting is conducted which is client centred.

The WISE Employment Consultant then uses this profile to locate suitable work placements with local employers.

WISE Job Trainers work with clients to help them attain both a standard and rate of work likely to lead to employment, using a recognised training method known as Training in Systematic Instruction.

Travel training is also provided so that clients are eventually able to travel to work independently.

Once the natural supports are made in the workplace the trainer will withdraw (or fade). Job trainers are used in both training and supporting roles with clients throughout the client's various placements over a two year period.

A client may be registered with W.I.S.E. for a two to three year period during which time they may do up to four to six work placements. Support from both the employment consultant and individual Job Trainers is available throughout this period. Employment Consultants provide Social Workers with feedback and information on client progress, and advise Job Seekers on Welfare Benefits.

A large percentage of clients will be successful in securing paid work in an integrated setting.

For further information about W.I.S.E. please contact Kaynie McLellan on/at:

Address: WISE, 17 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5SG Tel: 01792 538538 Email: kaynie@wisewales.org.uk website: www.wisewales.org.uk

WORKSTEP

BACKGROUND

In April 2001 the Employment Service launched a new programme of supported employment to be known as WORKSTEP. This provides funding for sponsors such as WISE to give additional help to employers who offer jobs to people with disabilities. The help can be in the form of additional one to one support and training for the new employee; a short term wage subsidy; or other help identified as appropriate.

FUNDING

Funding from the Employment Service provides WISE with the means to support 51 people on a rolling recruitment and training schedule.

AIM

The aim of WISE's WORKSTEP programme is to encourage people with learning disabilities to take up employment opportunities for more than 16 hours a week. Through appropriate support and training Job seekers will become mainstream employees of the company.

THE CONTRACT

The new WORKSTEP approach values one to one training in the workplace as an alternative to subsidised employment. It recognizes the potential of people with disabilities to become fully competent members of staff, with the additional support provided by sponsoring agencies such as WISE.

WORKSTEP is intended to provide funding for a shorter period than the previous supported employment programme. This has caused some anxiety, however existing supported employees on the old scheme will continue to receive support until such time as they progress to open unsubsidised employment or their job comes to a natural end.

WORKSTEP is particularly appropriate for WISE jobseekers who are looking for a job for more than 16 hours a week. WISE will offer advice and help on social security benefits in order to maximize a person's income.

Disability Living Allowance is not income-related and is a "passport" benefit to tax credits, which can increase earned income substantially.

For further information about WORKSTEP please contact Kaynie McLellan on/at:

Address: WISE, 17 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5SG Tel: 01792 538538 Email: kaynie@wisewales.org.uk website: www.wisewales.org.uk

Swansea Skills Service

BACKGROUND

This project is a county wide facility for co-ordinating tutor training and Delivery of basic, key and generic skills to adults and young people through public private and voluntary sector organisations in a variety of locations across the City & County of Swansea. The project enables partners to provide co-ordination and outreach support, tuition and guidance to hard to reach groups with specific needs.

FUNDING

Funding for the project comes from the European Social Fund (Objective 1) as part of the Swansea Skills Partnership Project between Education, the Colleges of Further Education and the Voluntary Sector.

AIM

WISE has a tutor seconded to provide basic and key skills classes specifically for adults with learning disabilities. Students are encouraged to use the project as a springboard to integrated classes in the community.

THE CONTRACT

The classes provide a programme of informal and accessible learning opportunities for adults with a learning disability who live in the City & County of Swansea. The programme offers guidance advice and information on numeracy, literacy, I.T. and team building skills. Classes are ongoing so that students can learn at their own pace with opportunities to gain O.C.R. accreditation.

For further information about Swansea Skills Service please contact Ian Moore on/at:

Address: WISE, 17 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5SG Tel: 01792 538538 Email: ian@wisewales.org.uk website: www.wisewales.org.uk

Supported Employment WORK PREPARATION

Would you like the opportunity to work in:

A young lady taking notes of stock at a supermaket WISE will provide one to one support in the workplace for people with a learning disability who are referred by their Disability Employment Advisor and who want to participate on this programme.

WISE will help you to:-

A middle aged man working with industrial machinery

Work Training Opportunities

European Union - European Social Fund A young man learning new catering skills at his work place

This project, supported by the European Social Fund, is a partnership between the City & County of Swansea Social Services Department, Gorseinon College and the Welsh Initiative for Supported Employment. It aims to increase the provision of advice & guidance, learning/training and employment support services to adults with additional needs.

WISE is working with Learning Disability Services to develop training opportunities that lead to real work. Several vocational areas have been developed into projects:- Horticulture, Grounds Maintenance, Laundry Service and Victoria Park Kiosk (catering).

For further information please contact:-

Kaynie McLellan Tel: 01792 538538