Jobs First evaluation report - now published

The final report of the Jobs First Evaluation has been published. The aim of the research was to test personalised approaches for supporting people with learning disabilities into paid employment within five local authority sites.

The evaluation, funded by the Department of Health, shows that the most important factors for supporting people with learning disabilities into jobs are:

• availability of good quality employment support services

• changes in public and employer attitudes including senior level commitment and good working relationships with Job Centre Plus.

• making sure that carers and people with learning disabilities are well-informed and reassured

• the involvement and commitment of social workers.

While the findings are intended to support local authorities, practitioners and family carers the main obstacle to such employment schemes is the allocation of funding, whether it be from social care or elsewhere, according to the study.

The evaluation (opens new window) was undertaken as part of the Social Care Workforce Research; the research team was Martin Stevens and Jess Harris and the report is available from the Jobs First evaluation project page, along with summary and Easy-Read summary reports.