Developments and Achievements

Achievements

1996
The Unit won the 1996 European Commission in Scotland Equality Award for the Promotion of Equality for People with Disabilities.

1997
The Unit won the 1997 Scottish Local Authority Award for providing the best Quality of Service for a Local Authority Project in Scotland.

1999
The Unit was one of 10 projects selected by the Government to pilot the New Deal for Disabled People.

The Unit received a Scottish Local Authority Citation of Merit for its project on Supporting People with Mental Health Problems into Employment.

The Unit received the Rehabilitation Networks Award.

The Unit was chosen to pilot the Supported Employment Development Initiatives.

The Personnel department of which the EU is part of has been accredited with Investors in People status.

2002
In April 2002 the Employment Disability Unit successfully applied for Workstep Modernisation Funding. This enabled the Employment Disability Unit to implement new approaches and processes within their Workstep Provision.

Developments

The Employment Unit was selected to pilot the Government's initiatives to assist disabled people to access the open labour market.

New Deal for People with Disabilities

Between August 1999 and April 2000, the EU worked with 378 clients and successfully supported and placed 140 of these clients into some form of employment during this period. In addition, the Unit enabled 137 clients to undertake a work experience placement with a local employer. The majority of clients were in receipt of Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowances.

Supported Employment Development Initiative

The EU participated in the Supported Employment Development Initiative, undertaking an employer/employee survey and progressing several Supported Employment participants into open employment.

In addition to the progression of existing Supported Employment Placement participants, an objective of the Unit is to secure open employment for a minimum of 10 clients who are eligible for the Supported Employment Programme.

Scottish Union of Supported Employment

The Employment Unit plays a leading role in the Scottish Union of Employment Employment (SUSE). SUSE is an additional support organisation for Supported Employment.

The manager of the EU is a former Chairperson of the Scottish Union of Supported Employment (SUSE) and is currently the Vice Chairperson of the European Union of Supported Employment (EUSE).

In March 2001 the Scottish Union of Supported Employment hosted the 5th Conference of the European Union of Supported Employment, which was held in Edinburgh. The conference was attended by 600 delegates from 36 countries and was of considerable benefit to those looking at developing or improving employment services for people with disabilities and people who are disadvantaged in society.

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