Work Experience Placements

In 2006, 41% of the Employment Unit's clients were unemployed for more than 3 years. Many clients are unsure of their own abilities and are unaware of what certain jobs entail. Moreover, there are concerns as to how a person's disability will affect their work performance.

With these points in mind, the Employment Unit developed a Work Experience Placement Programme to assist individuals to identify their own strengths and weaknesses and employment preferences. These placements are with a variety of public and private sector organisations in the Tayside area and will usually last between 6-8 weeks, with clients working, on average, 15-25 hours per week. This length of time is usually sufficient to achieve the placement's objectives and the employer is comfortable knowing that it will not take up an inordinate amount of administration or supervisory time.

A Work Experience Placement should be organised in such a manner that the person undertaking the placement will have the opportunity to maximise the following development areas:

Determine their own abilities
Identify their strengths and weaknesses
Develop new skills
Improve existing skills
Identify employment/job preferences
Improve confidence
Obtain an up to date employment reference
Add a fresh activity to add to a curriculum vitae or job application

The Employment Unit regularly monitors and visits the work placement site and develops an Action Plan, in agreement with the client, to enable all parties to measure performance levels and identify potential training needs. The Unit arranges authorisation of the work placement from Jobcentre Plus and ensures that the client receives travel expenses in addition to welfare benefits for the duration of the placement. The costs associated with a placement are borne by the EU. The Employment Unit ensures that the work placement is providing the client with safe, meaningful and supervised work. Employers are required to provide evidence that individuals are covered by their Employer's/Public Liability Insurance.

The Work Experience Placement provides Unit staff with a more in-depth assessment of their client's skills and preferences, as well as the opportunity to develop a professional relationship with an employer.

The employer is offered the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to equal opportunities and good practice. A Work Placement also enables an employer the chance to become "comfortable" with disabled people in the workplace. This has helped to break down the barriers of apprehension and negative perception that many disabled people come up against. The employer has no obligation to employ the client once the placement has ended.

The Work Experience Placement Programme, as operated by the Employment Unit, is seen as a productive mechanism in creating job opportunities and preparing disabled people for employment.

Dundee City Council shows its commitment to providing Work Experience Placements to clients of the EU. Committee Report no. 366/1996 details in its recommendation that:

"The council commits itself, in principle and where practicable, to offer Work Experience Placements."
"Chief Officer be authorised to offer Work Experience Placements to pupils at local schools, students at local colleges/universities and training providers, such as the Employment Unit."

The report states that:

"The Employment Unit Work Placement Scheme is designed to assist Clients with a disability or health related problem back into a working environment. Work Experience Placements are tailored to suit the individual and are proving to be popular and make a positive contribution towards securing employment."

"Work Placements last, on average, 6 to 8 weeks, normally on a part time basis. Monitoring and Support for "Placements" will be provided by an Employment Development Officer. The costs normally associated with such Placements are borne by the Employment Unit."

Consultancy and Advisory Service

The Unit is in regular contact with local employers regarding the introduction of good employment practice in dealing with the recruitment and retention of disabled people and provides training in Disability Awareness and the Disability Discrimination Act. The Employment Unit has developed policies and procedures on the Guaranteed Job Interview Scheme, Retention and Redeployment of Employees with Disabilities and the Provision of Work Experience Placements for People with Disabilities.

Staff also provide guidance to other support organisations for disabled people and the Unit is the co-ordinating agency for the Supported Employment Network in Tayside.

The activities and contacts built up through assisting and advising employers and support organisations help break down the barriers of apprehension and create employment opportunities for disabled people.

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