New Horizons Project
A mental health employment project 1998 - 1999
Bury EST and its partners delivered a transnational project, New Horizons, under the
European Social Fund's EMPLOYMENT: Horizon community initiative. This page offers a summary
and describes the main objectives and results of the project which ran from January 1998 to
December 1999.
We had transnational partners in Coimbra, Portugal [Projecto PONTE - Hospital Sobral Cid]
and Valladolid, Spain [Proyecto ESLA -
Fundacion Intras] who delivered similar projects. Local partners included Bury College,
Bury Healthcare NHS Trust, Bury MBC and Bury Chamber of Trade.
New Horizons used an innovative approach to create a local pathway to employment for
people who have experienced a severe mental illness. Its objectives were:
- Development of a
supported employment service to provide prevocational training, advice and guidance,
counselling, access to employment and further training, and long term support for
employed beneficiaries.
- The provision of basic work skills training and key skill assessment in a sheltered
work situation,
Bury Festive Lighting.
- Development of a flexible one year vocational access course for beneficiaries seeking
to return to study.
- Completion of a
research project looking at job retention for people experiencing mental illness.
- Development of
awareness raising materials/events for employers and the exchange of good practice.
- The establishment of a Training and Employment Forum to co-ordinate provision across a
variety of local agencies.
We were keen to include beneficiaries in service planning and evaluation through
the development of a 'User Council' and ongoing consultation and representation.
An
evaluation report is available.
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Supported Employment Service
The project piloted the expansion of a supported employment service for people with
severe mental health needs. Using a traditional approach, we secured 20 permanent jobs
for clients during the life of the project. This project did much to expand our capability
to provide supported employment services to people who had experienced mental health problems.
Work in Mind
This resource helped people back into work and improved their skills through further
training, including a 10 week structured work skills course. A drop-in advice and guidance
session was held at Ribchester Drive on Tuesday afternoons 1 pm - 4 pm for clients who wished
to discuss any employment issues or receive practical help. An Employment Officer was available
to give advice and guidance about job searching, benefits, filling in forms etc.
A 10 week course was run three times a year at Bury EST's offices at 24 Ribchester Drive,
Bury. Places were available for up to 6 clients for the 2 hour sessions held on Wednesday
mornings. The course was designed to help improve work skills and employment prospects while
building client confidence again.
During the course clients were able to identify skills and learning needs, visit other
agencies in Bury, compile a CV, complete application forms, write letters and undertake a
work experience placement. The course aimed to build confidence, self-esteem, motivation
and offer choices to help plan for the future. A certificate was awarded for 80%
attendance on the course.
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Bury Festive Lighting
Bury Festive Lighting was a training workshop operated in partnership with Bury Chamber
of Trade. The workshop was situated in Bury College and was officially opened in October 1998.
Its primary aim was to deliver Key Skills training to groups of up to 8 clients per day over
a three day week. Clients attended for varying periods depending on individual need before
progressing to other elements of the New Horizons initiative. The workshop had to close in
the Spring of 2000 following the failure to secure ongoing funding.
The workshop offered training in practical skills and also key skills assessment
i.e. problem solving, communication, improving own learning & performance and working
as part of a team. The setting was flexible and supportive, and designed to give clients
the opportunity to build on confidence, self-esteem, and work skills again. The project
created over 70 lighting units that are still used around the Bury area each Christmas.
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Research
We raised awareness amongst employers and conducted research into maximising
job retention. The New Horizons project explored areas of best practice and encouraged
the exchange of policy ideas which could be of long term benefit to a number of clients
seeking to re-enter work.
We conducted over 80 interviews with a wide variety of local and national employers
and sought comments and feedback about the final
research report.
The interviews have investigated the extent of disability policies with regard to mental
health and sought employer opinion on the barriers towards employing people experiencing
mental health problems. The research was used to produce written information for Personnel
Managers and key trainers/advisors through the publication of an employers' guide to mental
health issues and sources of local help.
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Awareness Raising
Bury EST has held awareness raising seminars to identify areas of corporate good practice
and encourage its exchange. The first event was held in December 1999 and was followed up by
the first of the Embracing Diversity conferences in Manchester in September 2000. A second
event was held in September 2001.
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