Workstart ProjectBury Employment Support and Training, has provided a supported employment service for individuals with a learning disability who live in the metropolitan Bury area since 1994 and has accessed European Social Fund money in the past to enable specific projects to be delivered. Funding was awarded by the ESF from Jan 1999 to June 2000 to offer 10 young people under 25 years with a learning disability the opportunity to participate in a new and innovative project known as Workstart. The project offered these individuals the opportunity to access 'Active Assessment' for a period of 8 weeks progressing onto a 16-week Work Experience. During the project individual participants had the opportunity to demonstrate their competencies in four mandatory generic core units of the Vocational Access Certificate. Active AssessmentThis is a process Bury EST has used to assess the skills of individuals within a real workplace. The project had five cycles of active assessment, each cycle lasting 8 weeks at 3 days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10am - 3pm).
09/02/99 - 10/04.99 5 participants The active assessment centre was based within a local manufacturing company, Chadwicks of Bury Ltd. A separate assessment centre was established within the company in part of a warehouse allocated to our service. The location allowed participants within the scheme to sample a real work environment as well as being assessed by fully qualified staff. The environment was realistic and allowed for social integration with the workforce. Individuals had the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised vocational qualification (Vocational Access Certificate) in the following units: Health and Safety Each session was planned by qualified D32/33 assessors in order to allow individuals to demonstrate their competency in the above units. Participants were assisted by Bury EST staff to collate a portfolio of evidence and the units were assessed by a variety of methods. Employment officers and other qualified staff carried out assessments within the assessment centre on a daily basis. Chadwicks and Thumbs Up (Bury) Ltd both generously donated equipment and resources. Work Experience PlacementsAt the end of the active assessment, meeting were held to summarise the participants' work related skills. This meeting included the participant and any other representatives the individual wished to invite. The review enabled us to seek a suitable work experience placement for each participant. The work experience lasted for up to 16 weeks and allowed further specific experience and assessment opportunities for the VAC. Placements were sought with new and known employers within the Bury area, allowing participants to actively experience and sample work with support from Bury EST. During the placements a number of people were offered paid employment and this was fully supported by our staff to ensure the transition took place as smoothly as possible. Bury EST staff are continuing to work along side other individuals who completed their placements.
The staffing for the project consisted of: If you have any queries about this project, please contact us at enquiries@buryest.org.uk
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