EMPLOY ABILITY

Employ-Ability is the working name of Ideas Plus. Ideas Plus was formed in 1992 following the recommendations of a special report commissioned by Harlow District Council (H.D.C.) which examined the employment situation of disabled people in Harlow. A service was then set up, supported by H.D.C. and local companies (Blue Arrow, B.P., IDV UK, and General Portfolio) in an innovative partnership to assist people with disabilities into meaningful paid employment. For the first 10 years, and with various funding changes, the service operated with one paid supported employment advisor. By 2002 the service was able to appoint two full time advisors, supported by a part time manager, delivering on European Social Fund (E.S.F.) and Single Regeneration Budget contracts.

Much of this work was funded through HDC in partnership with other local providers. Also in 2004 we achieved the Matrix quality standard and began to offer Information and Advice sessions; as part of this process we (staff, trustees and users of our service), decided to change our working name to Employ-Ability. From 2004 -07, while still working locally, we were delivering services as a member of the County wide Workskills partnership, funded through ESF grant funding. Notably during this time we began to work increasingly with people with mental health conditions, up to 80% of our caseload. This experience, and a pilot run for Uttlesford Community Mental Health Team (CMHT), convinced us to tender for the Employment Support contract in West Essex.

We were successful and from July 2008 have provided a supported employment adviser in each of the 4 CMHT’s in West Essex. Our other work in Harlow became more focused on Primary Care and a pilot service offering job retention and return to work advice to GP patients with mental health conditions ran from 2008. Our current plan is to tender to provide this service to the West Essex PCT in May 2010, in partnership with West Essex Mind.