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Learning for Work
Employability and adults with disabilities - West Midlands region
This event is now Full
| Date: | Monday 10 March 2008 |
| Venue: | The Centennial Centre, 100 Icknield Port Rd, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 0AA |
| Ref: | C16-55E |
| Fee*: | Fee:
£35 (non-refundable);
LSC staff: Free (includes lunch, tea/coffee) NB: NIACE does not charge VAT on conference and course fees |
[Background & Aims] [Audience] [Programme]
Background
Increasing economic participation through sustainable employment is a key priority work area (2006-2010) in Learning for Living and Work, the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) national strategy to improve education and training opportunities for people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities:
The LSC's ambition in this area is far reaching and reflects the Government's wider intervention strategy to deliver the skills and access to in-work support needed to enhance disabled people’s employability (LSC, 2006).
A national and regional employability agenda
In May 2007 a national conference on the Further Education (FE) system and
employability for adults with disabilities was chaired by Chris Banks, LSC Chairman. It produced an agenda for taking this work forward. This agenda
included:
 | engaging with employers on a regional and local level and gaining a practical experience of what it means to be employer-led |
| developing flexible funding arrangements that recognise job outcomes as a successful outcome and support collaborative working for employability work amongst providers within the Learning and Skills sector, but also amongst wider parties in other agencies |
| recognising achievements of learners at Entry Level and way up to Level 2 and beyond |
| developing a better understanding of Supported Employment and the Supported Employment model |
| a focus on employability and people with mental health difficulties |
| embedding support mechanisms for learners with disabilities engaged in vocational provision rather than having bolt-on arrangements |
| further development of the Foundation Learning Tier to ensure a stronger focus on employability skills. |
The regional Learning for Living and Work West Midlands Implementation Plan for 2007-2010, Improving Education and Training Opportunities for People with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities, sets out how the region is moving forward with the vision set out in the national strategy. This conference will provide an opportunity to hear about work happening in the region in the key priority area of employability and learners with disabilities and discuss some of the key issues identified in the employability agenda.
This conference will:
| provide an update on national developments, including the Government's Strategy "Progression through Partnership" on the role of further education and training in supporting disabled people to achieve fulfilling lives |
| review national and regional LSC progress on the priority area 'increasing economic participation through sustainable employment' for disabled learners during 2006-2007 and learn about current interesting practice developing in this area of work in the region |
| explore further the "Supported Employment Model", an LSC requirement by 2010 |
| consider specific employability issues for learners with mental health difficulties |
| explore the learner and employer perspective |
| propose ideas and develop plans for taking this work forward. |
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Audience
| Regional and local LSC staff who have a lead in either Skills or provision for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities |
| Adult and Community Education services |
| Connexions and IAG professionals |
| Disability Employment Advisors |
| Education Business Partnerships |
| Employers |
| Further Education Colleges |
| Independent Specialist Providers for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities |
| Jobcentre Plus |
| Local Authority, particularly professionals with responsibility for transition and person-centred planning |
| Schools |
| Supported Employment agencies in both the public and voluntary sector |
| Work-based learning providers |
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Programme
| 09:30 | Arrival and registration (tea/coffee available) |
| 10:00 | Welcome from the region and introduce Peter Little as the Chair |
| 10:05 | The Learner Voice Learners talking about work What do learners need - a challenge to think about? |
| 10:15 | Introduction to the day and
"The big picture" The current national context for Learning for Living and Work Peter Little OBE, Chair of 'Through Inclusion to Excellence' |
| 10:35 | An update on regional
developments Learners with disabilities: enhancing employability |
| 10:50 | The Employer Voice: what employers want and what they can do |
| 11:00 | Questions to speakers |
| 11:10 | Tea/coffee break |
| 11:25 | Developing skills for
employment and embedding in-work support What can we draw from existing work in the region? Round table discussions |
| 12:35 | Lunch |
| 13:35 | Improving employment
opportunities for people with mental health difficulties Kathryn James, NIACE Development Officer, Learning and Health |
| 13:50 | The Supported Employment
perspective British Association for Supported Employment |
| 14:05 | Progression to Employment Gareth Parry - Head of Learning, Remploy |
| 14:25 | In the current climate,
identify how education and training providers could improve their work with
supported employment providers? What barriers could be removed to improve these relationships? |
| 15:35 | Plenary feedback from
discussions and next steps Peter Little OBE, Chair |
| 15:50 | Close of conference (tea/coffee available) |
This programme is correct at the time of going to press. The organisers reserve the right to make changes to the published programme in the event of one or more of the advertised speakers being unable to attend. Delegates will have no claim against NIACE in respect of such changes.
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