Sarah John
Dr Victoria Lidstone
Introduction
Employment is “the most important symbol signalling entrance
into the adult world, enabling social and financial independence”
(Kuh D et al 1988)
‘”Work is positive for health, for income, for social status
and for relationships” (Sayce, L. 2011)
Why look at this?
 Growing cohort of individuals
 Unemployment
 Vulnerable group
Who are the young people?
 Young people aged 16-24
 Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
 Cystic Fibrosis
 Cerebral Palsy
 Childhood cancers
 Others
Aims
This project aims to investigate the quality of services
designed to help young people with life-limiting
conditions find and maintain employment.
 What services are there?
 How are they accessed?
 Who has access?
 What do they offer?
 What is the quality of service and information?
Method
 Literature search
 A list of potential services was produced from:
 Google search - ‘Employment for the Disabled’
 Cardiff Jobcentreplus
 Discussion with other services
 Contacted all services by phone
 Interviewed all services by their preferred contact
method
Method
A hypothetical situation was produced and put to each
of the services in turn to see how they dealt with it:
A 17-year-old man with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
(DMD), wanting work with cars. He is a wheelchair user
and requires assistance with toileting.
Results - What services are there?
Extend
Results - How are they accessed?
Service
Primary access via:
DEAs at the
Jobcentreplus
Remploy
Scope
Shaw Trust
Vision 21
Independent
Quest
EmployAbility
BBC Extend
DEA
DEA
DEA
Word of mouth/
schools and colleges
NHS and support
workers
University
University
Secondary access
via:
Social workers
Internet search
Internet search
Internet search
DEA
DEA
Internet search
Internet search
Results - Who has access?
Service
To have access to this service you must be:
DEAs at the
Jobcentreplus
Disabled, regardless of whether they are receiving a benefit
allowance or not.
Remploy
Over 16 with a disability (as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
Scope
Disabled according to the Equality Act 2010.
Shaw Trust
Disabled according to the Equality Act 2010.
Vision 21
Anybody with a learning disability
Quest
Disabled
EmployAbility
University graduates
BBC Extend
Disabled and appropriately experienced and/or qualified
Results - What do they offer?
Individual with a disability
who wants to work
Work Choice
Programme
Unsuccessful
Enterprise
Scheme
Business
Services
Successful
Employment
Unpaid Work
Experience
Pathway through
services provided by
the Jobcentreplus
Results – Quality of the services and information
Results – Hypothetical Situation
Summary
 Responses
 Limitations
 Website quality
 Limited places on each program
 Complicated relationships
Future Work?
 Young people and parents aspirations.
 Young people and parents experiences of current
services
 Disability vs. Life-limiting?
 Gaps in information/alternative provisions
 Mathematical modeling
Conclusions
 This is a growing cohort of people who services need to
consider in the future.
 Healthcare professionals, parents and young people
themselves need to be aware of the services available.
 Further work to be done
Acknowledgements