2. DFN Project SEARCH Renfrewshire Update - Report
Renfrewshire Council · 27 August 2024
Back to Economy and Regeneration Policy Board — 27 August 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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___________________________________________________________________ To: Economy and Regeneration Policy Board On: 27 August 2024 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: DFN Project SEARCH Renfrewshire Update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The Council’s Economic Development service (Invest in Renfrewshire), working in partnership with Glasgow Clyde College, has successfully delivered DFN Project SEARCH Renfrewshire since 2015. 1.2 DFN Project SEARCH Renfrewshire usually supports 12 interns each year, each of whom has a learning disability, autism spectrum condition or both. Interns are provided with intensive work experience, as well as academic and employability support, to move towards a job outcome. 1.3 Our job outcome rates have been consistently positive when compared with the national job achievement figures for this priority group. 1.4 This report updates on progress for 2023/24 and confirms continued delivery of the programme into 2024/25, when it will achieve the significant milestone of the 10th year anniversary. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Board: a) Note the content of this report and continuation of funding into 2024/25. 3. Background 3.1 DFN Project SEARCH has been delivered in partnership by Invest in Renfrewshire and Glasgow Clyde College since 2015 and has, to date, supported 92 Renfrewshire residents across nine different cohorts.
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3.2 DFN Project SEARCH Renfrewshire is a business-led, one-year transition to employment programme for young people aged 17 – 29, who have been diagnosed with a learning disability, an autism spectrum condition or both. 3.3 Up to 12 students, who are referred to as interns, are selected each year. Interns participate for 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday - 08:30 to 15:30. They split their time between a classroom-based environment, which has been created within Renfrewshire House, and on work placement within Renfrewshire Council and with local businesses. 3.4 Each intern completes 3 different work placements or ‘rotations’ during the academic year. These are generally for 20 hours per week and 10 weeks per rotation. Collectively the rotations provide each intern with up to 600 hours of work experience. These work rotations provide interns with opportunities to gain a wide range of new and transferable skills, different aspects of occupational experience and to showcase their attributes and abilities to prospective employers. 3.5 Interns also receive lecturer support and work towards achievement of SQA qualifications and job-related certifications such as Manual Handling and Elementary First Aid at Work, which assist them whilst in placement. Our supported employment job coaches provide guidance and assistance to undertake job task requirements and with employability support such as CV writing, interview techniques and job searching. 3.6 All aspects of programme delivery allow the service to agree individual employment aspirations with the interns and to support them towards securing ongoing suitable employment the end of the programme. If suitable employment has not been secured on completion of the programme, participants will continue to receive up to one year of throughcare employability support to help them progress onto employment. 4. DFN Project SEARCH Renfrewshire Delivery 2023 / 24 4.1 Eleven interns started our ninth cohort in August 2023 with 4 interns unfortunately leaving during the programme year, due to personal reasons. The remaining interns completed work rotations across a variety of roles including catering, cleaning, clerical and administration, customer services, leisure services and waste recycling. 4.2 Seven interns successfully graduated in June 2024 with each achieving all college academic requirements. The graduates also successfully gained certifications in: Food Hygiene, First Aid, Manual Handling, Health and Safety at Work and Customer Care. 4.3 All seven graduates successfully gained employment with a range of Renfrewshire businesses, including 4 who have gained roles within Renfrewshire Council (1 within the Councils Modern Apprenticeship Programme and 3 within our Soft FM team). So, the Programme’s job outcome rate for 2023/24 is 64%.
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4.4 55 graduates (60%), across our nine cohorts since 2015, have progressed to a positive job outcome. 4.5 Overall employment rates in Scotland are estimated at 4% - 8% for people with learning disabilities and 29% for autistic people. (Source: Scottish Government) 5. DFN Project SEARCH Renfrewshire Delivery 2024 / 25 5.1 Delivery for 2024/25 has been agreed with the Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership (RLEP) as part of the Employability Annual Investment plan for 23-25. A salary for a lecturer will be funded by Glasgow Clyde College through Scottish Funding Council contributions. 5.2 The recruitment process has been completed with offers having been made to, and accepted by, 12 young Renfrewshire residents to participate in this year’s cohort. 5.3 Discussions are ongoing with both internal service managers and external businesses with the aim to agree a wide and varied range of work rotation placements, which will meet the work aspirations of this year’s interns. 6. 10th Year Anniversary 6.1 DFN Project SEARCH Renfrewshire will achieve its 10th Year Anniversary during the 2024/25 session. DFN Project SEARCH, the national license holders for the programme, have always regarded this as a significant milestone and strongly encourage all sites who achieve this to mark it and celebrate appropriately. 6.2 It is proposed that this significant milestone is marked across 2024/25 delivery. This will include: Launching the 2024/25 cohort as part of our wider Renfrewshire Employability Week (2 – 6 September 2024); Production of a short celebration video, which charts the 10 years of success; Compiling and sharing a series of ‘Where are they Now’ Case Studies, which highlights the progression of ex-Graduates; and Design and delivery of a 10 Year Celebration event. 7. Future Reporting 7.1 It is proposed that a further update report be provided to Board in due course. _________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – No additional finance is sought. 2. HR & Organisational Development – 2 FTE posts within Economic Development are supported to deliver this programme.
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3. Community/Council Planning – None. 4. Legal – None. 5. Property/Assets – None. 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality & Human Rights (a) The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. 8. Health & Safety – None. 9. Procurement – None 10. Risk – None. 11. Privacy Impact - None. 12. Climate Risk – Not Applicable. 13. Children’s Rights – None 14. COSLA Policy Position – Not Applicable. _________________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers N/A ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Michael Moran, Assistant Economic Development Manager Email: michael.moran@renfrewshire.gov.uk