Project Search



A programme helping people with learning disabilities secure employment

 

What is Project Search?

Project Search is a model which helps disabled people secure and keep paid permanent jobs. It is particularly suited to people with learning disabilities or autism, and others who can benefit from partnership working.

The model was established in the USA where it has been running for 14 years. It runs in several large American organisations, including Cincinnati Children's hospital, several smaller hospitals and the Fifth Third Bank. Many of the participants secure and retain full employment with the host organisation; others leave the scheme ready for work and generally secure employment elsewhere.

How does it work?

A college tutor or school teacher and job coach run a year-long programme of work training for 12 people via a series of work placements in a host employer organisation.

Project Search in England

As set out in the launch of Valuing Employment Now, government invited proposals from local partnerships interested in running the Project Search model in England, and evaluating its success.

The selection process was completed at the end of October. The following sites have been invited to implement Project Search from September 2010 and take part in the Government evaluation of the model:

These sites will receive advice and guidance on preparing for implementation from the Valuing Employment Now delivery team, which is based within the Department of Health. The delivery team will also lead the Government evaluation.

Preparing for September

We held our first capacity-building event for the 14 sites at the beginning of December. The event was delivered by Project Search consultants from the USA. The event covered a range of subjects including:

During and following the event, sites raised a number of issues and questions, around how to fund Project Search and the key partners needed to deliver it. We will be working with individual sites over the coming weeks to help them address these issues. In the meantime, we included some of the questions on the Project Search Frequently Asked Questions page. We will continue to update this page regularly.

Case Study

More information about Project Search Norwich is available at www.projectsearchnorwich.org.

If you would like further information about Project Search please email project.search@dwp.gsi.gov.uk.

Evaluation

Valuing Employment Now: real jobs for people with learning disabilities

The employment strategy for people with learning disabilities was published on 24 June. The strategy is the result of a collaboration between ODI, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Department of Health (DH), Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), Cabinet Office and Department for Transport (DfT). It consits of a report and a delivery plan, presented here.

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Page last reviewed: 28 January 2010