Written evidence from Dr Anne Murdoch OBE, Senior Advisor for College Leadership at Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) – Supplementary written evidence (YDP0072)

Following the House of Lords enquiry into the transition of young people with disability into employment, below are two examples from our FE members which the Committee may find helpful :

Employment

A college recruited a young person with a disability, who had been a college student, to their staff.

The college reports that the young person felt comfortable as a student within the College environment and was interested in being employed by the college. As a result of the Careers Support offered to the young person, the college was able to shape a role within its staff team and initially offered a Supported Internship to the young person.

During the year of the internship, the college provided opportunities for the young person to work in a range of different parts of the organisation.

The college soon realised that the staff in different departments varied in terms of their ability to support and mentor the young person. However, where staff had a natural ability to coach and develop the young person, they flourished.

Through Careers discussions after the internship year, the young person indicated that he had a strong preference for working in the college’s Estates team. There was a vacancy for a part-time role, so the college employed the young person, initially on a part time (3 days per week) basis, undertaking a range of duties.

The young person now participates as a full staff member and this role has helped to create improved skills of self-awareness and independence in the college environment.

The college reports that the impact on colleagues within the staff team in which the young person works is palpable and they have helped to nurture the young person as their colleague.

Bursaries for young disabled people in work experience placements

An employment forum led by a county council agreed a proposal for a bursary scheme for young people with disabilities which mirrors the same approach taken with apprentices where mentors are being trained to support apprentices in work.

Now, the local Authority has fully adopted the idea and will be providing training and support for mentors for young people in work experience placements to help support them into the world of work.

I hope the above two examples are helpful.

12 January 2024