This article is from page 15 of the 2011-10-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 15 JPG
HELPING people with illness, injury or disability to secure employment has been the goal of Clare Supported Employment Service (CSES), which this week celebrates its 10th anniversary.
Events to mark CSES’s 10 years in existence were launched yesterday at the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis. Open information mornings are being held today (Tuesday) at Skycourt Shopping Centre in Shannon; Wednesday lunchtime at Tesco in Kilrush; Thursday morning at Scarriff Adult Education Centre; and Friday afternoon at the Family Re- source Centre, Ennistymon.
The service is holding a table quiz fundraiser for Clare Crusaders on Wednesday at the Temple Gate Hotel at 8pm. Employment-related workshops will be held during the week. Further details can be obtained from Karen at 065 6844007.
Supported employment originated in the United States in the late 1970s when it was recognised that people learn best on the job with practical instruction.
A successful funding application by the Brothers of Charity, Clare, together with Enable Ireland, led to the creation of a Supported Employment programme in Clare. A team of four staff began providing a countywide supported employment service to people with a range of disabilities, from its office in Carmody Street, Ennis, in 2001.
Since then, the team has expanded and developed but the purpose of the service has remained constant: to offer a highly professional service that is clearly focused on matching the employment needs of people with disabilities and the recruitment needs of County Clare employers.
“We monitor key performance indicators on a monthly basis and are constantly striving to improve the service we provide,” explained Alice O’Carroll, team leader with the service.
After finding suitable employment for clients, the service also provides extra workplace training, if it is deemed necessary.
“Some of it is on-site but the majority is off-site. It’s about ironing out any difficulties that might arise and providing reassurance,” Alice added.
Additional staff have been recruited over the years and business coaching was implemented in 2006. In 2007, placement numbers rose significantly as an additional project, ‘Career Link 2007’ delivered an 80 per cent employment outcome.
CSES was the first FÁS-funded supported employment service to be awarded the Q Mark Standard in 2009.
Alice explained that, as the current recession took hold, the service began to explore a wider range of employment options for job-seekers, such as self-employment and raising awareness of the wage subsidy scheme and other grants.
Under the scheme, employers who employ a person with a disability for 21 hours a week or more may be eligible for a subsidy of € 5.30 per hour. Alice said, “As the candidates we put forward are carefully matched to the business needs, this is really an allround win for employers.”