RNIB Service Delivery and Job Retention
by Eamonn FETTON
Aim of RNIB’s Employment Services
RNIB’s Education and Employment Division brings together provision for blind and partially sighted children, young people and adults of working age. One stream of activity focuses upon employment and aims to implement RNIBs Employment Strategy, Work Matters, through policy and campaigning work and direct service provision and development activities. We aim to meet some needs directly but we also aim to meet the needs of statutory, voluntary and commercial agencies which in turn provide services to blind and partially sighted people. RNIB’s employment services are directed towards reducing the unemployment of blind and partially sighted people (75%)
and all employment staff must see this as their primary purpose.
Structure
RNIB’s employment service provision is based on a regional model. We have 6 multi-disciplinary teams based in larger cities around England. Staff are experts in education, employment, and technology.
Context
1. External key factors
The continuing trend towards inclusive education at all levels.
Changes in statutory employment provision and associated implications for both policy and service development.
A strong tendency towards pan disability approaches, especially in the employment sector, and a consequent difficulty in securing funding for more specialist provision.
Emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches and partnership.
Rapid pace of development in mainstream information technology giving rise to both threats and opportunities.
Increasing recognition of the needs of people with additional disabilities.
2. Internal key factors
RNIB, like many organisations, has encountered some financial difficulties in recent months. There is limited capital available for service development and an emphasis on income generation.
Work Matters presents a strategic approach to tackling high unemployment amongst blind and partially sighted people (75%) – by focusing upon work placement, job retention and alternative employment opportunities.
To implement this strategy by 2006 will involve significant refocusing of our employment services in line with the requirements of the employment strategy already in place.
Medium/long term aspirations
Over the next 3 years we will develop new services:
Establish employment projects funded by contract income which support people into work, so that by 2006 we are helping a minimum of 300 people a year across the UK into jobs. This could include for example a new contractual relationship with the statutory agency, Jobcentre Plus, whereby RNIB is funded to provide a job placement service through a case management approach.
Develop new intermediate labour market opportunities for blind and partially sighted people ranging from sheltered provision to supported open labour market placements, creating 200 new opportunities by 2006.
These changes have financial and staffing implications. Any expansion of our activities in these areas must come from external funding. We need to continue to re-focus the priorities of employment staff in line with our Employment Strategy and demonstrate the link between our intervention and placing people in employment. This will mean ensuring that we have a structured programme of continuing professional development in place to enable staff to develop new skills, ensuring recruitment takes account of longer term aspirations and ensuring national co-ordination of regional development.
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