Scrutiny review of employment opportunities for adults with learning disabilities

Background to the review

Taking up paid employment or voluntary work can have a huge positive impact on the life of a person with learning disabilities. It can help them to take more control of their lives and enjoy greater independence, and enable them to play a more active part in the wider community.

However, although two-thirds of people with a learning disability in England wish to work, only 10% currently have a paid job.

Members of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee recently carried out a review to look at how East Sussex County Council can engage with local employers (including voluntary & community organisations) to promote and develop employment opportunities (both paid and voluntary) for adults with a learning disability.

Summary of recommendations

The review board acknowledged the excellent work being done across the county by Learning Disability Services at ESCC and other organisations to encourage employment opportunities for adults with a learning disability. This work is in line with the ethos outlined in national guidance such as 'Valuing People' and 'Putting People First'.

However, the review board found that adults with a learning disability can be prevented from taking up employment opportunities as a result of concerns and misconceptions by both employers and carers.

The board made recommendations to Adult Social Care services to help them increase the number of adults with a learning disability who find employment in the future.

The recommendations included:

  • making a video to illustrate the positive impact that employment opportunities can bring, not only for a person with a learning disability, but also for a company and its staff
  • increasing the numbers of adults with a learning disability who gain employment through a variety of avenues such as:
    - focusing resources more towards supporting clients to gain and maintain employment
    - improving partnership working with Job Centre Plus, employers and other partners
    - improving the commissioning of services from the independent and voluntary and community sectors
  • employing more people with learning disabilities in the County Council.

Final report

The final report was considered by:

For more information contact our Scrutiny team.