ELITE Supported Employment Agency Ltd was set up in Mid Glamorgan during 1994 to help adults with learning disabilities access and maintain paid employment in their area. The service has progressed to assist individuals whatever their disability. The Agency consists of a Director, a Deputy Director, a number of Employment Training Co-ordinators plus Administration Support and has offices in Talbot Green and Merthyr Tydfil.
The Agency is one of the growing number of Supported Employment Agencies working within Wales. The Agency is currently funded by the Social Services Departments of Rhondda Cynon Taff, Merthyr and Bridgend, European Funds, the Department of Employment, BBC Children in Need, 14-19 Networks and the Big Lottery Fund to work within Rhondda Cynon Taff, Bridgend and Merthyr. Since 1997 the Agency has also been funded by Rhondda Cynon Taff to assist individuals with physical disabilities and sensory impairment to access, obtain and maintain paid employment.
The Agency operates within the Welsh Model of Supported Employment, which commences with the referral to the Agency of individuals interested in paid employment. Individuals can refer themselves to the Agency or can be referred by staff at their Day Centre, Social Worker, Support Worker, Family, Friend, Teachers or Lecturer. The individual may also be referred by the Disability Employment Adviser at their local Job Centre. The initial stage of Supported Employment involves the correct job matching of individuals to vacancies, based on their choices, abilities and circumstances. It is therefore necessary for the Agency to work closely with individuals, their support system and family, carers or friends prior to employment to obtain this knowledge through a carefully structured assessment procedure. When an appropriate job has been identified individuals are given one to one support from the Agency's Employment Training Co-ordinators. This support includes counselling and support prior to interviews, accompanying individuals to interviews, specially tailored one to one training within a workplace and support with the social aspects of a job. This support is maintained until a person is able to work independently. However, to ensure that a job remains successful, withdrawal of an Employment Training Co-ordinator is very gradual and is gauged over a period of time, via task analysis and consultation with their employer. All training is tailored to the individual's needs and is based on the principle of systematic instruction.
The Agency needs to work closely with the employer negotiating the individual's hours, pay, responsibilities and rights, to name but a few. Employment Training Co-ordinators enter the place of work prior to an individual commencing employment to learn the job for themselves, understand the culture of the workplace and to allay concerns staff may have with regards to the individual entering their workplace. The Agency will also work with the specialised sections within the Department of Employment to obtain any help an individual may need, ranging from equipment, transport assistance to work or adaptations to a workplace.
Work choices cover a whole range of employment, illustrated by the current jobs ELITE deals with including production, cleaning, animal care, retail and catering. Individuals work a variety of hours ranging from one hour per week to forty four hours per week. This employment includes weekends, evenings and rota system or shift work. When an individual obtains paid employment, they are treated as any other employee, working the same hours, paid the same rate of pay and working to the same quality standards.
The Agency is currently governed by a Management Committee consisting of individuals from Voluntary Organisations, People First, Local Employers, Independents and Parents.