The Employment Skills Scheme

Transcription

1 The Employment Skills Scheme

2 Aims of the session Overview of Thames Valley Forensic service The history & development of The Employment Skills Scheme Funding and Payment of the scheme Job roles and application process Links to qualifications Examples of Specific projects in place

3 Thames Valley Forensic Service Covers Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Medium secure services in Oxford and Milton Keynes Low secure services in Oxford and Aylesbury Women s service Pre Discharge facilities 143 inpatients

4 Background Previously Reward Money Job roles had become tokenistic Mainly managed on ward by nursing team OT had limited involvement Inconsistent recruitment Focus on the money rather than skill development and vocational skills Wasn t fit for purpose

5 Review Process Full review took place in 2014 Questionnaire of staff and patients to find out what was needed and wanted Current jobs were stopped Review of payment system Title of the scheme!

6 Outcome of review Opportunity to gain qualifications alongside a work role Clearer process of employment to mirror real work To offer only real & purposeful jobs Develop social enterprise opportunities within different units Policy developed Code of conduct

7 Outcome of review In 2014 Thames Valley Forensic Mental Health Service re-launched its vocational work scheme. Aim of the scheme:- To provide meaningful work preparation skills and education opportunities for individuals suffering from mental illness through engagement in real work opportunities. After a service user competition the scheme was named The Employment Skills Scheme (TESS). As part of the new scheme individuals have access to free nationally recognised qualifications which increase their employability in the future and provide a boost to self-esteem. Further review in November 2016

8 Funding & Payment Reward money set up to provide patients money to access groups Amount has reduced over time, remained protected for job roles 2014 review developed a pay matrix based on skills and effort required for the job and time taken to complete the job Too complex and difficult to manage Moved to be in line with minimum wage

9 Management of budget and roles Within the allocated budget the service has 28 job roles that can be filled Money is set aside within the budget for development of jobs and equipment required The number of jobs are allocated to each unit based on size of units The roles and allocations are regularly reviewed as an OT service with flexibility to remove and add roles depending on needs

10 Development of jobs Mixture of group projects/social enterprise and individual work:- Social enterprises:- Car washing scheme Marlborough House shop Individual job roles based on service need: Librarian Activity coordinator Patient council reps Cedar centre assistant

11 Job Descriptions Job description and person specification developed and consideration given to vdt MOCA level required to fulfil the role. The development of any new work role must consider the following the criteria:- Does this provide real work experience and opportunity Can the job be monitored effectively to ensure development of skills Is there a job description and person specification for the post If the job was not available in the future what would be put in place to cover the gap

12 Development of jobs Job description and person specification Librarian Assistant To provide a library service to patients on the ward and organise and manage the system for loaning, collecting and ordering library books. RESPONSIBILITIES: To monitor the delivery dates of library books. To pack and unpack library books for delivery and collection. To offer the library service to all patients. To assist patients in the process of loaning out books. To keep a record of all books delivered and loaned. To assist patients in ordering specific books. To display information regarding the library on the wards. To report any issues to ward staff. Promote the library service and communicate what is available to patients

13 Application Process The posts are advertised on the wards and patients informed through community meetings An application form is completed Interview process will take place Individual OT s use their clinical judgement and known functional level of the applicants to decide the formality and expectation from the application process Vdt Model of Creative ability informs process

14 Reviewing job roles Involvement in the TESS scheme links to their OT treatment plan Aims and objectives for the role form part of their OT goals and are reviewed regularly Outcome measures used to evaluate progress All posts are for 6 months with an option to extend on review

15 Qualifications Development of qualifications for the roles Qualifications start at Entry level through to level 2 Examples include:- Car washing, Customer service skills Patients offered opportunity to take up the qualification relevant to their role & course costs paid Support from adult education tutor to develop the course content and assessment criteria

16 Oxford Clinic & Wenric car washing scheme Developed and targeted for patients who are functioning at a lower level and have fewer pre-vocational skills Previously missing out on opportunities for work roles Provides opportunity for progression and development Key development areas:- Team work, punctuality, time management skills, communication skills, physical exercise, problem solving

17 Marlborough House shop Offers 4 roles with differing demands and skill development opportunity shop keeper, stock taker, shopper Opens twice a week Key development areas:- Communication skills, time management, team work, punctuality, reliability, problem solving skills, Budgeting skills, decision making, maths skills money management skills Time intensive to the OT s that lead the project

18 Challenges and Success s Ensuring that we stay true to providing real work opportunities Demonstrating the impact of the job role and skill progression Ensuring that job opportunities fit skill level OT only profession that manages the job roles Resource intensive OT service is geographically spread out difficult to share resources Staying relevant - new technology changing job market Linking qualifications to job roles Has encouraged patients to consider work opportunities outside the service Increase in confidence and responsibility Provided references and information for CV s

19 Patient feedback.. Car Washing: Enjoy it Taught me new skills how to wash a car Activities Co-ordinator: Find the role enjoyable and satisfying I like getting patients together, to interact with each other Patient Council: Gives you some responsibility, a voice A way to occupy your mind and time Like to make a difference Be a voice for those less confident to speak out Gives you a work ethic and responsibility

20 Patient Feedback Enjoyable, motivating and helps to demonstrate work skills which can be transferred, such as responsibility and communicating effectively. Can be a challenge to get new ideas for groups and to keep persevering when numbers are low. Positive experience which has provided the opportunity to gain work skills for the future. Helps keep me focused and to manage time on the ward.

21 Conclusion & Next steps Very successful good take up of roles 28 job roles filled across both medium and low secure wards Graded job opportunities Further develop the qualifications that can be offered alongside the job roles. Develop the qualification opportunities with Restore café and shop, which is on site and run by the Restore charity. Development of job roles in the wider service - e.g. gardening/admin work. Possibility of apprentice model Regular reviews of the scheme to ensure that still remains fit for purpose Consideration of the wider context - PIP

22 References Centre for Mental Health (2013) Briefing 47: Barriers to employment London: Centre for Mental Health Dunn C & Seymour A (2008) Forensic Psychiatry and Vocational Rehabilitation: Where are we at? British Journal of Occupational Therapy. 71 (10) Inman J, McGurk E & Chadwick J (2007) Is Vocational Rehabilitation a Transition to recovery? British Journal of Occupational Therapy. 70 (20) Montibeller T, Perkins R & Rinaldi M (2011) Increasing the employment rate for people with longer-term mental health problems. The Psychiatrist, 35,