Residential Training
The Scottish Parliament's Equal Opportunities Committee raised the question of residential training provision in Scotland in their report, " Removing Barriers and Creating Opportunities" which was published in November 2006. The Committee's s report can be found here. See Recommendation 13.
Residential Training for unemployed disabled people is administered by the UK Government: Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). All clients in the UK who wish to attend residential training are referred by Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Advisers (DEA) to one of 11 specialist colleges, depending on their disability and the course they wish to undertake. Five of the colleges are for visually impaired people and one is for hearing impaired people. The other five cater for people with a range of disabilities. All the specialist colleges are located in England.
DWP is currently undertaking a review of its disability employment services, including residential training. DWP recently commissioned an evaluation of Residential Training provision and a copy of their published report can be found here.
Rocket Science was commissioned by the Scottish Executive to conduct research into Residential Training needs in Scotland. The report is available here. This report provides the basis for further discussions. The report looks at the demand for, and viability of, a Scottish based residential training programme. It sets out the current situation with residential training and makes a number of recommendations based on the findings.
Next Steps
We will look at these recommendations and continue discussions with DWP and Jobcentre Plus, who contributed to the report.
We are continuing to work with local partnerships to implement Workforce Plus. Launched in June 2006, Workforce Plus sets out the actions at both national and local level which will ensure that a range of government agencies put together a set of integrated employability services. This will provide people with the right skills and knowledge to take up employment opportunities so that everyone who wants to work, including those with disabilities, can find a job and progress in work.
We are also in discussions with the Additional Needs Support team in the Lifelong Learning Directorate as they take forward work following the 'Finding Practical Solutions to Complex Needs' consultation regarding supported further education places and funding arrangements for students with complex needs.
If you have any comments on this report, please e-mail the Workforce Plus Team at employability.framework@scotland.gsi.gov.uk