A team which helps people with disabilities, neurodiversity, and long-term health conditions into work has been recognised as one of the highest-performing supported employment services in the UK.
Durham County Council’s DurhamEnable service was ranked as “excellent” in its most recent Supported Employment Quality Framework assessment.
The service received this accreditation in both its main UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) backed service and its Local Supported Employment Programme (LSE) – making it one of the only providers in the UK to have an “excellent” rating for both areas.
The report highlighted that 100 per cent of positions which have been secured through DurhamEnable have been sustained, which it credited to the extensive job matching that the service carries out for those looking for work.
Cllr Ted Henderson, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “We are delighted to have been given the highest score of any supported employment provider in the country. This accreditation is a fantastic acknowledgement of the commitment our officers give to support disabled people to gain the skills and confidence to succeed in long term employment, and beyond.
“We also work hard with businesses to understand their needs and provide unique and tailored support to ensure their staff settle comfortably into their new role. We also help businesses access free training or funding needed for specialist equipment which would otherwise come at a cost.”
The report praised DurhamEnable for the support it provides to employers, including neurodiversity training to help them understand and meet the needs of employees.
Manor House Hotel and Spa, in West Auckland, has recently benefitted from this support, having worked with DurhamEnable to fill several vacancies.
DurhamEnable supported Manor House Hotel and Spa in matching its vacant roles with its jobseekers and arranged carefully structured work placements to allow candidates to demonstrate their skills.
The trial period gave candidates the opportunity to adapt to the job at their pace, and they quickly became integral members of the hotel’s team.
The partnership also allowed Manor House Hotel and Spa to save time in recruitment and training, with the latter provided for staff free of charge by DurhamEnable.
Johnathon Cairns, general manager at Manor House Hotel and Spa, said: “It has been a fantastic experience working with DurhamEnable and the candidates we’ve onboarded through the scheme. The initial supported placement ensured that the roles were a great fit for both us as the employers and the employees. It also helped identify any necessary adjustments. We now have two exceptional employees who are exceeding expectations in their roles, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the entire process.”
