The Valuing Employment Now (VEN) cross-government delivery team has developed a range of resources to promote best practice and support local and regional delivery of the VEN strategy. They are available in the following categories:

• Covering Letters
• Strategies
• What Does Good Employment Support Look Like?
• How Well Are You Doing At Making Sure That All People With Learning Disabilities Get Good Employment Support?
• The Business Case – Why It Makes Sense To Invest In Supported Employment
• Tools To Help You Make Sure That All People With Learning Disabilities Get Good Employment Support
• Celebration Of Success: Videos
• Celebration Of Success: Case Studies
• Training For Staff
• Self-Employment
• Public Sector Employment
• Further References
• Campaigns
• Coming Soon

COVERING LETTERS

Format	What the information is
	Letter from Anne Williams and Scott Watkin, July 2009 Letter from National Director and Co-National Director of Learning Disabilities, announcing the launch of Valuing Employment Now.
	Letter from Anne Williams and Scott Watkin, 20 January 2010 Letter from National Director and Co-National Director of Learning Disabilities. It is an update on the Valuing Employment Now resource pack and a reminder of the business case for investment in supported employment. Employment will remain a top priority. Link to the Department of Health website.

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Format	What the information is
	Valuing Employment Now strategy and delivery plan Valuing Employment Now: real jobs for people with learning disabilities sets out an ambitious goal to increase radically the number of people with learning disabilities in employment by 2025. The strategy includes action to raise expectations throughout the system that all people with learning disabilities can and should have the chance to work: from birth and early years through education, among health and social care staff, local authorities, employment agencies, employers, and people with learning disabilities themselves and their families. Link to the Department of Health website.
	Progression through Partnership Progression through Partnership is the cross-government strategy for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities launched in June 2007 by the then Department for Education and Skills, Department of Health and Department for Work and Pensions. The Department for Children, Schools and Families is creating a new delivery plan for the strategy, to take advantage of Valuing Employment Now, the transfer of responsibility for the further education system to local authorities and the creation of Children’s Trusts. It is expected that the delivery plan will also need to take on the recommendations of the Ofsted Review of SEN/LLDD (Special Educational Needs/Learners with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities) which will be published in June 2010. Link to Department for Children, Schools and Families website.
	Learning for Living and Work Learning for Living and Work: Improving Education and Training Opportunities for People with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities Going Forward – Implementing the vision of Through Inclusion to Excellence The national strategy for LSC-funded provision for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities across the FE system: 2006/07 to 2009/10 Published by the Learning and Skills Council October 2006.
	The Learner Voice Learning for Work: Employability and adults with learning difficulties and/or disabilities Learner presentations from nine regional conferences (held January – April 2008) Yola Jacobsen, NIACE Of interest to those supporting and involved in the transition of learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities from education and training to employment Published by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) October 2009.

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Format	What the information is
	Pathway into Employment 1 Pathway into Employment 2 The pathway has been developed with the 12 Getting a Life demonstration sites who are now working to implement it. The Pathway into Employment brings together five processes, each of which is important for making sure that young people move into adulthood with jobs and full lives. There is a picture of the pathway and an overview document which describes how the processes can better support young people into adulthood.
	Research literature review The review that was commissioned from Steve Beyer to inform the cross-government strategy to increase employment for people with learning disabilities. Link to the Department of Health website.
	Job coach standards - approach and progress The starting point in the development of standards for job coaching is to agree a definition of supported employment. Here is the Government’s draft definition of job coaching or supported employment. It also outlines the next steps in developing the standards.
	Job coach standards - approach and progress EasyRead EasyRead information about supported employment. The document describes supported employment and explains what will happen next.

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Format	What the information is
	Local self-assessment framework This is the framework produced by NDTi to help Learning Disability Partnership Boards understand the current delivery of employment supports within their locality, set targets and write a plan to deliver Valuing Employment Now.
	Common inspection framework for further education and skills 2009 Devised by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector in line with the Education and Inspection Act 2006. It is based on the common evaluation schedule, which informs all of Ofsted’s inspections. It sets out the judgements inspectors will make during inspections. The common inspection framework applies to the inspection of provision funded by the Learning and Skills Council, and the funding bodies that will succeed it, and the Department for Work and Pensions. Link to the Ofsted website.
	Latest inspection reports from Ofsted Link to the Ofsted website.
	Supported Employment and Quality Assurance (SEQA), by Anne O’Bryan and John O’Brien, was developed to provide a framework to systematically review a supported employment service, to recognise achievements and direct attention to the areas most in need of improvement. SEQA was written in the 1990s but retains its relevance as it is based on evidence-based best practice.
	Ready to Coach A checklist of local capacity to support people with learning disabilities into a paid career, including young people close to leaving education. Ready to Coach looks at whether the entire locality is geared up to work with people in a way that is likely to result in people getting and sustaining life-changing jobs.

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Format	What the information is
	North Lanarkshire supported employment evaluation An evaluation of the outcomes of supported employment in North Lanarkshire in 2007. Dr Stephen Beyer, Cardiff University looked at the costs and financial benefits.
	Examples of effects on service user benefits North Lanarkshire provides case studies on their website that illustrate the financial improvement in people’s income when they move into employment of 16 hours or more per week. Link to North Lanarkshire Council website.
	Costed case studies from Pure Innovations Three case studies showing the financial savings to local authorities when people with learning disabilities are supported into employment of at least 16 hours per week. There will also be wider benefits in terms of health, wellbeing etc, but these are not costed.

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Format	What the information is
	Moving into Work information sheets Supporting people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to make the transition from vocational education and training into work. For parents, employers, learners, practitioners, managers and Connexions. Link to the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) website.
	Example supported employment specification The current specification used by Kent Adult Social Services, to commission supported employment for adults with learning disabilities. It also provides a performance framework for contract management.
	Example local delivery plan ‘We Can Work It Out’ is Northamptonshire’s employment plan for people with learning disabilities. The plan tells you how people in Northamptonshire will work together to make sure that more people with learning disabilities will get paid jobs.
	'Valued Jobs': South West region resource pack Provides ideas, contacts and resources to cover key issues in a regional employment development programme. The PDF file is too large to upload to this website or send by email. To request a copy, please email venresources@dh.gsi.gov.uk and we will send it to you via the website mailbigfile.com
	Employers' Forum on Disability guides Includes line manager guides and disability communication guide. Link to purchase the guides.
	Family Led Jobs An overview of the project carried out in Bath and north east Somerset, which demonstrates that families of people with learning disabilities can be powerful advocates for them in gaining paid work.
	Local authority job application in EasyRead From Surrey County Council, for people with learning disabilities applying for vacancies in their organisation.
	Local authority staff handbook in EasyRead From Surrey County Council, for staff with learning disabilities.
	Guide to Housing and Council Tax benefit in EasyRead From Leicester City Council, for people with learning disabilities.
	Application form for Housing and Council Tax benefit in EasyRead From Leicester City Council, for people with learning disabilities.

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Format	What the information is
	Valuing Employment Now A DVD was produced for the launch of Valuing Employment Now, highlighting the issues for people with learning disabilities wanting to work. Link to the Department of Health website.
	Valuing Employment Now: Shamina's story The case study of a young Asian woman called Shamina, which was part of the DVD produced for the launch of Valuing Employment Now. Link to the Department of Health website.
	Valuing Employment Now: real lives, real talent, real jobs The new video features the stories of eight people with moderate and severe learning disabilities in real jobs. It also features family carers, support staff and employers. Watch the 3-minute version online, or email venresources@dh.gsi.gov.uk to request a copy of the full 10-minute version on DVD. Link to the Department of Health YouTube site.
	Valuing Employment Now: real lives, real talent, real jobs You can also view and download the new video from the Department of Health website. A transcript of the 3-minute version is also available on the Department of Health website.

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Format	What the information is
	Becky's story
	Delroy's story
	Frank's story
	Ian's story
	Lisa's story
	Nithya's story

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Format	What the information is
	Scoping study on courses and qualifications for job coaches This is Steve Beyer’s report to identify what qualifications and training exist that are relevant to job coaching, and will help to guide the work to develop job coach standards and appropriate qualifications.
	Position statement on workforce development for job coaches The Department for Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) explains what will happen to accredit the job coach standards and develop qualifications for job coaching.

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Format	What the information is
	In Business Information about a programme offered by the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, which supports the development of self-employment and small business opportunities for people with learning disabilities. Link to Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities website.
	'Doing it like Jason' Start up your own business A simple guide Sponsored by The North West Training & Development Team and In Control Copies are £20 each. Telephone 01254 306850, email icjasonrhodes@hotmail.co.uk

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Format	What the information is
	Leading by Example This is an online resource for councils, as employers, and their partners, that helps them tackle worklessness in their local areas. It was developed by Jobcentre Plus and the Improvement and Development Agency for local government, IDeA.
	Real Roles This website was developed by the Improvement and Development Agency for local government (IDeA) and Heart n Soul. This is a place where people can work together to make new real roles for people with learning disabilities in local authorities, the arts world and businesses across the UK.
	Reserving jobs for people with learning disabilities Recruitment of people with learning disabilities, especially those very far from the labour market, often requires more flexible and targeted approaches. Some employers find that reserving jobs for people with learning disabilities is the best way to recruit them. By the summer, the Government will publish guidance setting out good practice on recruiting people with moderate to severe learning disabilities. This will set out how to use reasonable adjustments and other flexibilities available to employers, including advice on how to reserve job vacancies, and will be particularly aimed at public sector employers.

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Format	What the information is
	Directgov Includes information from Jobcentre Plus on help with finding work, benefits, and rights and obligations. Link to Directgov website.
	Your guide to employment and support allowance EasyRead A short EasyRead guide produced by Disability Alliance, Mencap and the National Autistic Society. Link to the Disability Alliance website.
	Better off in work - EasyRead A useful handout that explains that most people are better off in work of at least 16 hours per week.
	Expected to work - EasyRead A useful handout that explains that the expectation should be that people with learning disabilities should work.
	National governance of Valuing Employment Now delivery This diagram explains the governance arrangements for Valuing Employment Now from a local to a national level.
	The Work-Related Learning Guide (Second Edition) From the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). Includes latest information on providing work-related learning and work experience, the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved, and additional information such as on equality and diversity, work-related learning in primary education, and health and safety.
	National Commissioning Framework Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) Sets out the core systems for planning, commissioning, procuring and funding for education and training for 16-19 year olds, young people up to age 25 where a learning difficulty assessment is in place, and young offenders in youth custody. DCSF, Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and the emerging shadow Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA) continue to work closely with representatives from the sector to review and develop the detail of the full framework. Link to the Department for Children, Schools and Families website.
	Link Up Link In Guidance on how services can work together – supporting the PSA (Public Service Agreement) for socially excluded adults, which includes people with learning disabilities. Link to Link Up Link In website.
	PSA 16 (Public Service Agreement) The NHS Information Centre is England’s central, authoritative source of health and social care information, acting as a ‘hub’ for high quality, national, comparative data. They deliver information for local decision makers, to improve the quality and efficiency of care. They provide information about promoting social inclusion in relation to adults with learning disabilities in paid employment (national indicator 146). Link to The NHS Information Centre website.
	In Control work and jobs information In Control started work in 2003 to change the social care system in England. They think that having a great job is one of the best ways to take control of your life. They have lots of useful information on getting a job on their website.
	Work and Skills Plans: Next Steps This is a report from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Communities and Local Government (CLG). It provides information about Work and Skills Plans. The overarching objective of the plans is to set out how local authorities and partners will develop and agree their response to the local employment and skills needs identified through their Local Economic Assessment and Worklessness Assessment. Link to DWP website.
	Raising Expectations Action Programme (react) Better lives for young people This document provides an explanation of the funding transfer for 16 – 19 education. The react programme team is funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), based in the Local Government Association (LGA), and supported by experts in local authorities. They work closely with the Association of Directors of Children's Services. The team supports local authorities to build capacity to ensure the smooth transfer of commissioning and funding responsibilities from the Learning and Skills Council. The transfer will take place on 1 April 2010.
	Health and safety for disabled workers and people who work with them EasyRead Guide This is a report written by the Health and Safety Executive and the Disability Rights Commission. It shows how employers and disabled workers can work together to make everyone safer.

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Format

What the information is

Aspirations For Life Aspirations For Life is a campaign funded by the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) as part of the Valuing Employment Now strategy. The campaign will raise aspirations and expectations for children and young people with learning disabilities; with a particular focus on employment. Aspirations For Life will develop new ways of working with children and young people with learning disabilities, their families, and the range of professionals involved in their lives.

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• Updates on the development of the job coach standards
• Updates on workforce development for job coaches
• Learning from the demonstration sites
• Cost benefit analysis research happening in Kent by Mark Kilsby and Steve Beyer
• More case studies and celebration of success
• More information in EasyRead
• Link to the Valuing People Now housing resources

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