European Social Fund in England

Prospects are looking better

Northamptonshire County Council have been running their "Better Prospects" project since April 2003. The project, which is funded through ESF in partnership with Job Centre Plus, offers a tailored specialist service to the most disadvantaged individuals to help them access mainstream Jobcentre Plus programmes and move towards sustained employment.

Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Advisors are able to refer customers to Better Prospects with confidence that they will receive intensive mentoring, coaching, advice and guidance to target identified barriers coupled with work placements to suit the individual. So far 55 people have benefited from the project and taken positive steps towards being ready for work such as improving their social skills and confidence, learning how to use public transport and basic time-keeping.

Chris is a twenty-year-old young man with Asperger's Syndrome who was recently referred to the programme because of his special needs. He had never worked and had weak interpersonal and life skills.

At his initial interview Chris was visibly nervous and unable to communicate, but gradually his Disability Employment Officer was able to gain Chris' trust and guide his personal development.

Work placements were found for him in sheltered employment. This allowed him to develop the disciplines associated with work such as work patterns, using public transport and compiling a CV.

Chris expressed a desire to work in retail and is a keen bass player with a wide interest in music. So when the opportunity arose for work placement at a High Street music store he jumped at the chance to display his knowledge.

"On his first visit Chris pointed out that a relatively obscure CD was misfiled under the wrong category," says store manager Dave Smith, "So I knew he was serious about his music. He has settled in really well and I would be happy to offer him a permanent job as soon as I have a vacancy."

ESF allows the council's small team of dedicated Employment Disability officers to offer much more than basic job preparation: they deal with the whole person, providing individual support in all aspects of the customers' work, family and social life. Jean Foote who heads up the team says, "without the European Social Fund we would not be able to run this programme and an extremely disadvantaged group would be left with very few options."

For more information, please contact:

Kerry Ferguson

Programme Development & Communications Manager

European Social Fund

Direct tel: 0115 971 2633

Direct fax: 0115 971 2407

E-mail: kferguson.goem@go-regions.gsi.gov.uk