Folie 1

A European Project on Occupational Services for Persons with Disabilities

1General InformationThe Interest Group on Occupational Services (IGOS) is attached to the Standing Committee on Employment of the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD).

The IGOS Partnership Project- "Quality Work Settings for All" is a European Mobility Project under the Leonardo Da Vinci Life Long Learning Program (LLP).

Within the IGOS Partnership a broad number of European countries share and exchange both expertise and examples of best practise in the field of Occupational Services for persons with disabilities.

2Partner OrganisationsCoordinator: BAG:WfbM (Germany)

Partners:EASPD (Belgium/Flanders)ICR (Greece)Jugend am Werk (Austria)Scuola Viva (Italy)Unapei (France)Vrios (Portugal)

Advisor: COPE Foundation (Ireland)

3Project Partnership

4

General InformationAim:The development of shared common frameworks and tools to enhance the future of persons with disabilities (PWD).Why?To improve competitiveness and skills of PWD, and to increase their knowledge and competencies for transition and entry to the labour market.Purpose:The project outcomes form part of a general report and set of recommendations.

5Project StructureSection 1: Collection of Data, Statistics and Definitions on Subject Matter from all Partner Countries

Section 2:Contrast and Compare the Different Models of Practice in Each Partner Country

Section 3:List, Contrast and Compare Different Forms of Transition/Integration to Work Programmes for Persons with Disabilities

Section 4:Strategies for Dissemination/Lobbying Activities

Section 5:Results & Recommendations

6Results of Work Plan 11.1. Historical Overview of Services

Earlier systems of services for persons with disabilities (PWD) were delivered in institutions based on care and welfare and run on a charitable voluntary basis

Formally developed systems were developed post World War 2 based on health and occupational activities with funding from governments

Formal governmental responsibility for services was instrumental in introducing vocational education training (VET), sheltered workshop activities and rehabilitation practices

7Results of Work Plan 11.1. Historical Overview of Services

Rights and equality legislation were fundamental in promoting the full integration of PWD as equal citizens with equal rights to access work and employment.

Whilst there are many differences between systems and services in all partner countries, the evolution of the EU is an influencing factor in promoting best practice throughout membership countries.

8Results of Work Plan 11.2. National Definition of Sheltered Occupational Services

Common Aspects:

Organisation of working opportunities for PWD currently not able to work under the conditions of ordinary employment settingsLegislation to secure state co-financed rehabilitation structures

Different Aspects:

Societal behaviour, culture, tradition and history in the project partner countriesState level responsibility for legislation (national, regional, local)Employee status versus rehabilitation status

9Results of Work Plan 11.3. National Definitions of Disability

Similarities among project partner countries: focus on impairments, complexity in defining the term disability (general definition: disturbance in persons lifetime), medical definition (average/typical )

Differences among project partner countries: duration of the impairment, degree of participation restrictions

Definitions of disability are broad and leave room for interpretation

10Results of Work Plan 11.4. National Classification of Disability

Persons with disabilities (physical, mental, sensory, intellectual) are differently defined in the partner countries.Sheltered workshop does not have the same meaning in the partner countries. Other definitions are occupational services or cooperatives. It is difficult to classify numbers of PWD.

11Results of Work Plan 11.5. Describe/Outline the Legal Framework Under Which These Services Operate

Complicated legal frameworkLack of transparencyBasic legal framework concerning support for persons with a disability on national level in all partner countries except Belgium/Flanders (only on a regional level). Some countries do have a specific disability concept at national level

12Results of Work Plan 11.5. Describe/Outline the Legal Framework Under Which These Services Operate

Certain Laws, Decrees or Acts in each partner country lay down the conditions for accrediting services (Ireland the Service-Plan is also an annual agreement between the Minister for Health & Children and the Health Service Executive)

Different Laws, Decrees or Acts in all partner countries are linked to services for persons with disabilities (e.g. social security, anti-discrimination, etc)

13Results of Work Plan 11.6. Describe/Outline the Financing System/s, Which Allows/Supports These Services to Operate

Public Funding:

= Key component of financing systems occupational services are an essential component to social welfare modelsSource: central budget or local / regional authoritiesAnnual figures for public funding are not available in all partner countries

14Results of Work Plan 11.6. Describe/Outline the Financing System/s, Which Allows/Supports These Services to Operate

Other Sources of Funding:

funds originating from the legal obligation for companies to respect a quota of workers with disabilities in some partner countriescommercial revenue resulting from the activities of adapted work setting in some partner countriesOthers: European Social Funds (ESF), lotteries, pension funds, etc

15Results of Work Plan 22.1. Status of Service Providers

Service Provision in Partner countries is delivered either by private or public sectors or a combination of both

The status of these organisations is generally not for profit. For profit based organisations also provide services but to a much lesser degree

Service providers can generally be categorised as being local/regional authorities, specialist companies, parent associations, societies and/or voluntary organisations

16Results of Work Plan 22.1. Status of Service Providers

Sheltered Workshops are a common feature of service provision in all partner countries

Specialist, private, not for profit type organisations are predominant in the provision of sheltered workshops

Sheltered Workshops are differently termed in partner countries

17Results of Work Plan 22.2. Status of Service Provision

Nearly all the services delivered in workshops and/or institutions comparable to workshops are person-centred;

One exception is Greece were services are mostly described to be program-centred;

In Ireland the current status of service provision is a combination of both service - led and user centred models;

The person centred approaches are generally intended to develop, enhance or recover the skills, abilities and earning capacity of persons with a disability.

18Results of Work Plan 22.2. Status of Service Provision

Individual progress is registered on a regular basis in the person centred help plan;

The quality of the services delivered is monitored

The character of the services is mostly laid down on a national, regional and/or local basis.

19Results of Work Plan 22.3. Service Delivery Descriptor

Similarities among project partners:Centred or community basedSupported employment schemes

Outsourcing systems in regular companies: France: secondmentFlanders: enclaves: team placement -> within framework of workshopGermany: outsourcing and traineeshipAustria: team placement, traineeship and secondment

20Results of Work Plan 22.4. Status of Service User

Sheltered work may have different legal status from country to country.

The status of those at work may range from service user/client to actual employee with full worker rights and entitlements.

Sheltered work is commonly focused on on-going supports in terms of personal, social and work/professional competence skills.

21Results of Work Plan 22.5. Program Descriptor: (Range of Programs Offered/Available)

Great similarities exist among the programmes in the partner countries (technical, interpersonal, social and cultural, vocational training, work and employment, paramedical and therapeutic)Additional programmes are offered specializing in services for elderly people, people with high-dependency needs or self-advocacy

Twelve clearly defined personal support services offered in Ireland, (e.g. Health and Wellbeing, Influencing Service Policy and Practice, Inclusion in Ones Local Community or Making Choices and Plans)

22Results of Work Plan 22.6. Remuneration/Benefit Descriptor

Sheltered WorkMain situation: payment + disability allowance- exception: minimum wage obligation applies in Flanders

Open Labour Market WorkApplication of labour law rules = payment of a wage remuneration set in the employment contract. in most partner countries, there is an obligation to respect a minimum wage (legal obligation / collective agreement.+ disability allowance under certain conditions.

23Results of Work Plan 22.7. Formal Licensing of Service Provision

In all partner countries there are certain standards that have to be achieved by service providers for persons with disabilities

The agencies responsible are at national, regional and/or local level

There are different monitoring systems

Quality standards and assurance obligatory or optional

24Results of Work Plan 33.1. Range of Transition to Work/Employment Programs Available

Main features:

Policies and programmes in all partner countries vocational training + support services in some partner countries, financial incentives for employers are providedBroad range of vocational training and qualification (mainstream or specialised, vocational education, apprenticeship, ...)Supported employment services integrated support services ranging from needs assessment to follow-up in employment

25Results of Work Plan 33.1. Range of Transition to Work/Employment Programs Available

Transition From Sheltered Occupational Service Settings to the General Labour Market :

Sheltered Occupational Work programmes are available in all partner countriesbut these programmes are not compulsory in all partner countriesThese programmes contain vocational training, qualification and support services

26Results of Work Plan 33.2. Describe the Agencies Responsible

Austria: Austrian Federal Welfare Office (Bundessozialamt), Federal Employment Office (Arbeitsmarktservice), Federal states (Lnder)Belgium: Regional Employment Services (VDAB)France: National agency, AGEFIPH, Central government and regional health agenciesGermany: Employment Agency (Agentur fr Arbeit), Integration Office, Regional Ministries for Social Affairs (Lnder)Greece: Ministry of Education, Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs, Ministry of Health and Social SolidarityIreland: National Training and Employment Authority (FAS), Health Service Executive (HSE)Italy: National Interdepartmental ObservatoryPortugal: Training and Employment Institute

27Results of Work Plan 33.3. Describe the Workplace Support Conditions/Criteria

Austria Reasonable accommodation / Accessible workplaces / Special tools / Job Coaching / Personal assistance.Belgium Subsidy to employers / One-off reimbursement of expenses made to adapt the work station/environment / Extra vocational trainingFrance Reasonable accommodation requirement. Beyond, no other support conditions or criteriaGermany Specialist Integration Services: Aid and Assists the transition to working life / Advises and assists employersIreland National Training and Employment Authority: Specialist equipment and adapted programme / Coaching in the work place / Vocational training for unemployed.Italy There arent such support conditionsPortugal There arent such support conditions

28Results of Work Plan 33.4. Transition to Work Employment Outcomes and 3.5. Evaluation of National Services/Annual Statistics

Statistics/data are not available in all partner countries.

In all partner countries data is not reliable and in some partner countries data is outdated.

29RecommendationsCurrently the project partnership is working on a list of recommendations.

These recommendations will be published at the end of the project partnership (July 31, 2011).

30ContactFor more information please visit

www.igosproject.eu

31