Message from Chairperson of SUSE,Callum Macgregor

SUSE E bulletin 02 - February 2010

Message from Chairperson of SUSE, Callum MacGregor

Welcome to our second E bulletin of the year. You will note that we have sent out a number of special edition emails in regards to the SUSE conference taking place in Stirling in April. I would like to encourage you to book your place as numbers are becoming limited and this is definitely an event all those involved in supported employment and inclusion should attend. In regards to other news we are currently in anticipation of the DWP announcements of preferred bidders for the Work Choice programme - we hope that next week there will be formal notification to the parties concerned. Please also be advised, there has been a short delay in sending out SUSE membership renewal, but this should be with you shortly.

I ask that you take the time to read the news features and forthcoming events detailed below.

Thank you again

Callum

Doing Things Differently: Step Changes in Skills & Inclusion Following discussions and consultation, the National Skills Forum and Associate Parliamentary Skills Group launched on the 3rd February 2010 the final report of their inquiry into skills and social inclusion.

Work Choice update: - Notice to Providers DWP regret that there will be a short delay in notifying the outcome of the Work Choice competition to organisations that have been selected as Preferred Bidders. Report - Improving progression to sustainable unsupported employment DWP commissioned Ofsted to evaluate the strategies and practices of WORKSTEP providers for moving participants into sustainable unsupported employment with the intention of sharing the best practice to improve progression rates. Ofsted have now published their report which incorporates case studies to illustrate effective practice.

Disability tests in need of overhaul Guardian newspaper article - Disability tests in need of overhaul

WORKSTEP customer survey A report of research carried out by the Centre for Public Policy, Northumbria University on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Mental Health - Work Recovery & Inclusion Employment support for people in contact with secondary mental health services. employability Scottish Government e bulletin - Jan 2010 'employability' is the new Scottish Government e bulletin with the first edition being issued this January 2010.

Vacancy - Chairperson - Third Sector Employability Forum Third Sector Employability Forum Vacancy - Chairperson

Future jobs fund e bulletin No 3 Jan 2010 DWP - third issue of the Backing Young Britain/Young Person’s Guarantee/Future Jobs Fund e-bulletin.

Merlin Standard - sub contracting The development of the Merlin Standard has been progressed as a joint exercise between the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and its providers operating in the Welfare to Work (W2W) sector.

Events

SUSE conference 22 April 2010 Join us on 22 April 2010 for the annual SUSE conference being held in the Stirling Management Centre. The conference will consider best practice and new initiatives for supported employment in Scotland and elsewhere in Europe. Tacking Poverty & Social Exclusion Conference - Glasgow BEMIS are organising a 2 day Glasgow based conference called ‘Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion in Europe through Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education in Adult Learning’.

Training Services & Courses - British Association of Supported Employment BASE (British Association of Supported Employment)offer a range of consultancy and training services.

The Undiscovered Workforce - Employing people on the Autistic Spectrum A free one day seminar, in Glasgow for all those concerned with Autism Spectrum Disorders, diversity, employment and successful business.

If you would like to include any information for the SUSE website or E Bulletin, please email [email protected]