Ymchwil gymdeithasol Social research Rhif/Number: 50/2014 Research into Employment Outcomes for Young People with Autistic Spectrum Disorders 1 Research into Employment Outcomes for Young People with Autistic Spectrum Disorders Ruth Townsley (Ruth Townsley Research) Carol Robinson (Carol Robinson Consulting) Val Williams (Norah Fry Research Centre, University of Bristol) Stephen Beyer (Welsh Centre for Learning Disabilities, Cardiff University) Ceri Christian-Jones (Bangor University) Views expressed in this report are those of the researchers and not necessarily those of the Welsh Government For further information please contact: Joanne Starkey Knowledge and Analytical Services Welsh Government Cathays Park Cardiff CF10 3NQ Tel: 0300 025 0377 Email: [email protected] Welsh Government Social Research, 2 June 2014 978-1-4734-1409-9 © Crown Copyright 2014 Table of contents Acknowledgements ......................................................................................... 4 Glossary of acronyms ..................................................................................... 5 1 Introduction to the research ......................................................... 7 2 Employment and young people with ASD .................................. 12 3 Employment support for young people with ASD living in Wales ......................................................................................... 43 4 Pathways to employment for young people with ASD living in Wales ..................................................................................... 71 5 Conclusions and recommendations ........................................... 92 Bibliography ................................................................................................ 101 Appendix A Research design and methodology .......................................... 109 Appendix B Employment support programmes or services potentially available to young people with ASD in Wales in 2013 ............. 126 Appendix C Some financial entitlements for disabled young people wishing to work ........................................................................ 139 Appendix D ASD-specific support for young people with ASD in Wales: current initiatives ...................................................................... 141 Appendix E Pathways to employment: case studies of a sample of the young people included in the research .................................... 151 Appendix F The ideal pathway to employment for young people with ASD ......................................................................................... 158 1 Figures and tables Figure 1: Geographical location and coverage of employment support programmes or services working with young people with ASD ..................... 48 Figure 2: Support to consider employment ................................................... 50 Figure 3: Support to seek employment ......................................................... 51 Figure 4: Support to keep employment ......................................................... 53 Figure 5: Other employment-related advice, training and support ................ 54 Figure 6: Confidence level by provider type .................................................. 55 Figure 7: Do ESPs have any competence gaps in terms of working with young people with ASD? ............................................................................... 58 Figure 8: Do employment support programmes provide or buy in training for their staff on working with young people with ASD? ................................ 59 Figure 9: What makes it hard to work with young people with ASD? ............ 64 Figure 10: Ben’s pathway to employment ................................................... 152 Figure 11: Tom’s pathway to employment .................................................. 153 Figure 12: Reg’s pathway to employment ................................................... 154 Figure 13: Elin’s pathway to employment.................................................... 155 Figure 14: Owen’s pathway to employment ................................................ 156 Figure 15: Dafydd’s pathway to employment .............................................. 157 Table 1: Number of pupils with ASD aged 16-19 attending maintained secondary and special schools in Wales in January 2012 ............................ 11 Table 2: Destinations of pupils with ASD aged 16-18, by year group, for the academic year 2011/12 ........................................................................... 15 Table 3: Destinations of all pupils aged 16-18, by year group, for the academic year 2011/12 ................................................................................. 16 Table 4: Destinations of FEI learners aged 16-24 who terminated a learning programme during 2011/12 ............................................................. 17 Table 5: Destinations of WBL learners aged 16-24 who terminated a learning programme during 2011/12 ............................................................. 19 Table 6: Destinations of HEI leavers amalgamated across three academic years 2008/9, 2009/10, 2010/11 ................................................... 21 Table 7: Numbers of employment-related programmes or services working with young people with ASD ............................................................ 45 Table 8: Numbers of WBL programmes who worked with young people with ASD ....................................................................................................... 46 Table 9: Employment details of young people with ASD included in the research who were in paid or unpaid work .................................................... 82 2 Table 10: Summary of systematic searches conducted relating to employment and young people with ASD ................................................... 112 Table 11: Summary of data requests submitted .......................................... 114 Table 12: Education leaving points of young people with ASD included in the research ............................................................................................ 120 Table 13: Geographical location of young people with ASD included in the research ................................................................................................ 120 Table 14: Ages of the young people with ASD included in the research .... 120 Table 15: Place on autism spectrum of young people with ASD included in the research ............................................................................................ 121 Table 16: Overview of practice survey data collected and included in analysis ....................................................................................................... 124 Table 17: Work based learning programmes available in Wales in 2013 .... 126 Table 18: Mainstream employment support available in Wales in 2013 ..... 128 Table 19: Pan-disability employment support available in Wales in 2013 ... 134 Table 20: ASD-specific employment support available in Wales in 2013 .... 137 3 Acknowledgements We would like to express our gratitude to all the young people, families, professionals and employment support services, who contributed to this research by talking to us on the phone, or welcoming us into their homes or work places. We are very grateful for their positive response in responding to our numerous requests for information and for their willingness to participate in this research. The research project benefited hugely from the input of others involved in the research, policy, management or delivery of employment support for young people with autistic spectrum disorders, who provided advice, answered queries and offered practical assistance as the work developed. In particular, we are very grateful to all the external members of the research Steering Group: Sally Rees (Care Co-ordination Network Cymru), Andrew Kirby (Careers Wales), Jim Crowe (Learning Disability Wales), Johanna Manikiza (Social Services Improvement Agency), Hugh Morgan (Autism Cymru), Meleri Thomas (National Autistic Society Cymru) and Sue Leekam (Cardiff University’s Welsh Autism Research Centre). Thanks must also go to Andrea Meek at the Welsh Centre for Learning Disabilities (Cardiff University), Lynn Plimley (formerly of Autism Cymru, now with Mirus), Robert Lloyd-Griffiths (Institute of Directors), Rebecca Hobbs (Higher Education Statistics Agency), Emma Jenkins (National Training Federation for Wales), Dave Penk (Wales Council for Voluntary Action), Julie Annetts, Rachel Lloyd, Gareth Hopkins, Scott Clifford, Mel James, Bon Westcott, Rae Cornish, Carl Moruzzi, Cathy Mccaw, Ruth Brown, Huw Thomas and Marie Morley (all at the Welsh Government) and Alex Rees, for input and advice at specific stages of the work. Finally, we would like to thank Joanne Starkey, Launa Anderson and Bethan Cowan at the Welsh Government, for their support, encouragement and input throughout this project, and of course to the Welsh Government for commissioning and funding the research. 4 Glossary of acronyms ALN Additional learning needs ASD Autistic spectrum disorder ASC Autism spectrum condition ADHD Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ALNCos Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinators CV Curriculum Vitae DLHE Destinations of leavers from higher education DEA Disability Employment Adviser DWP Department for Work and Pensions ESA Employment and Support Allowance ESP Employment support provider ESF European Social Fund FE Further education