Models of job support and

coaching for People with

Disabilities

Frank Kavanagh

Labour Market Consultant Kiev January 2015

Overview

We examine 7 countries’ provision for People with Disabilities (PwDs):

Czech Republic, Ireland, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Sweden.

Focus is on mainstream employment placement supports both in the job seeking/guidance

and counselling processes and during actual on-the-job periods.

Move from a medical ‘disability rehabilitation’ model to an “ability” focused workforce

development/participation-mainstreaming model.

Public Employment Services have a central role in many EU countries.

Non-Governmental Organisations work in close cooperation with Public Employment

Services (PES).

EU Employment Rate of PwDs

Employment rate by disability status and Member State (age 20-64), 2011

EU-SILC 2011 and Eurostat

EU PwDs 38.1% average as against 67%

EU Overview

• UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The purpose of

the Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all

human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote

respect for their inherent dignity.

http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml

• Some Member States have established National policy-driven State-funded

programmes for supported employment and coaching services, other Member States

provide such supports from a ground-up approach that are more dispersed and

diverse.

• All PES ALMPs available to PwDs.

• Additional supports: job coaches, career guidance, workplace adaptation grants,

subsidies to employers to take on unemployed jobseekers, reader support for sight

deficiencies, quota systems, flexible contractual arrangements and social benefits

maintenance during the initial period of work placement.

Supports and Quotas

Wage

Subsidies

Quotas Main provider and type of

services

Usage Supported

Employment

Austria ** B/P/S PES/BSB ** National

Czech Republic * B/P/S PES * NGO

Denmark ** PES ** Local

Ireland * P PES * National NGO

Poland * B/P/S PES * Local pilot

Sweden ** PES ** National, NGO

Norway ** PES ** National, NGO

!

Overview

• Debate on the effectiveness of quotas.

• The shift to an ability-focused model has meant an increased emphasis on

assessment of the individuals and the placement into jobs based on that assessment

and on-going support from a job coach.

• This has created demand for part-time and flexible jobs. In Denmark for example,

‘flex-jobs’ are part-time jobs for PwDs in the context of the European ‘Flexicurity’

model that was first described as such in Denmark. (Flex-Job employees receive the

full rate of pay but can work reduced hours if necessary). PwDs 12% of all part-time

workers.

• Shorter working hours combined with flexible attendance patterns are more the norm

for PwDs.

• The importance of part-time work increases with the degree of disability. For employed

persons with a severe limitation, about 32% hold a part-time job and for employed

disabled with a moderate disability, 27% work part-time.

Overview

Reasons for working less than 30 hours in main job. EU, age 20-64 - 2011

EU Overview

• The European Disability Strategy 2010-2020, adopted on 15 November 2010.

• Strategy builds on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

(UNCRPD).

• 8 areas covered by the strategy.

Employment: raise significantly the share of persons with disabilities working in the

open labour market.

• Poverty and disability linked.

Poverty and PwDs

Percentage of persons who are either at risk of poverty or severely materially

deprived or living in households with very low work intensity. Age 16-64.

Activation

• Activation Policies-countries converge towards activation oriented policies; these

policies require the organisation of the complex co-operation of different agencies

(OECD).

• Move away from generous cash transfers for people with disabilities.

• In most countries (not just EU), the tightening of benefits and the introduction of new

activation tools have not yet led to a significant shift in spending nor to a significant

improvement in the labour market integration rates of people with disabilities (OECD,

2010).

Cross-Country Analysis

Policy

Czech Republic

•Closer to a medical model

•Job Coaches available through NGOs

•Quota > 25 staff/buy goods from a sheltered workshop/Fine of EUR 2500

Ireland

•Mainstreaming model

•Disability Strategy and Action Plan 2013-15

•Health and Safety Act --PwDs

•No Quota system in private sector

•PES first point of contact/NGOs…mainly the latter

Cross-Country Analysis

Policy(cont.)

Austria

•Long History of activation…..Disability Act 1969

•Dual Approach BSB and PES (Partly mainstreamed)

•Quota Staff > 25 (22.8% private/66% public)/Penalty

•National Strategy and Action Plan on Disability 2012-20

Denmark

•Mainstream approach

•PES very decentralised

•National Action Plan on Disability

•New rehabilitation model 2013 quite radical for <40yrs of age PwDs

•No Quota

Cross-Country Analysis

Policy(cont.)

Norway

•Long tradition of employment supports

•Low level of general unemployment

•Mainstreaming work-first

•PES plus sub-contracting to NGOs

•Jobs Strategy for PwDs 2012

•No Quota system but Employment rate 48%

Poland

•Less well developed services

•Medical/rehabilitation rather than ‘Ability’ approach (also see funding model).

•PES now very decentralised and managed by regional/local authorities

•NGOs play a big role

•Quota system > 25 staff 6% PwDs (more severely disabled=3 in the quota system)

Cross-Country Analysis

Policy(cont.)

Sweden

•Mainstreaming

•PES and SIUS (Special Introduction and Follow-Up Support)

•500 SIUS job coaches across 68 local PES offices

•No Quota system in private sector

•Quasi-market approach to contracting out services for PwDs

Cross-Country Analysis

Funding

Czech Republic

•Employment and Social services budgets, ESF

•Example-Funding for 19 Supported Employment bodies

51% from the Government funds

8.3 % from regional authorities,

4% from municipalities

31% European Social Fund

3.7% sponsorship

0.5 % from the Public Employment Service

1.5 % from other sources

Ireland

•Ministry of Social Protection (PES Services),

•Justice (Equality issues),

•Environment, Community and Local Government (voluntary bodies for supported employment)

•Ministry Jobs/Enterprise/Skills (training provision)

•Some NGOs dealing with PwDs raise their own funds through various routes such as direct donations

from the public.

•Some sheltered workshops produce an income from their activities.

Funding cont.

Austria

•PES Labour Fund

•Federal Office for Social Affairs (BSB)

•Regional Insurance Funds

•ESF

•Example SEP Programme: BSB (State funds) 40%, 35% from ESF, 25% from penalty tax

fund..Quotas

Denmark

•State and Municipal funds

•State pays 35% of disability pension, 50% of social assistance and 65% of flex-jobs

Norway

•State- Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

Poland

•State fund for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons

•Labour Fund

•ESF

•Funds for supported employment and coaches limited

Cross-Country Analysis

Funding cont.

Sweden

•PwD spending OECD 1.2% GDP: Sweden 3.5% of GDP and 0.5% directly on ALMPs for

PwDs

•State funds dedicated to SIUS

•Some local and Regional funding

•ESF for innovative projects.

Cross-Country Analysis

Service delivery

Czech Republic

•PES/NGOs

•Only 15% of PwDs use PES

•Job Coaches in NGOs

•Caseload of 7

•Training programme for Job Coaches

•PwD Assistant via NGOs

•Support up to 24 months

Ireland

•PES

•Staff trained in Guidance and Counselling at University level

•Supported Employment Network-Job coaches

•Some training for Coaches

•Supported Employment Toolkit

•Training Centres (National Learning Network and mainstream providers)

Cross-Country Analysis

Service delivery cont.

Austria

•BSB Lander offices

•PES Offices

•BSB funds and coordinates the national Supported Employment Programme

•Job Coaches-caseload of 15

•Separation of roles between BSB and PES regarded as inefficient in the past/better

collaboration now.

Denmark

•PES is main access point

•Highly decentralised

•Municipalities have strong management role

•Regional advisory councils

•(Formal annual agreements with PES)

•Coaching via both PES and NGOs

Cross-Country Analysis

Service delivery cont.

Norway

•Low unemployment rate – Dec 2014 was 3.8% (LFS)

•NAV =PES+National Insurance administration +Municipal Social Assistance Offices

(2006)

•One-stop-shop where PES officer assesses the PwD

•The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV)-the PES.

•Labour Market Enterprises and their branch organisation, Attføringsbedriftene -

Association of Rehabilitation Enterprises

•Labour Market Co-operatives (sheltered workshops), Vekstbedrifter, and their branch

organisation, ASVL - National federation for companies providing permanent jobs adapted

to the individual

• Forum For Arbeid med Bistand (F-AB), the Norwegian national Supported Employment

organisation.

•Job Coaching for up to 3 years (Psychiatric clients up to 5 years)

(Coaches have a caseload of 12 clients)

•Optional Training programme for Job coaches

Cross-Country Analysis

Service delivery cont.

Poland

•Mainly NGOs with some PES

•Very decentralised structures

•No comprehensive national framework for supported employment

•Some Job coaching via NGOs and some PES and National Rehabilitation Fund pilot

projects for coaching

Sweden

•Well-organised and funded system

•PES and SIUS

•Social Insurance Authority may refer

•SIA is mainly medical, PES is focused on vocational ability and potential

•SIUS coaching up to 18 months (6+12)

•General mainstream PES interview then referral to SIUS consultant

•Specialised training for coaches in PES

•State-owned semi-sheltered ‘Samhall’ Agency -20,000 PwDs in 200 localities

Cross-Country Analysis

Eligibility Requirements

CZ- Disability Status is carried out by medical staff in district social security agency

Otherwise PES Access

IE- Mainstream all can access services via PES

AT- BSB(assessment) and PES open access

DK- PES open access

NO- PES and SEP open access

PL- PES but usage is low. Mainly NGOs

SE- PES open access (SIA can verify disability status for benefit payment)

Cross-Country Analysis

Levels and types of support available

CZ

•Employers: Wage subsidy-up to 100% of wage in first year/self-employment

support/Transport subsidy/ Employer Tax deduction/Social security deduction

• Jobseekers: Travel/housing/mobility benefits/tax reduction/personal work

assistant/coaching/flexible disability pension that can be retained when employed/flexible

work arrangements

IE

•Employers: Workplace adaptation/Wage subsidies for those with >20hrs work/Employee

retention grant scheme(if disability created while working), re-deployment, flexible working

arrangements

•Jobseekers: Mainstream vocational training/specialised training centres(NLN)Job

Interview grant, Supported Employment Programme, adaptations to the workplace and

assistive technology, personal reader grant(blind or visually impaired)

Cross-Country Analysis

Levels and types of support available-cont.

AT

•Employers: Wage subsidies (100% for first 3 months+50% additional expenses, next 9

months 50% of wages and 25% for additional expenses-after 1 year permanent help for

extra needs of the PwDs)

•Jobseekers: Supported employment either through BSB or PES(AMS), all mainstream

ALMPs through PES, Enhanced dismissal protection for PwDs (kundigungsschutz) for the

‘legally’ disabled…could be counterproductive a some employers don’t like it so many

young PwDs circumvent it.

DK

• Employers: Wage subsidies up to one year and up to2 years for school leavers,

subsidies for work aids, workplace adaptation, specialised training material. 65% subsidy

for Flex-Jobs from the municipality

•Jobseekers: All the above but a min feature is Flex-Jobs (introduced in 1998). To be

eligible PwD must have work capacity reduced by 50%., unemployment benefit can also

be retained. Can be full or reduced hours and can give right to high unemployment

benefits if job lost. High numbers of flex-jobs and low progression rate, reform in 2012

(cannot last for more than 5 years)

Cross-Country Analysis

Levels and types of support available-cont.

NORWAY

Employers:

•Employment Subsidies (fixed time-60% of salary up to 3 years, indefinite subsidy of 75%

for the first year and 66% thereafter-sheltered employment)

•‘Adaptation contribution’ (tilretteleggingstilskudd)-subsidy for workplace adaptation costs

•Adaptation guarantee' (tilretteleggingsgaranti)- a formal guarantee to ensure that the

PWD and the employers receive all the necessary assistance from NAV ( e.g. dedicated

contact person within NAV)

•Work place assessment by a physio-occupational therapist (arbeidsplassvurdering),

•Job Coach/functional assistant/interpreter supports

Jobseekers:

• Highly developed social welfare system. PwD entitled to use PES and all ALMPs,

supported employment. Job coaches are a main support. Can keep disability benefit

combined with salary so no ‘benefit trap’. Part time work combined with supported

education and training

Cross-Country Analysis

Levels and types of support available-cont.

Poland

•Employers: Adaptation of work place, equipment, partial reimbursement of training,

Wage subsidies(75% private, 90% public), personal assistant grant, extra funds if PwD

has been 3 years or more out of work.

•Jobseekers: All of the above, all PES ALMPs, to NGO employment agencies, job

coaching (mainly pilot projects), finance for business start-up (subsidies for payment of

interest)

Cross-Country Analysis

Levels and types of support available-cont.

Sweden

Employers

•Generous employment subsidies -80% of minimum wage-up to 4 years

•SIUS Job Coaching

•Tax/social security contribution Reduction

•Technical aids/workplace adaptations

•Currently employed and becoming disabled, must find an alternative job

•Employer Circles

Jobseekers

•All ALMPs

•SIUS support/ working side by side-6 months initially and then up to 18 months

•Introduction period-same compensation as UB/

•No Benefit trap if they leave work wont be reassessed for benefit

•Gradually reduced benefit when working

•‘See the potential’

Evaluation

•CZ: 19 Supported Employment Agencies 34% placement Rate 2012

•IE: 35-40%

•AT: 40-50%

•DK: 54% employment rate but placement from Flex-Jobs is low

•NO: 35%from AB scheme (but some lose jobs after 1 year)

•PL: 23% employment rate

•SE: 55% employment rate : PES placement rate for PwDS 32%

Key Issues

• ‘Ability’ focus

• Modernised PES

• Benchmarking with other PES (EU/PES Network/WAPES)

• NGO partnerships-‘memoranda of understanding’

• Supported Employment Network/Framework

• PES Staff Training/guidance and counselling/disability awareness

• Job Coaches

Trends in EU

A bolder move towards activation and away from cash transfers

A shift of resources from sheltered work to supported employment

Strengthening activation in early stages (during sick leave) with better cooperation

with healthcare providers

Stronger performance incentives, e.g. carefully designed outcome based financing

for external service providers and

More systematic data collection, monitoring and impact evaluations

Summary

Models of job support and

coaching for People with

Disabilities

Thank you for listening

Frank Kavanagh

Labour Market Consultant

January 2015