The Council provides a  range of support to help people with disabilities find and retain 
              employment. 
              This Includes :         Futures ,     CORA    &    Work Clubs

               Video case studies can be seen on the council website, see here
            
"Futures"

The “Futures” team, located within the Health, Housing and Adult Services Directorate, helps young people between the ages of 16 to 19 with disabilities (learning and/or physical) move seamlessly into their adult life with all relevant arrangements in place.

The young people are supported to create a person centred Transition Plan which pursues a programme that will lead to the development of a lifestyle that is available, affordable and individually tailored to the person and the family. The Plan includes aspirations for paid or unpaid employment and what  an individual wants and needs in terms of support to achieve this.

The young person is at the centre of the process and uses techniques that are rooted in shared power and self-determination. This means that, as far as possible, the young person is consulted throughout the planning process and they choose who to involve in the process. They will also be involved in deciding when to plan.

Family members and friends are partners in planning and take into account the young person in context of their family and community. ‘Futures’ makes the assumption that families want to make a positive contribution and have the best interests of the person at heart, even if they understand those interests differently from other people.

The young person and their family are assisted to develop a Transition Plan that reflects what is important to the person (now or for the future), their capacities and what support they require.

Support is provided to develop a Transition Plan that helps build the young person’s place in the community and helps the community to welcome them. The Transition Plan is not just about services; it will reflect what is possible, not just available.

The Transition Plan will be a result of ongoing listening, learning and action. ‘Futures’ will ensure the plan helps the young person achieve what they want out of adult life. ‘Futures’ will do this by working with multi-agency partners to problem solve, find creative solutions and work together to create change in the young person’s life.

Where young people have complex health needs, the Learning Disabilities Transition Nurse Specialist Healthcare Co-ordinators based within ‘Futures’ will oversee planning and co-ordination of healthcare with the young person and their family.

“Futures” work in effective partnerships with a range of agencies that include Children’s and Adults Care Management and Assessment, SEN Team, Connexions, schools, colleges, Young Peoples Learning Agency, Job Centre Plus, Job Linkage, Remploy, Community & Cultural Services, Housing, health organisations and service provider organisations. (This list is not exhaustive).It will (as far as possible) ensure the same workers remain with the young person and family throughout the transition period.

Contact details:
Website:
Email: AS.Futures@sunderland.gov.uk
Telephone: 0191 566 2389
Address: Health, Housing and Adult Services, Disability Services, Broadway House, Springwell Road, Houghton le Spring


CORA - The Community Opportunities Resource Agency

CORA is part of the Council’s Care and Support Community Inclusion Service and is a key part of Health, Housing and Adult Services delivery of personalisation across the City.

CORA was officially launched on 1st July 2011and brings together skilled and experienced staff, many of the functions and best practice of the former Social Care Resource Agency, the Self Directed Support Team, the Learning Disabilities Resettlement Team and the Care and Support Employment and Volunteering Services.

CORA provides brokerage services for vulnerable adults for those who, following assessment, choose to have a Direct Payment or Managed Personal Budget. CORA Brokerage Services will enable people to set up their own support to achieve their personal outcomes, this might mean:

• Arranging a package of support on a customer’s behalf for example; care at home, day opportunities, short breaks and holidays.

• Supporting customers to enable them to access, opportunities, community / universal activities, including preparation for employment, supported employment and volunteering.  

• Supporting people to move into their own tenancy, in partnership with Care Managers, for  example, from supported accommodation, moving back into the City from an out of city placement; long stay hospital or where there has been a family breakdown.
  

CORA will  achieve the following  for its customers

• Support to design and cost their support package to meet their choice and their personal goals.

• Assistance to find creative ways to plan and organise their support that will allow them to meet their personal outcomes.

• Negotiating with Providers / Organisations on the customer’s behalf so that value for money can be achieved. 

• Signposting people to available community resources and provide one to one direct support for people to ensure they get what they need.

• Supporting people to make connections in their local community.

• Improving the organisation and co-ordination of packages of care tailored to what the customer wants for themselves.

• Providing a central point of communication about care and support resources. 

• Reducing the amount of time spent by care managers organising packages of care.

• Ensuring appropriate risk management, equity of available services, and equity of access to services is achieved.

• Identifying gaps in the market and notify the Strategic Commissioning Services to help contribute towards potential commissioning requirements.

• Encouraging locality based community support to develop.

• Seeking cost effective solutions to maximise the customer’s choice and control which then helps HHAS to manage limited and challenging budgets. 

• Ensuring that  the person we broker for, remains at the centre of everything that we do 
  

CORA has a Steering Group, in partnership with Care Management colleagues’ to ensure a streamlined process from contact, through assessment, support planning, implementation and review. The Steering Group also assists in improving practice and sharing experiences.

CORA’s structure has been arranged around the Council’s five locality areas, to build up local expertise, intelligence and to facilitate networking with colleagues. However, All CORA staff bring a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience and CORA will always match the member of staff to ensure the best outcome for people.

In the main, access to CORA will come through referrals to from Care Management colleagues. In addition to this there will be occasions where CORA will receive referrals from the Council’s Customer Services Network Centres where someone requires supported signposting to services.

The Sunderland City Hospitals Work Experience Scheme offers young people the opportunity to access work placements within the Hospital and the LA.

Use person centred approaches and tools to drive and support the development of a person centred Transition Plan for young people with disabilities. The plan will pursue a programme that will lead to the development of a lifestyle that is available, affordable and individually tailored to the person and family.

Contact details:

Website:

Email: resource.agency@sunderland.gov.uk

Telephone: 0191 5662224

Address:


WORK CLUBS

The Council has set up a number of Work Clubs across the city, in response to "Get Britain Working Measures", announced by the Government .  These are located in Children’s Centres which are situated within the heart of local communities.  

Although a primary focus is to engage with parents of children of school age and below, they are open to anyone who is out of work and looking for a job.

The Work Clubs support clients through sharing of experiences and by provision of interview advice and job search techniques. Clients are expected to attend for typically two hours per week. Benefits are not affected by attendance at a Work Club.

Contact details:

Website:

Email:

Telephone: 0191 5612846

Address: Old Hendon Health Centre, Meaburn Terrace, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear SR1 1LR