More success for Oxfordshire’s innovative employment service
An Oxfordshire County Council service that supports adults with additional needs to find and retain stable employment, has been graded “good” under new European accreditation guidelines.
Oxfordshire Employment is an important arm of the council’s adult social care services, giving adults who may have previously struggled to find a job the opportunity to gain vital work experience and support them to find and retain stable employment.
The good rating is a new standard awarded through the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF), which has been created to help drive continuous improvement across the sector.
Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: "Oxfordshire Employment offers huge value for adults with additional needs, supporting them to live well and independently through meaningful employment opportunities.
“By securing and retaining a job, individuals gain a real sense of achievement, being part of a workforce and living as independently as possible. It’s great news that the service has been graded good under the new accreditation system and I look forward to it supporting even more people as it continues to grow.”
Oxfordshire County Council is one of the first organisations to go through the new assessment. The process involved two days of onsite audits and included the submission of more than 150 pieces of supportive evidence.
The assessors spoke with a range of customers, employers and partners, as well as county council staff.
Oxfordshire Employment plays an important part in the council’s Oxfordshire Way vision to support people to live well and independently, within their own communities for as long as possible.
It is also part of the council’s commitment to working with local businesses and partners for environmental, economic and social benefit. The programme adds significant social value while helping to diversify the local job market.
The council has been providing supported employment for almost 80 years.
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