British Association for Supported Employment

The Rossendale Trust

WorkTaste

The Rossendale Trust provides supported living to adults with learning disabilities in Sutton, Macclesfield and Buxton.

In 2013 the WorkTaste initiative was launched to provide our tenants with the experience of spending time in a working environment, but over the years we have developed and grown our service where we now support adults with learning and physical disabilities from the age of 18 years who live in the wider community.

Local businesses working in retail, catering, PR & marketing (to name just a few) and community projects, such as community gardening and arts projects from the surrounding area are recruited to host short workplace opportunities, typically for 3 hours a week for 4 to 12 weeks. Our WorkTaste Coaches support and mentor the individual to undertake the tasks set by the host organisation. Recording their progress and encouraging individuals in consolidating and developing their skills is central to the project. Providing travel training and mapping a pathway of progress is also key. On completion of each WorkTaste placement the individual will have support in creating and building a CV which can be shared with prospective new employers at interview for their next placement. Having a CV is a key outcome for the individual as it will provide vital evidence of all work tasks undertaken and new skills learnt.

Each placement is typically for 3 hours per week and that individual would have their own 1:1 support from a WorkTaste Coach from start to finish. Included in the 3hrs is the time for them to complete some of their admin tasks; compiling their CV and contributing to their case studies and recording outcomes.

The individuals taking part in the project will gain a sense of worth, increased confidence and be encouraged to aspire to move on into a regular job or role in the workplace, either paid or voluntary. To achieve this we would work in partnership with other organisations.

WorkTaste is part of Cheshire East Councils 'Welfare to Work' steering group which involves organisations in Cheshire East who can provide support and guidance in getting vulnerable people in to work. Most of our partners aim to provide support to other vulnerable groups, i.e. ex-offenders, people in long term unemployment etc. but none are like our organisation which provides one to one support to the individual by a dedicated work coach.

By using ‘Training in Systematic Instruction’ our job coaches will use task analysis and discrepancy analysis to teach individuals new skills that can be used in their workplace and in independent living.

Other services we can provide are: