News

IPES performance statistics

04/04/22

DWP has published statistics for the Intensive Personalised Employment Support (IPES) programme following a Freedom of Information request from BASE. The statistics have not been publically available until now despite IPES starting delivery in late 2019.

The data shows that there have been a total of 6044 programme starts since December 2019. 1071 lower threshold outcomes have been achieved so far resulting in 787 higher threshold outcomes.

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DfE publishes the SEND Review

29/03/22

The Department for Education (DfE) has today published the SEND review. The Green Paper, SEND Review - right support, right place, right time, launches a consultation that seeks responses by 1st July 2022. BASE will be seeking member views on the SEND Review proposals before submitting a response.

The review has identified 3 key challenges facing the SEND and alternative provision system:

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Guide to London's Supported Internships

01/03/22

The West London Alliance has published its 2022 West London Guide to Supported Internships. It contains the details of 32 supported internships in London and incorporates a map in the centre pages showing their locations.

Over 450 young people with learning disabilities are now undertaking Supported Internship programmes in London every year, with an average employment achievement rate of over 60%.

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DfE tender: Strengthening the Supported Internships Programme

21/02/22

The Department for Education has published details of engagement on a tender exercise for a programme to strengthen the delivery of Supported Internships. Supported Internships (SIs) are a work-based study programme for 16-24 year olds with SEND who have an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan, who want to move into employment and who need extra support to do so. SIs are designed to equip young people with the skills they need to secure and sustain employment through learning in the workplace.

The DfE is considering its commissioning approach for the delivery of the 'Strengthening the Supported Internships Programme' contract. We want to build the capacity of the programme and are aiming to double the number of SIs from c.2,250 internship enrolments per annum to c.4,500 per annum by 2025. We anticipate awarding contracts up to a total maximum value of £8,000,000 including VAT:

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Mencap seeks changes to apprenticeship eligibility

07/02/22

Mencap has published a report about supported apprenticeships that argues for changes to the eligibility criteria. Mancap wants a cognitive assessment to replace the current requirement of an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) or Learning Difficulty Assessment (LDA).

Mencap surveyed apprenticeship employers and training providers to gauge their views on the minimum standard flexibilities for apprentices with a learning disability or learning difficulty (LDD).

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Levelling Up White Paper published

03/02/22

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC) has published the Levelling Up White Paper. The White Paper aims to close the gap between rich and poor areas by 2030 through improving services such as education, broadband and transport. It sets out 12 ambitions covering a variety of themes where inequality is experienced across the country.

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47% of employers say there aren't enough disabled applicants

03/02/22

Global business collective, the Valuable 500, today announces new research showing that almost half of businesses believe that a key barrier to the recruitment and retention of disabled employees is the lack of candidates.

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New DfE guidance on Supported Internships issued

01/02/22

The Department for Education has published new guidance for providers of Supported Internships in England. The government aims to double the capacity of the Supported Internship programme to provide thousands more young peo

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Scottish Supported Business blog

25/01/22

BASE Scotland Chair, Alistair Kerr, has written a blog for the Scotttish Government's public procurement website about the role of Supported Businesses within Scotland's economy.

 

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Jobcentres to trial autism accreditation framework

04/01/22

The Department for Work and Pensions has announced that 15 Jobcentre Plus sites will be testing an autism framework, designed with the National Autistic Society (NAS), to transform the service available to jobseekers on the autism spectrum. The framework pilot will aim to help people with autism find, retain and progress in fulfilling jobs.

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