Social Care Organisations fail to employ Learning Disabled

A survey of visitors at a Community Care Live event on Tuesday revealed that only one third of the social care organisations at the event employ people with a learning disability.

The survey was carried out by Avenues, a not-for-profit organisation that supports people with complex needs. It showed that 36% of visitors said they had people with a learning disability working at their organisation, 58% did not, 6% did not know.

9% thought their organisation had employed people with a learning disability in the past, and a number said their organisations did employ people with other disabilities, but not learning disabilities. Some claimed they had not had anyone with a learning disability apply, while others felt commercial firms such as supermarkets had a good track record in this area. A few were unsure what was meant by the term “learning disability"!

Avenues chief executive,Steve James said, “Avenues is proud to say it is in the one third of organisations that do employ people with learning disabilities. Our experience has shown that organisations have to be creative about the job opportunities they offer people with a learning disability and accept the fact that they may need quite a lot of support in the beginning. However the rewards, both for the employee with a learning disability and their colleagues, are worth the time and effort that goes in. I would strongly urge the social care sector to look at this area of recruitment. It would be a shame for social care organisations to be outdone by profit-making companies.”

Avenues is a not-for-profit organisation that provides support to people with complex needs, including learning disabilities, physical disabilities, autism and mental health problems. Our individualised support enables people to meet their needs and express their hopes and aspirations.

Avenues have over 900 staff supporting over 800 people every year, either in their own homes or in registered group homes. For more information about Avenues, visit: www.theavenuestrust.co.uk