Exploring Models of Supported Employment for People with Disabilities
Horizons Research
This study seeks to explore the effectiveness of supported employment approaches in helping people with disabilities find and keep paid work. This research will be undertaken through a focus on Supported Employment approaches, which have been designed specifically to support people with disabilities into sustainable paid employment. Supported Employment is a model that supports disabled people to find, maintain and progress in employment. This study seeks to develop an evidence base on Supported Employment, which draws on an analysis of the approach in Northern Ireland and policy learning from international case studies, including Sweden, Austria and the Republic of Ireland.
The research consortium for this project is led by Horizons Research, working in partnership with the Northern Ireland Union of Supported Employment (NIUSE), the University of Strathclyde Business School and PolicyScribe. The research team comprises Dr Eve Hepburn (PI), Lewis Bloss and Parisa Hashempour, and key research methods include: a review of primary and secondary literature; semi-structured research interviews with key stakeholders including disabled people, employers and policymakers in NI; online surveys sent to disabled people who are in work or seeking to access work, and employers; and a learning event with key stakeholders.
This project intends to shine a light on the opportunities and challenges for embedding Supported Employment approaches in Northern Ireland, with policy recommendations drawing on international best practice. The overarching aim is to help improve these services in the future. It is expected that the project will be of interest to a range of stakeholders, including policy officials in NI and across the UK, groups supporting disabled people in NI, employer organisations in NI, and disabled people themselves.
