The Scottish Government launched its Equally Well strategy in 2008, which aims to tackle health inequalities in Scotland's poorer areas, particularly around children's early years, "killer" diseases, the effects of drugs and alcohol, and mental health. Underpinning this strategy is tackling poverty and its effects. All of Scotland's local authorities and health boards were invited to apply for Equally Well "test site" status, and eight sites were awarded, all with very different aims and objectives.
North Lanarkshire Council is one of the partners in the Lanarkshire test site which has the theme of "employability" and aims to "promote people's chances of sustained employment in Lanarkshire." Key to achieving this aim is to increase the number of referrals into employability services from front-line Council and NHS staff, which results in more people entering employment, training and taking up literacy and numeracy services. The purpose of training is to allow staff to develop a better understanding of the pathways into employment and the wide variety of services that are available to support their clients or patients. At the end of the training, the member of staff, should:
- be aware of the health benefits of employability
- have increased confidence in speaking to clients about employability
- Know about the barriers to employment and how they can be overcome
- Be aware of the different steps into employment
Broadly speaking, the training can be split into three areas:
- "The North Lanarkshire Problem" - looking at the levels of deprivation and unemployment in the area, as well as the high number of people on "workless" benefits, and the wide-range of employability services that have been devised to tackle these problems
- "The Health Benefits of Employment" - examining the evidence in the Waddell and Burton study "Is Work Good for Your Health?" and Dame Carol Black's "Working for a Healthier Tomorrow", and looking at their aims and objectives of the Lanarkshire Equally Well test site.
- "Employability Services in North Lanarkshire" - looking at the wide-range of services available for those with confidence and self-esteem problems to those who are job ready but need help with aftercare to sustain employment.
The training sessions last 90 minutes and include an employability quiz, group exercise and case studies. Some services, such as Addictions, have asked for longer, tailored sessions which look at their specific services and targets. These sessions last three hours and include guests speakers from organisations providing specialist employment and health services to unemployed people, substance misusers and ex-offenders.
To date, 26 sessions have been delivered to 430 staff, including NHS Keep Well nurses, with referrals already being made into employability services. The next stage of the process is to reinforce the training through a dedicated e-bulletin and devising systems and procedures that include employability in assessment processes, as well as setting referral targets for individual services.
Further information
For more information please contact:
Ian Hunter
Economic Development Officer
Chief Executive's Office
North Lanarkshire Council
Civic Square
Windmillhill Street
Motherwell, ML1 1AB
Tel: 01698 302707
Email: hunteri@northlan.gov.uk
