Valuing People Now Update

Valuing People Now is a 3 year strategy (2009-2012) that aims to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities. The strategy says what government is doing to make the lives of people with learning disabilities better. Valuing People Now acts on what people have said about the support people with learning disabilities and their families need.

The Valuing People Now team have developed resources to promote best practice and support local and regional delivery so that more people with learning disabilities get homes and jobs and lead fulfilled lives.

They have published new practical tools to help local partners support more people with learning disabilities into employment. The materials include:

• The business case for Local Authorities to support more people with learning disabilities into work and invest in supported employment, which evidence suggests can save money for social care.
• A 'How To' Guide with learning and practical information from the Valuing People Now employment demonstration sites (including Getting A Life, Jobs First and Project Search).
• A guide for Local Authority Commissioners.
• The Government's new best practice guidelines for supported employment and job coaching.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will shortly publish advice which will set out how the new freedoms and flexibilities in Further Education budgets can be used by providers to fund a range of non-mainstream provision including tutors for supported internship and employment models such as Project Search.

In May 2011, the employment resource hub is transferring to the British Association of Supported Employment (BASE). From then, the resources can be viewed on the BASE website. Further resources will be made available on the BASE website as they are produced. This is part of the Government's plan to support a shift from central Government to local leadership, where change to achieve the employment aims of Valuing People Now is led and driven locally.

There are also a range of housing resources, information and guides on the Valuing People Now website and the Housing Options website. From the 1st April 2011, Housing Options will take on responsibility for hosting , updating and maintaining the resources, information and guides. Housing Options is a charity providing a housing advisory service for people with learning disabilities, their families and their supporters.

They offer free advice to people with learning disabilities, their families and advocates on the Housing Options Helpline: Telephone: 0845 456 1497

Email: enquiries@housingoptions.org.uk