Fair Start Scotland - annual report: year one

3. Experience of services

3.1: Participants

Responding to the 2015 consultation, the Scottish Government set out an ambition to provide a flexible, tailored, ‘whole person’ approach, underpinned by a commitment to the following key principles:

• Services would be voluntary 
• Dignity and respect would be at the heart of our approach
• Services would take a person-centred approach
• Participants would be given help to overcome barriers to employment
• Services would be flexible 

The following section outlines how Fair Start Scotland has achieved these aims in its first year of delivery.

In setting out its key principles, the Scottish Government made clear that it wanted to take a different approach to previous employability services. In year one, and reflecting on what they liked about Fair Start Scotland, most participants preferred Fair Start Scotland to their previous experience of other employability provision, stating that key workers provided more personalised support and were more understanding of their individual circumstances.

The findings outlined are informed by the Fair Start Scotland Evaluation Report 2: Overview of Year 1.

Voluntary approach

94% of participants were aware Fair Start Scotland was voluntary 

The Scottish Government believes employability services should be voluntary and should support people without threat of benefit sanctions. Although it is still early in the development and delivery of Fair Start Scotland there is already evidence that people welcome the voluntary nature of the service and the absence of the risk of possible sanctions. 

All partners involved in the delivery of Fair Start Scotland have committed to the voluntary nature of the service. As knowledge of this aspect of Fair Start Scotland has grown over its first year, participants, particularly those with health conditions, have been overcoming some early reluctance to engage and take up the offer of support. 

“My life has completely changed and I feel that without your help and support and the opportunity afforded by Fair Start Scotland I would not be where I am today.”

Dignity and Respect

Nine out of ten respondents felt that they were treated with respect and dignity (92%)^[2]

At the very heart of the Fair Start Scotland approach is treating people with dignity and respect. This principle is intended to be embedded within all aspects of the service. 

Providers are responsible for ensuring participants have the support they need and that their interactions are positive and supportive. This approach has been identified as a strength, with participants stating that the service is different from other services they have participated in previously. 

In line with the principles of dignity and respect, early evidence also suggests participants feel the way they are treated and spoken to is indicative of the wider ethos of the service. Participants described the approach of their key workers as caring, respectful and supportive, that they were treated as an individual, and that they deserved to be listened to and have a say, not only about their Fair Start Scotland journey, but about their future. 

In the first evaluation report both Provider and JCP frontline staff mentioned the Fair Start Scotland “approach” or “ethos” when asked about the top three aspects of Fair Start Scotland services delivery they felt had been particularly positive. Given the centrality of dignity and respect to the Fair Start Scotland offer it is encouraging that participants overwhelmingly feel they have been treated well.

Person-centred approach 

Four fifths (80%) of people felt that they had choices about the type of support they received, and that they could set their own goals.^[2] 

A key feature of Fair Start Scotland is the requirement to understand participant needs and tailor the level of support offered. The level of help required is based on an initial assessment and close working between the participant and Provider over the first 8 weeks of working together. 

“My needs really were catered for; I was made to feel important and the support I am getting is amazing.”

As part of the service offered, participants and Providers will jointly develop a programme of support which recognises a person’s skills, attributes and previous experience. 

Participants have an individualised action plan that acts as the starting point for their time with Fair Start Scotland. 

Participants also have a key worker whose role is to understand their needs and goals at all stages of their journey towards and into work. Participants have described their key workers as being friendly, understanding of their circumstances and genuinely caring about achieving the best outcome for them. 

“The advisor has been very good, phoning and texting when I didn’t turn up for appointments. He also understood my situation and he helped me without putting me under any pressure. Very empathetic.”

In order to realise their ambitions, participants commit to 3 hours per week contact which can be made up of a range of activities. Whilst most participants are positive about and welcome the level of support on offer, it has been recognised that delivering 3 hours contact can be challenging in more rural areas of the country. 

Pre-work support

Participants were positive about the usefulness of the pre-employment support they received. Around four fifths of respondents felt support was useful, ranging from 73% for help with addictions to 82% for regular one-to-one contact with an adviser.^[2]

A range of measures are offered to participants to help them on their journey towards work. Support can be delivered on a one-to-one basis or in group sessions, depending on the individual needs of the person. Group work has been found to be a positive feature providing it is carefully planned and the participant is happy to engage with other people at a similar stage. 

“Fair Start Scotland gave me hope and worked with me, not only with work but with me as an individual. My confidence grew and my light came back and all because they gave me the tools to build myself up. I now work in a job I didn’t ever think was possible – and they will still continue to help and support me for a year.”

To ensure participants’ strengths and preferences are taken into account, a range of tools are used to identify goals. The most popular activities are one-to-one interactions where participants have the opportunity to outline their specific needs and goals. 

Key workers advise on how participants can access a wide range of support so a holistic approach is taken to an individual’s needs. 

Fair Start Scotland also ensures that help is extended to where participants face severe financial disadvantage such as help towards travel costs and clothes for work. 

The evaluation report highlighted that where participants felt that the support offered was not appropriate this tended to be where very specialist assistance was required. 

In-Work Support

Around 9 in 10 respondents found each type of in-work support they received useful, other than monthly workplace reviews with their employer, which 8 in 10 found useful (79%).^[2]

Fair Start Scotland offers significant in-work support. Participants who have found work are entitled to up to 12 months ongoing support. 

This can be delivered in a range of ways but in-work support relies heavily on the relationship with the key worker being maintained and regular contact established. Some of the softer skills key workers provide, such as advice on benefits, are found to be particularly useful when participants move into work.

Participants were especially in favour of the wide range of overall advice offered, from help with money management and debt, to counselling, as well as support like occupational health services. 

For those people in work and receiving in-work support the positive impact on their wellbeing was felt to be particularly important, especially those with a mental health issue, who felt that continued interactions were crucial in being able to stay in a job. 

Summary and next steps 

• The first year of delivery has demonstrated that the key principles of Fair Start Scotland are being delivered. 
• People on Fair Start Scotland are largely positive about their experiences.
• People understand that Fair Start Scotland is voluntary and it is well recognised, and welcomed, that dignity and respect are key features of the service. 
• The Fair Start Scotland offer of pre and in-work support is found to be useful and positively received. 

Next Steps 

• The Scottish Government will continue to work with all partners to ensure a good quality of service is given to participants and that participants are signposted to the specific support they need. 
• The Scottish Government working with Providers will continue to look to refine and flex pre and in-work support activities so that they meet the needs of all participants. This will include a specific focus on specialist support.

3.2: Communities

In response to the 2015 consultation, the Scottish Government committed to designing and delivering services in partnership.

In delivering Fair Start Scotland (Fair Start Scotland) the Scottish Government aimed to build on existing relationships as well as to develop new ways of working with a range of partners.

This section sets out how Fair Start Scotland has influenced delivery relationships. 

Fair Start Scotland was designed in a way which sought to enhance existing relationships through increased partnership working opportunities within local communities. The first year of Fair Start Scotland delivery has seen existing relationships strengthened and new relationships formed, with Providers working in partnership within their local communities to forge stronger links with organisations, stakeholders and delivery partners to secure support and opportunities for Fair Start Scotland participants.

The Department for Work and Pensions 

(86%) of participants were referred on to Fair Start Scotland by Jobcentre Plus

With devolution of powers over contracted employment support through the Scotland Act 2016, the Scottish Government has moved into a new partnership relationship with The Department for Work and Pensions and Jobcentre Plus in Scotland. Both governments have set out that their overriding ambition is to effectively support participants who experience challenges in moving into employment. 

In designing Fair Start Scotland, it was envisaged that most people wishing to access support would be referred by local Jobcentres, although this is not the only means for people to be referred. 

Jobcentre Plus are crucial to the success of Fair Start Scotland and are predominantly the first point of contact most potential participants will have with Fair Start Scotland. 

Relationships have evolved through the first year of delivery. Initially there were some barriers for Providers in engaging with local JCP partners for a variety of reasons including the understanding of a new service and new referral mechanisms, thefit with existing provision and the roll out of Universal Credit impacting on DWP staff workloads. 

DWP staff have been actively involved in early evaluation activities including face to face meetings, surveys and telephone interviews. Feedback has indicated that JCP Work Coaches are positive about the referral process, although initially there were some concerns that the Fair Start Scotland eligibility criteria was seen as complex and difficult to understand. As knowledge of the service builds, local relationships between Providers and JCP are being strengthened, and have resulted in some targeted work being delivered jointly to engage and support a range of groups eligible for the service. 

Going forward, both governments remain committed to working together to ensure the successful delivery of Fair Start Scotland. A joint Continuous Improvement Plan is being introduced with a particular focus on supporting key eligibility groups. 

Communities

Fair Start Scotland is already working across boundaries to bring communities together across a range of areas. 

All Providers individually support the Fair Work agenda through their own working practices. For example, many work with employers who pay the Scottish Living Wage. 

Providers have also committed to supporting and taking forward the development of the Business Pledge and its promotion to partners and employer contacts to develop Fair Work opportunities for participants. 

Most Providers recruitment takes account of supporting Modern Apprenticeships and people with lived experience of the service. In particular, key workers and Modern Apprentices have been recruited to help support the delivery of Fair Start Scotland. 

More widely, Providers play an active role in communities by collaborating with local charities to hold events and fundraising, allowing them to play an active part in addressing the issues affecting the community. Staff have volunteered at local projects such as Food Banks and other projects in the community. 

Case Study

Poverty and Exclusion

As part of their community engagement activities, Providers have an important role to play in supporting measures to tackle poverty. 

One examples is The Outer Hebrides Managing Employment, Enterprise and Training (OHMEET) and the Hebridean Independent Living and Learning Programme (HILLS) Programme which assists individuals further from the labour market with barriers, in some cases extreme barriers, and support needs into employment or further education outcomes. 

“We have an excellent and proactive working relationship with Third Sector Hebrides This working relationship has been both positive and productive in moving hard to place individuals in to employment”

The joint aim of the partnership work is to continue to improve and build on this successful inter-agency working model, and to evaluate the approach and delivery, for the benefit of the individuals who are accessing joint services.

The working relationship with Third Sector Hebrides has been both positive and productive in helping support local people into employment.

Third party referral organisations

14% of referrals have come from outwith JCP^[3] 

A strong feature of the first year of service has been the number of third party referrals – referrals from outwith JCP – that have emerged. 

Effective partnerships have been built to forge closer links with organisations, stakeholders and employers across all sectors to identify eligible participants and secure opportunities for those who are ready to move into work. 

Much of the success in engaging with participants has been through collaborative working with local communities. This has been taken forward by local Providers in a variety of ways; by attending local community or networking events, by marketing support through social media, and through the direct targeting of community employability hubs. 

In developing their community engagement activities, Providers have been tasked with ensuring that those who do not traditionally access JCP have the opportunity to learn more about Fair Start Scotland and engage with the service. This is particularly important for potential participants who may not visit the local jobcentre and a key aspect of the approach to reaching out to people who may experience barriers to accessing support or the labour market.

Whilst most referrals are still anticipated as coming from JCP, the ability of people and organisations to signpost participants to Fair Start Scotland has been a very positive aspect of the service to date. This has been particularly important in helping reach people who otherwise may not have engaged with the service.

Local Authorities

Local Authorities play a crucial role in peoples’ day to day interactions with the employability system. Fair Start Scotland is not the only employability provision available to participants with many Local Authorities delivering their own range of services. 

Through the principles set out in No One Left Behind, and working with a range of partners, the Scottish Government is increasingly looking to support delivery and alignment at a local level. 

A key development over the first year of delivery has seen the Scottish Government work closely with local authorities to provide management information on how Fair Start Scotland is being delivered a local level. This builds on a Partnership Agreement for employability signed between the Scottish Government and COSLA in December 2018, committing both to work on closer integration and alignment of services. 

Going forward, the Scottish Government will continue to prioritise service alignment and sharing of information with Local Authorities with a view to both Scottish and local government better understanding the needs of participants at a local level. 

Case Study

Forth Valley delivery

“Fair Start Scotland illustrates the successful implementation of the Scottish Government’s first devolved employability service, secured by the Local Authorities in Forth Valley. It demonstrates successful engagement of participants exceeding initial profiles and successful partnership working with council stakeholders, employers, the third sector and local employers”. 

Fair Start Scotland in Lot 4 is delivered in partnership with local authorities in the Forth Valley region. The Local Authorities’ have found that Fair Start Scotland has helped bring a focal point in bringing together successful partnership working with council stakeholders, employers, the third sector and local employers.

This has led to resources being pooled together to ensure a person-centred approach has been in place ensuring dignity and respect at all times. A range of “wrap around” support and individual support measures such as travel, clothes for work, programme provision have also been accelerated in implementation, scale and diversity to deal with the emerging needs.

Work has been ongoing with other Council services and partners to develop a better integrated and aligned approach to supporting individuals with multiple barriers to ensure greater connectivity. The Councils continue to use Fair Start Scotland as a vehicle for looking at better alignment of services to people which is intended to positively impact on the internal partnership working to maximising available resources to support and progress individuals towards and into employment. 

The early evidence in Forth Valley has seen positive outcomes for both participants and employers demonstrating the success of the approach adopted whilst at the same time highlighting continuous improvement areas and focussed ongoing developments for future service delivery. 

The joining up of services in the local area between the three local authorities have helped to bring about closer partnership working and sharing of resource. 

Health 

64% of those joining Fair Start Scotland reported having a long-term health condition.^[1]

50% of those achieving 13 week job outcomes, and 51% of those achieving 26 week job outcomes (both with 4% unknowns), reported having a disability.

Many participants joining Fair Start Scotland have presented to the service with health conditions. Mental health has been a particular characteristic both in Fair Start Scotland and in the earlier transitional services Work First Scotland and Work Able Scotland. Mental health can be understood as both a standalone condition or in addition to other health conditions. It is clear that many participants who are managing a physical health condition can often suffer from poor mental health as a result. 

The range of complex needs that some participants are presenting with, means that for some people work is not a realistic option, and that the duration of support Fair Start Scotland offers is not long enough to fully support their needs. 

Providers have looked to support the specific needs of participants in a variety of innovative ways. In the East area, the local Provider has invested in specialists to support with the diverse needs of their participants. Qualified and fully registered health professionals are tasked with delivering a range of evidence-based health and employment interventions adhering fully to clinical governance frameworks. 

The Scottish Government is working with the NHS at a national level and with individual Providers and local NHS boards at a local level to help identify what further support can be offered to participants. 

More widely, and in terms of the alignment of services, the Scottish Government is working with Dundee and Fife Health and Social Care Partnerships and the Department for Work and Pensions to deliver and evaluate a pilot seeking to integrate health and work support in Dundee and Fife.

The pilot aims to provide early support to people with a health condition or disability, to help them maintain or secure employment. It is available for people who are currently in work; in work but absent due to illness; and people who have been unemployed for less than six months. In addition to providing help to individuals the pilot also provides advice, training and support to employers for issues related to health and work. 

Through a single point of contact (telephone or via a website) the pilot offers a range of advice, training and specialist health support. Delivered by clinical experts, services include case management, physiotherapy and psychological therapies; and occupational therapy. Work is on-going to strengthen referral pathways between Fair Start Scotland and the Health & Work Support pilot. 

Figure 4: Long-term health conditions and extent of limitation. Fair Start Scotland participants, up to 29 March 2019^[3]

Individual Placement and Support (IPS)

“everybody I’ve worked with from Fair Start Scotland has been fantastic and helped me bounce back even after my setbacks on the way… one year ago I thought I was broken and on the scrapheap and couldn’t see a way of things changing. I’d never have been able to do everything I’m doing now, even the thought of it would have made me ill. The best part is feeling like I’m making a difference and have a whole new career ahead of me. I can’t believe how much I’m enjoying the job. It’s like the final piece of the puzzle and has made it all worth the effort.”

133 participants have received IPS support in Fair Start Scotland.

IPS is intended to form a key part of the Fair Start Scotland offer. It is also a key deliverable of the Scottish Government’s A Fairer Scotland for disabled people: employment action plan. In embedding IPS support within mainstream employability services the Scottish Government aimed to mainstream a specialist support offer in line with the wider principles of self-efficacy and dignity and respect that underpin the service.

The first year of delivery has seen challenges in establishing IPS as part of the Fair Start Scotland offer in many of the Lots. Partly this reflects the importance of engaging effectively with the local Community Mental Health Teams in delivering the IPS model. It also reflects the significant number of people who are currently being supported by Community Mental Health Teams within local NHS teams. 

Where IPS has been taken up within Fair Start Scotland, it has been most successful in those areas where relationships between employability services and health practitioners are already well established. 

Moving forward, the intention remains for IPS to be offered and delivered to those participants who can benefit from the individualised support it offers. As part of the commitments in the A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People: employment action plan the Scottish Government outlined that it would take forward a review of IPS delivery in Scotland. 

Given the challenges around Fair Start Scotland delivery of IPS in the last year, the Scottish Government will accelerate its planned independent review of IPS, and will examine the current delivery within Fair Start Scotland and wider afield, to inform recommendations for future delivery in early 2020.

Supported Employment

903 participants have received SE support in Fair Start Scotland. 

Supported Employment was also designed to form an important part of the Fair Start Scotland offer. For those participants who would benefit from Supported Employment, there was to be an individual programme of pre-work support consistent with the principles and practices of Supported Employment. A small number of participants were expected to follow the 5 stage model described in the Supported Employment Framework for Scotland, while others were to be offered the most valuable elements of the model, or variations of it from a wide range of interventions. 

The Scottish Government is currently undertaking an internal review with each Provider to understand how Supported Employment is working in practice, and where improvements can be made. Following completion of the internal review, the Scottish Government will then take forward an external and independent review of how Supported Employment is being delivered through Fair Start Scotland and beyond.

Criminal Justice

Fair Start Scotland aims to support those with convictions so that they can have the opportunity to re-start their lives with tailored support. 

“Before joining the programme I was depressed and anxious about how I would get on. I had previous convictions and felt this limited me with employment opportunities.”

In Ayrshire regular surgeries are held in local communities, with many criminal justice referrals being included as part of home visits due to restrictions. Participants have also felt that this helps to build trust with participants and advisors. This support can be extended to particularly anxious participants being encouraged to bring along a friend or family member to initial meetings. For one participant from Girvan who preferred to be seen in Ayr and who initially brought her mum along for support so much progress has been made that her mum no longer sits in on interviews.

In Auchintibber the local transforming lives community forum provides greater integration with community groups and organisations delivering vital support and services in the local area. The opportunity to link with more community-based services allows participants to be supported within the areas in which they live. An example of this wider integration is the increased engagement with local Housing and Justice services. Work takes place with Auchintibber Community Payback services to meet with potential participants initially at Auchintibber to build their trust and confidence with key workers before engaging with the wider service. 

Education

“I always thought I was quite good with numbers and things like that, but this has opened my eyes to exactly where I need to improve... Shapes, space and measures and calculations especially, and I could do with using the learning resources that are available that have been shown to me. It has been a while since I was tested like this.”

In the North East, the local Provider has been working with Education Scotland to research the effectiveness, accessibility and relevance of the National Numeracy online tool for improving numeracy skills of learners who are far from the labour market. This has been invaluable in supporting learners and staff on the use of the tool, outcomes, improvements and general feedback. 

This online tool is being currently rolled out in Aberdeen and is helping to develop participants’ skills in numeracy. An overall evaluation of the pilot will be shared with Education Scotland and The Scottish Government. 

In Renfrewshire, the local Provider has engaged with 17 of the 39 Secondary Schools across the local area. As part of this, they have completed both one-to-one meetings with Guidance staff and attended at School Leaver’s events to speak with pupils and parents. In Year 2, the Provider will be implementing a specific Schools Strategy to increase this presence across the Lot, specifically in the lead up to periods of pupils exiting school. 

Local links have been made with West College Scotland with two student placements taken on who are completing their Working in Communities training. The local Provider also works closely with SDS to ensure any participants that are not quite ready for their provision are referred to Fair Start Scotland where a warm handover takes place. 

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Providers have taken forward engagement activities encouraging participants, where English was not their first language, to engage with Fair Start Scotland by drafting communications in different languages to ensure the participant is fully aware of what Fair Start Scotland can offer. ESOL classes have been sourced and have subsequently been followed up with job clubs supported by trained interpreters.

Summary/review/next steps

• Fair Start Scotland has helped to broaden the scope of the employability delivery landscape with successful relationships being built and new ways of working with a range of partners being enhanced, including across DWP, Local Authorities, NHS Scotland and third party referral organisations. 
• Where partnerships, particularly in the interactions between health and employability, have worked well they have tended to be in local areas where relationships have already been established.
• Providers are working with a range of delivery partners to understand and give a personalised service to Fair Start Scotland participants. 

Next Steps

• Working with all partners, the Scottish Government will continue to prioritise the visibility and successes of partnership working and local relationships.
• A joint continuous improvement plan is being taken forward with DWP to improvement activities and proactively seek opportunities to best serve Fair Start Scotland participants. 
• The Scottish Government will continue to work with JCP to jointly prioritise support for key eligibility groups. 
• The Scottish Government will continue to work collaboratively with Local Authorities to work towards closer alignment and flexibility of services.
• Independent reviews of Supported Employment and Individual Placement and Support delivery will be undertaken, working with key partners, a view to supporting and implementing recommendations for Fair Start Scotland and the wider delivery in Scotland.

3.3: Employers

In response to the 2015 consultation, the Scottish Government committed that there should be a drive towards real jobs.

Since launch, Fair Start Scotland’s relationships with employers have been built upon:

• supporting a Fair Work agenda 
• ensuring a flexibility of approach to employees 
• supporting our wider public sector ambitions to move participants into sustainable jobs

Fair Start Scotland has been designed to work towards tailoring services to the needs of local labour markets whilst ensuring a consistency of service across Scotland. The service is seen as an important component in the Scottish Government’s wider ambition to deliver fair work principles, promoting key agendas such as the Scottish Living Wage, the Scottish Business Pledge, Modern Apprenticeships and Disability Confident to educate, support and guide employers in corporate social responsibility. 

A range of opportunities for all age groups, full and part time have been supported by Fair Start Scotland encouraging employers to see real benefits in recruiting locally, and from the broadest labour market.

How many people got into work? 

A total of 2,013 people had started jobs. 898 of those people had sustained employment for at least 13 weeks and 418 had sustained employment for at least 26 weeks.^[1] 

Of the participants who sustained employment, 85% (767) of those achieving 13 week outcomes, and 98% (411) of those achieving 26 week outcomes, joined Fair Start Scotland during the first 6 months of the service.^[1]

Case Study

Lisa (Glasgow)

Lisa had been out of work for over 10 years and being a mum to three children felt that her options for work were limited. Throughout this time, Lisa tried to find work that would suit her circumstances. 

In February 2019, Lisa chose to participatein Fair Start Scotland. Lisa knew that she wanted to work in the care sector, but didn’t know how to get started. By working with a Fair Start Scotland Adviser, Lisa recognised that she had a lot of life experience and skills that she could develop and together they created a personalised plan to help her achieve her employment goals. 

Through Fair Start Scotland, Lisa updated her qualifications through a hospitality sector based learning academy, developed her CV and accessed individual support that involved interview preparation and advice. As a result, she secured a job as a support worker.

Lisa said: “Fair Start Scotland gave me hope and worked with me, not only with work but with me as an individual. My confidence grew and my light came back and all because they gave me the tools to build myself up. I now work in a job I didn’t ever think was possible – and they will still continue to help and support me for a year.”

How Fair Start Scotland is supporting good work

Starting our partnership with Fair Start Scotland back in April 2018, we have seen many successful candidates being presented for our vacancies for roles in Housekeeping, Kitchen, Food & Beverage. Great relationships between hotel management and Fair Start allowed us to resolve any issues our new team members were having quickly and efficiently. Great Service, Amazing People & Fantastic Work so far.”

Fair Start Scotland has been working collaboratively to ensure best practice in employer engagement. This is taken forward in a variety of ways.

Provider relationships with local employers is central. Building strong and lasting employer relations that can provide sustainable employment is a vital part of the Fair Start Scotland ambition. Fair Start Scotland looks to promote and support jobs that are sustainable and that meet the specific needs of the individual. 

All Providers have agreed to put in place measures to uphold their own policies and procedures to ensure dignity and respect are at the heart of the service. 

All Providers individually support the Fair Work agenda through their own working practices. For example, many work with employers who pay the Scottish Living Wage. Providers have also committed to supporting and taking forward the development of the Business Pledge and its promotion to partners and employer contacts to develop Fair Work opportunities for participants. 

Most Providers recruitment takes account of supporting Modern Apprentices and people with lived experience of the service. In particular, key workers and Modern Apprentices have been recruited to help support the delivery of Fair Start Scotland. 

Public sector ambitions

As well as Fair Work commitments with its focus on supporting people with a disability Fair Start Scotland is also an important lever in delivering the A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People: Employment Action Plan. This was published in December 2018 and sets out the commitment to at least halve the disability employment gap in Scotland by 2038. 

Drawing on the ongoing evaluation of Fair Start Scotland is a critical part of the action plan, and will help to shape and continuously improve the support offered to disabled people through any future employability services. 

In addition, there are key opportunities to ensure that those who experience labour market inequalities are able to access emerging employment opportunities including, for example, through early work with the Social Security Agency in Glasgow and Dundee. 

Social Security Scotland

At Social Security Scotland, there is plenty of help on hand for those struggling with any health conditions. The management are great and every single one of them is approachable and more than happy to help in any situation. There have been a few times where I’ve had to seek help from a member of management about my mental wellbeing and they’ve really helped. Whether it’s simply listening to me vent about any issues I’m having or making adjustments to make life a bit easier during difficult times, they have exceeded all expectations. The organisation’s ethos is Dignity, Fairness and Respect and it is evident on a day to day basis as everyone is helpful, friendly and accommodating. 

The Scottish Government will also do their best to make working life as stress free and comfortable as possible for you and management are never too busy to ease any concerns you may have.
- Staff Member

Case Study

In Ayrshire, a Working Health Group has engaged with some of the most vulnerable Fair Start Scotland participants in the local area. This group has brought together people that are often isolated and lack confidence. Participants are encouraged to join a new group of likeminded people with a view to improving their health and wellbeing. Participants help to support each other to complete a variety of modules supported by a dedicated tutor. 

Participants learn about mood food and the importance of healthy eating and cooking, good sleeping patterns, and managing stress in daily and family life. The group looks at building confidence through courses which cover subjects such as time management, Health & Safety in the workplace, verbal and non-verbal communication, attitude and behaviours, teamwork and disability confidence.

Employer feedback

Impact Solutions

Impact Solutions are an independent plastics supply Chain Company based in Grangemouth who have been working with Falkirk to support participants. Steven Burns, Technical Director at Impact Solutions, explains: “The work we do here is pretty specialist; working within the plastics industry from cradle to grave. Understandably, good staff are important to our business and we are always looking for individuals with problem solving abilities, as well as real ambition and drive.”

Upstart: Partnership in the care worker shortage

Working in partnership with the Bridges Programme, Brightwork and Fair Start Scotland a pilot was formed in October 2018, as part of Fair Start Scotland, aimed at providing a training academy for the care sector. 

The project started as a way of engaging with asylum seekers but led to a wider blueprint for developing a similar programme aimed at unemployed people who had been out of work and for whom a mental or physical health condition was a barrier to finding employment.

After initial training and support by People Plus for participants there was further more bespoke training and support for everyone involved with eight or nine other people all in the same boat helping to support each other’s needs. Those who completed the training course received a certificate giving their confidence a boost and having a qualification making them more attractive to employers. 

With seven out of the ten participants who began the first People Plus Care Academy successfully placed in work, there are plans to spread the programme out more widely to other areas in Scotland.

Self-Employment

One feature of Fair Start Scotland is support for people who wish to start their own business. All Providers have a self-employment offer to participants that is intended to help with practical advice and guidance on starting a business. 

21 self-employed participants have been supported through Fair Start Scotland in the first year of the service^[5].

Case Study

Lindsay & Lang – How Fair Start Scotland is helping new thriving businesses

Fiona and Louise met when they were both taking a career break and reviewing their options. Both had previously worked in the Oil and Gas industry for over 20 years. During this conversation it became clear they shared the same passions, interests, and strong desire to make a difference within the workplace. They soon discovered how their personal experiences had impacted their working lives and identified an opportunity to influence and change thinking and doing in the workplace with the expertise gained from their respective professional careers. 

They joined forces to create Lindsay and Lang, a business that focuses on whole person management through the alignment of development, wellbeing and communication in the workplace to promote and sustain a supportive environment for individuals, teams and leaders.

Fiona and Louise were introduced to Fair Start Scotland through a third-party organisation for intensive self-employment support. 

On how Fair Start Scotland helped them, Fiona and Louise commented: 

“Having someone there to bounce ideas off was a breath of fresh air. It gave us the encouragement to push on and without hesitation to launch our business. Lorraine gave us the encouragement, support and reassurance which created the confidence we needed to take that final step. Lorraine broke down and identified small actions which we consistently reviewed, whilst she positively pushed us in the right direction. If this wasn’t enough, Lorraine attended one of our training sessions and provided constructive feedback.

As a business we hope to expand and become the ‘go to’ company for integrated whole person management services.” 

Summary/review/next steps

• Fair Start Scotland’s relationships with employers have ensured flexible, public sector support, as well as that of large employers and SMEs. This is underscored by the numbers of participants moving into good work and moving into a range of destinations. 
• Fair Start Scotland has already helped to support over 2000 people into work
• Fair Start Scotland participants have found jobs in a number of sectors and through self-employment 
• Fair Start is encouraging employers to consider flexibility of working approaches

Next Steps

• The Scottish Government will continue to work with Fair Start Scotland Providers in supporting participants into good and sustainable employment
• The Scottish Government will continue to work with JCP to jointly prioritise support for key eligibility groups 
• The Scottish Government will look for further opportunities to support Fair Start Scotland participants through its own recruitment processes 
• The Scottish Government will use Fair Start Scotland as a vehicle to promote and deliver upon Fair Work ambitions