Council agrees deal to boost job opportunities for disabled people

Members agreed the council should enter into a contract with an organisation called Pluss, which is delivering the Department of Work and Pensions' new Workchoice programme.

Under the new contract, the council's Workwise Team will act as Pluss's sub-contractor to deliver the Workchoice programme in Calderdale.

The new programme will support 58 people into employment in 2010/11, rising to 80 from 2011/12 and for the following three years, as against the current Workstep programme, which helped 34 people into employment.

The introduction of Workchoice will bring together the best elements of two schemes – Workstep and Work Preparation – into a new unified programme.

That will improve the council's existing specialist employment service, Workwise, to better equip disabled people into employment.

Pluss was formed four years ago by four local authorities in the South West. It has substantial experience of delivering similar programmes and is also negotiating a further contract to support the ISCAL (Industrial Services Calderdale) supported factory at Club Lane.

Cabinet also agreed to enter into a further contract to support ISCAL, subject to Pluss finalising the contract with DWP.

Members also agreed to appoint Pluss to help the council develop ideas on how the ISCAL factory could be placed on a firmer financial footing.

Calderdale's cabinet member, economy and environment, Coun Barry Collins said working with Pluss should help more people with disabilities into employment.

"Helping people with disabilities into work can have a massive impact on their lives. The new arrangement should ensure that even more people will receive the help they need.

"If everything turns out well the Calderdale scheme could become part of a broader partnership, leading to the formation of PlussWest Yorkshire, similar to a successful scheme already running in the south west of England."

He said he was particularly pleased that Pluss would also be looking at ways of helping to ensure the long term future of the ISCAL factory.