The Disability Oversight Panel was scheduled to meet to note the terms of reference of the panel, and to receive an update on the Disability Job Hub.

Disability Job Hub Update

The panel was scheduled to receive a report from the Director of Economy, Regeneration and Investment on the Good Work Camden Disability Job Hub (DJH).

The report provided an overview of national and sub-regional work and health programmes, including:

• The Work and Health programme
• Connect to Work
• WorkWell
• Trailblazers focused on young people and economic inactivity

It also detailed Camden's employment support, including Specialist Individual Placement and Support (IPS) programmes, and Good Work Camden.

The report stated that from 2021-2022, Camden Council commissioned Camden Disability Action (CDA) to co-design a new approach to employment support for D/deaf and disabled people and people with long term health conditions. The Disability Job Hub was built upon the principles determined by this co-production work.

The Disability Job Hub team provides one-to-one support to residents, meeting them in community locations across the borough. Support includes:

• Reasonable adjustments advice and guidance
• Confidence building
• Signposting to other support
• CV Building
• Job application support
• Referring to training courses
• Interview practise and support
• In- work support

In 2024, the Disability Job Hub commissioned Purple Tuesday to deliver Disability Equality training to all Good Work Camden staff, members of the Employment and Skills Network, and local employers through the Inclusive Business Network.

The Disability Job Hub also launched an 8-week Skills for Work training programme for residents with learning disabilities, lead by the Learning Disability Work Ready Coach, as well as a four-week travel training programme.

In March and September 2024, the hub held two CAPE (Camden Autism Pathways to Employment) courses, in co-production with Aspierations.

The Disability Job Hub created 10 Paid Work Placements for disabled residents, which are up to 6 months, paid at London Living Wage.

The report stated that over the course of the two-year pilot, the hub had onboarded 107 residents. Of those supported, 21 were supported into paid employment, 10 into paid work experience, 10 into volunteering, and 23 into education or training.

The report also detailed next steps and developing workstreams, including:

• Educating Employers
• Peer Support
• Disability Job Hub Governance Board

The report included a case study of a resident named C, who is autistic and has a learning disability. C was made redundant from her admin role during the pandemic and was unable to find a new job despite having 17 years of experience. The Disability Job Hub helped C with interview practice, job applications, and accessing free activities in the community. C also completed the 5 week CAPE course. Ellie, the Disability Job Hub Lead, negotiated a 6-month, paid work placement with Camden Carers for C, which led to C being offered a contract with them.

Terms of Reference

The panel was scheduled to note its terms of reference, which include:

• Discussing key issues for different groups of disabled residents that the Equality Champions have identified.
• Hearing directly from service users as to their experiences and any recommendations.
• Hearing from appropriate experts including but not limited to the Centre for Independent Living.
• Supporting councillor Champions to be effective in their role.
• Identifying issues and areas of exploration to pass to the Joint Chairs of Scrutiny meeting.
• Considering further individual liaison with the Chairs of the relevant Scrutiny Committee to ensure that disabled residents are involved in the scrutiny of relevant issues on the agendas to the Council's scrutiny committees.
• Considering whether other recommendations should be made to other parts of the Council, in particular concerning decision making which impacts disabled residents.
• Reviewing progress and work undertaken during the year.

Minutes

The panel was scheduled to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2025¹.