> Programme Member Case Study
Mencap - Pathways to Employment - Chris Harvey
Chris Harvey, 30, is currently employed as an Assistant Caretaker at Colchester Sixth Form College and has been working with Mencap’s Pathway to Employment Service in Colchester, Essex.
Prior to involvement in the ESF Project - Prior to being involved in the Pathway project Chris had been attending Red House, a Social Services run horticulture and catering project near Colchester, for seven years. Although enjoying his time there he had become very attached to the project and had little or no aspirations for further opportunities especially in the field of paid work.
Involvement in the ESF Project - When Vicky Spall from Mencap first met Chris his only expressed aspiration was to work outside. Vicky approached the Colchester Sixth Form College with the idea of starting Chris off with the basics and suggested they employed him to pick up litter. Chris and Vicky went along to the college for an interview and Chris successfully got the job.Chris was very nervous fearing that he would be bullied by students because of his disability, he was very unconfident. The confidence issue was not helped by a previous bad placement experience before joining the Pathway project. On Chris’s first day Vicky went along also to job coach him.
Work Placement - The agreement was for Chris to work 3 days a week doing a total of 12hours per week. His duties included changing door knobs and light bulbs, painting, emptying bins, sweeping, delivering parcels and paperwork all over the college and setting out tables and chairs in preparation for exams.
Vicky carried out regular placement checks (once a month) with Chris and his employers. Chris had an excellent reputation amongst the staff, his boss said that he is the best worker he has ever had. His confidence has grown hugely, he loves his job, and is no longer worried at all about the students.
In December 2003 Chris called Vicky and said he wanted to work full-time at the college and not go to Red House anymore. This was arranged and Chris’s hours were increased to 16 per week
Move into Independent Employment - Vicky visited Chris’s boss in January 2004 and was told that he is planning to offer Chris a new position as Caretaker of a new department that is currently being built, this will be a big promotion for Chris and he will be on a full salary. This has all happened in just 6 months.
Chris is now completely off benefits and would like to further his independence by finding a house of his own. He has found a good employer who have been flexible, supportive and encouraging, the college has now arranged for a tutor to work with Chris for free, for one session a week to teach him to read and write.
