Mencap Employment Service was developed to resolve two problems. The first was the lack of training opportunities for, and the ability of adults with learning difficulties to be able to access employment in Liverpool.
The second was the problem Liverpool City council had providing a home help service to the elderly and housebound in the Liverpool area because many home helps where spending most of their time shopping.
Developed in 1984 to provide much needed training for adults with learning difficulties the shopping service delivered a service that was not available in colleges. Because of its unique position based within a superstore the training is delivered within a working environment. Trainees have to abide by the same rules and regulations that the host supermarket, Sainsbury's, has for their own staff.
Punctuality, attendance and neatness are some of the basic principles that the service teaches, what we call the disciplines of the working environment. We feel these are necessary skills to enable employability and support with Numeracy and Literacy to help trainees confidently take their place in a working environment. An environment that is alien to anything they may have sampled before.
The training also provides a home shopping delivery service for the elderly and housebound. This service is provided by adults with learning difficulties who pick up a shopping list from the customer, return to the shop and shop for it, then the following day deliver the groceries and receive payment.
This service provides opportunities for a change of emphasis. People with disabilities are seen to be giving rather than receiving. The act of doing something for another person, of being the giver, is a powerful tool for increasing self-esteem.
The Academy of Excellence in Customer Care programme will complement much of the training that already takes place, enhancing and recognising the skills that the trainees are acquiring.
The desired outcome of the training is to progress trainees into employment, we have been quite successful in helping trainees to find paid employment in shops, ground maintenance, restaurants, food processing and postal delivery work over the last year.
We hope that the Academy of Excellence Certification will build on that success and our partnership will enable us to recognise the progress that all trainees make at Mencap Employment Service.
