Farren launches Job Broker initiative

Employment Minister, Dr Sean Farren, has launched a major new initiative to assist disabled people secure employment.

A new network of ‘Job Brokers’ has been set up through the New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) and is set to benefit people with disabilities in Northern Ireland who wish to find work.

Job Brokers will offer those people on incapacity benefits the support to find paid work and move off benefit dependence. They will also work to match employers with potential employees currently on incapacity benefits.

During a visit on Wednesday 19 September to the Job Broking Service at The Orchardville Society in Belfast, Minister Farren said: “This development is another important milestone towards assisting people with disabilities achieve their ambitions. The Job Brokers network is all about giving disabled people the guidance, support and preparation that they need to find paid employment, while helping to match the abilities and potential of disabled people with the needs of employers.

"A number of pilot schemes have operated across the province since April 1999, and these have helped us to find out more about the needs and requirements of disabled people and employers. We are now building on that experience by introducing the Job Brokers network.”

This further extension to the New Deal for Disabled People programme aims to help people on incapacity benefits to move out of economic inactivity and into permanent employment. To date, NDDP has been successful in making employers more aware of the benefits of employing people with disabilities, many realising a previously untapped pool of talent.

Dr Farren added: "The support of local employers is essential and Job Brokers will also work closely with community and business organisations to ensure that people with disabilities will be equipped to move into work.” (CL)