VISION
Our main aim is to provide support to adults with learning disabilities. We provide training in work-based skills which are transferable into the labour market. As SLATE volunteers, people with learning disabilities have been at the heart of SLATE since its inception. Originally funded through the Leeds City Council (LCC) Adult Social Care (ASC) Modernization Fund, SLATE now offers placements for LCC ASC Day Services, for people with learning disabilities, as part of their day care package.
THE SLATE OFFER
We concentrate on what people can do and what they want to learn. All of us have a range of skills and abilities and we are continually encouraged by the hidden talents in our team!
We are realistic about the opportunities for people with learning disabilities and while we would like to see everyone who wants one, get a paid job, we recognise that for many people a long-term placement within our supportive team may be the better option.
WHAT CAN SLATE OFFER?
• SLATE can offer an alternative to Adult Social Care Day Services.
• Safe and nurturing half or full day sessions, six days a week in either our Feel Good Furniture Shops, Cafe or Driving Team in a real work setting.
• The chance to develop skills which will be valuable in future paid employment.
• The opportunity to be part of a mixed team, working alongside each other and interacting with people with and without learning disabilities, with both colleagues and customers.
• To be part of a happy and productive team and extend social opportunities and build lasting friendships.
Areas of work:
• Customer service – making customers feel welcome and explaining what we offer
• Health & Safety
• Retail – cleaning, displaying, pricing goods
• Warehousing – cleaning, storing, organising goods, manual handling
• Logistics – arranging collection and delivery of goods
• Cleaning – offices, shop, furniture, kitchen
• Catering – food hygiene, presentation
• Food preparation (even in the Furniture Shop, everyone makes their own sandwich for lunch)
• Marketing – distributing publicity, talking to potential customers
• Reuse and recycling
• Office and computer skills
• Artistic and creative skills
We can also provide in-house and external training including.
• Health & Safety
• Manual Handling
• Customer Services
• Food Hygiene
• Employment Rights
• First Aid
• PAT Testing
Group Learning and Social Sessions
• Residentials
• Arts and crafts workshops
• Workdays out and team activities
• Local Festivals, Galas and Fun Days
HOW OUR PLACEMENTS WORK
1. Meeting you
• We meet you.
• Talk through your needs.
• Reflect on what we might offer.
• Plan taster sessions.
• Review the plan and redesign if necessary.
• Agree the plan and timetable goals.
2. Induction
• We will introduce you to SLATE. You will meet the team.
• Learn our procedures. Attend Team SLATE meetings.
• Work in our shops, cafe or driving team during taster sessions.
• We will review your application at this stage, set goals, identify training gaps, and plan your work schedule.
3. Personal Progress
We will talk regularly about how things are going and offer training from our training menu, including:
• Morning Meetings
• Health and Safety Briefings
• Personal goal supervisions
• One to one coaching
• Customer Service
• First Aid
• Manual Handling
• Confidence Building
• Food Hygiene
• Computer Skills
• Office administration
4. Review
• We will review how your skills have progressed. Plan to meet your intermediate goals.
• Identify any needs that have not been met within SLATE and plan for their completion.
• We recognise the achievements of our learners – we recognise the innovations and changes suggested by our learners and implement changes suggested.
MOVING ON
• Some of our volunteers have been working long-term at SLATE and are content to stay as long-term placement and we respect this.
• Some of our other Supported Volunteers are seeking paid work.
• All our Supported Volunteers have regular supervision and reviews including talking about their current goals.
• Our Supported Volunteers are helped to write CVs and apply for jobs. Where we become aware of relevant vacancies, we share them with our trainees and seek expressions of interest and support those ambitions.
• We work with our Supported Volunteers to identify paid work both within and outside SLATE. Many members of our current staff team began with SLATE as volunteers and are now paid staff.
• Our Supported Volunteers all can attend the bi-monthly volunteers' meetings and make suggestions about how SLATE is run.
SLATE AND THE OUTCOMES FOR ITS VOLUNTEERS
1. Social Outcomes
• Confidence
• Mental & Physical Wellbeing
• Positive Change
• Wider Horizons
2. Inclusion
• Equality
• Acceptance & Understanding
• Safety & Security
• Valued
3. Life Skills
• Independence
• Employment
• Education & Training
• Volunteer Placement
OUR CHARGES
SLATE currently charges an hourly fee for placements which can usually be claimed through the Adult Social Care Direct Payment scheme. Please ask for more details or for support in completing the application.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A VOLUNTEERING PLACEMENT
Please email ann.wilson.co.uk for information on how to apply for a volunteer placement.