It's all about ability with Midland Employment Support Agency
One in four people in their lifetime will experience disability which will impede their ability to work. Some disabilities occur as a result of accidents, serious illness or depression and can result in a person having to give up their job for a period of time. At some point, most people look to return to or join the workforce and may need a helping hand.
The Laois branch of the Midland Employment Support Agency (MESA) provides a free service which aims to help job seekers with disabilities to find work.
Based in the MDA, Mountmellick, the scheme is supported by FAS and funded under the National Development Programme.
Sean Byrne is currently job-seeking with MESA. He has been unemployed since he finished a Community Employment Scheme, last year.
"Working with MESA has given me alot more confidence," Sean said.
"Prior to becoming visually impaired I worked in middle-management and am currently looking for an admin type roll."
Sean continued: "I've received alot of support from Jacqueline updating my CV, or if i need transport to or from an interview."
He added: "She's great for keeping in touch and keeping me updated."
While, Colin Shiels found employment with Laois County Council through MESA, over two years ago.
"I work in the planning office of Laois County Council, scanning documents and files into the system," Colin explains.
"I really enjoy it, it gives me a purpose each week. It's great to be back in the workforce."
Although Colin's hours in the council were recently cut, his contract was been extended.
"I used to work 3 afternoons a week, but now I only work one, my hours were cut because the work in the planning department has slowed down."
Colin continued: "But they told me that they will increase my hours when the work picks up. My contract was also up late last year and they have extended that."
Colin added how invaluable Jacqui and MESA had been to him.
"I still meet with Jacqui regularly, to make sure that everything is going well for me."
Co-ordinator Tony Reilly explains the role the MESA play in helping a person with a disability find employment.
"We look at the background of the individual, areas they are interested in and their experience before identifying their most appropriate area of employment," he said.
Tony continues: "We provide support to both the individual and the employer."
There are 23 supported employment programmes across the country, but geographically MESA is one of the biggest, covering Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath.
The areas of employment that MESA clients go into are as varied as any cross-section of society.
"Checkout assistant, doorman, assistant magazine editor, office assistants, assistant chef, receptionist, childcare assistant, these are just some of the areas where our clients have got jobs," Tony said.
MESA have recently been accredited with the Excellence Through People Award.
This award is an independent accreditation, awarded by FAS to organisations, in recognition of their commitment to the Training and Development of staff. Excellence Through People is Ireland's national standard for human resource development and MESA attained the standard through aligning best practice Human Resource Management systems with Business Improvement.
MESA also run a Job Shadow programme. “Local employers found that they had the opportunity to gain greater understanding of different disabilities as well as realising that job seekers with disabilities are worth consideration when recruiting,” Tony said.
With the current jobs crisis, Tony said they have been using the work experience route more.
Local employment support officer, Jacqueline Berry, currently has 26 clients on her book, 18 are currently jobseeking.
“We scan the papers and websites for jobs,” Jacqueline explains, “and I would also call to employers to see if they had any vacancies.”
“We always receive a very positive response from employers,” she said.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have any funding and employers must pay our client from their own pockets,” Tony adds.
But MESA do provide ongoing support and training for both the employer and employee throughout the employment.
“Our support officers will train up on the job, so that they can train-in the new employee,” Tony explains.
“Having a familiar face there on the first day also helps to make the transition smoother for the employee,” Jacqueline adds.
For further information visit www.mesa4.com or contact Jacqueline on 086 3873056
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