The Northern Ireland Union of Supported Employment (NIUSE) is pleased to announce their participation in their Job Shadow Day initiative for the first time on Wednesday 25 April 2018.  With over 100 job seekers and employers signed up to participate in the initiative for people with disabilities and people from disadvantaged situations take the opportunity to shadow a workplace mentor as he or she goes about a normal working day. The workplace opportunities cover a wide range of jobs and employment sectors – public, private and community/voluntary.

Job Shadow Day is designed to give people with disabilities and people from disadvantaged situations the unique opportunity to get a close up look at the world of work to discover and learn about the skills required to compete and succeed in the work place. It brings job seekers and local employers together to highlight the valuable contribution people with disabilities can, and do make in the workplace.

The Job Shadow Day initiative was developed by the Irish Association of Supported Employment in 2007 and has grown from strength to strength and now the initiative is delivered in many countries across Europe and beyond -  Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia and Sweden, and is growing each year. In Europe they refer to the Job Shadow Day as DUO Day.

Speaking ahead of the day (Wednesday 25 April) Norman Sterritt, Chairperson, NIUSE said he was “Delighted that the membership organisations that make up NIUSE are joining with our counterpart across Europe and participating in this year’s Job Shadow Day on 25th April. This is a great opportunity for employers, job seekers and their support agencies to highlight and celebrate the many benefits that the Supported Employment model can bring to all parties interested in advancing employment opportunities.”

The Job Shadow Day initiative aims to be more than a one off event or a one day initiative but is an opportunity for Supported Employment organisations to develop a longer term relationship with employers to explore employment opportunities.

NIUSE intends that the Job Shadow Day initiative will become an annual event.  For further information about Job Shadow Day initiative or Supported Employment contact NIUSE on [email protected]
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