Project SEARCH aims to change lives for young people with Intellectual Disabilities by helping them get great jobs. Project Search is working with KARE and Naas General Hospital to give the opportunity of work experience to transform the employment prospects of young people with intellectual disabilities. Project SEARCH - KARE & Naas General Hospital programme was established in 2013 and is providing trainees with a 12 month work experience programme for people with Intellectual Disabilities. The Trainees are based full-time at the Naas General Hospital and have three department rotations throughout the 12 months as they gain transferable skills and study for QQI qualification with support from KWETB. The programme also includes a two onsite coordinators who teach and support the trainees in making a successful transition from training into meaningful employment. The national average of people with disabilities working in Ireland is 6 %. In 2019 we received a 90% Employment Outcomes award for the graduates of 2018 and we are currently working with the group who graduated in 2019. In 2019, we won Best Diversity and Inclusion Initiative with the Irish Institute of Training Development. We also launched the first Reverse Jobs fair in Ireland for people with Intellectual Disabilities which was huge success. Employers come from all around Kildare to see the skills the trainees have to offer. KARE gives ongoing supports to employers to create a more diverse workforce through the use of a hidden talent pool. Companies who have linked with us are experiencing the trans formative benefits from engaging in our programme and KARE supported employment service, gaining access to a new diverse, talented workforce with skills that match labour needs.
