| Summary: | This mixed method research study originally contributes to understand the role covered by Supported Employment Agencies (SEAs) in promoting positive health behaviours of employees with learning disabilities. Employment is rarely experienced by people with learning disabilities. Supported Employment Agencies provide a service to facilitate the employment experience for people with learning disabilities, through supporting in finding, keeping and maintaining a job. While many studies on employment have highlighted health benefits for the general population in employment, data is lacking for people with learning disabilities. This study wants to understand if and how Supported Employment Agencies support the health of their clients with learning disabilities. The quantitative phase of this study involved managers of Supported Employment Agencies completing a web-survey to understand the strategies used by Supported Employment Agencies preventing health risk behaviours and promoting health. In the qualitative phase of this study Grounded Theory Method was used to discover the role played by Supported Employment Agencies in supporting the health of their clients with learning disabilities. For this purpose interviews with mangers and job coaches of Supported Employment Agencies and interviews with employees with learning disabilities were held. Results from this study reveal Supported Employment Agencies to influence the health of employees with learning disabilities in several ways, both informally and formally. Indeed, health was a key element in all phases of supported employment, even if Supported Employment Agencies were not formally committed and funded to promote health. The thesis highlights the potential for SEAs to capitalise on their role as employment mediators to promote health outcomes and healthy lifestyles for employees with learning disabilities.
|
|---|
