Mayor of Kilkenny Malcolm Noonan has officially opened the Access supported employment service within SOS in Kilkenny.
The Access Supported Employment Service offers free access to a committed labour pool, free advice and support during recruitment and selection, free access to information on financial incentives available. Initial and additional training can also be provided by an allocated job coach.
Access Supported Employment Service has been running since 2005 and has now expanded and moved to a purpose-built training centre in Margaretsfield.
Access offers after-care support and continual upskilling for all its members. The service has grown from eight service users to 28 service users directly and a further 17 on a satellite basis. It has also seen a 250 per cent increase in its employer database of those positive to supported employment.
Emma Butler of SOS said it is encouraging to see that even in such gloomy economic times employers, are still keen to tap into a service which is truly worthwhile and beneficial.
“If your business, company or service has been affected by such hard times and you are feeling under pressure to get some repetitive tasks carried out that you once had a staff member for, this is where you should consider contacting the ACCESS Supported Employment Service. We can offer a staff member for between two and eight hours weekly to ensure these tasks are done efficiently.
“The reduction of a full-time wage may have been required, but the cost of two and eight hour’s work should seem cost-efficient in ensuring the effective running of your business or service on a day to day or weekly basis. If you feel that you could benefit from this service contact Pamela Mansell on 056 7795833.”
Access also offered their gratitude to Mayor Malcolm Noonan, the employers, local politicians, members of the SOS board of directors, parents and staff and particularly to the service users who attended the official opening.
“This was a wonderful morning and marks the beginning of a thriving and positive community service in Kilkenny,” said Ms Butler.
