People with learning difficulties, and young people in the council's care who are soon to be leaving that care will get extra help to find 'meaningful' work.

Swindon Borough Council's cabinet agreed that the authority should formally adopt its new supported employment strategy.

The strategy says: "We recognise the need for an employment culture shift amongst social care workers, education workers, providers and other frontline staff to be more ambitious for both people with disabilities and care leavers. This includes raising aspirations from a young age, raising expectations of family parents/carers, improving transition from education to work, providing pathways and ensuring good preparation. We also need to actively engage and gain commitment from employers – public, private, voluntary sectors to achieve our ambition."

If things go to plan the 5.6 per cent of Adults with a learning disability known to the council's social care teams, who are in paid work now will nearly double to 10 per cent by 20122

At the moment 64 per cent of care leavers are in education, training or paid employment. The strategy sets the aim of increasing that percentage to 75 per cent in four years.

The council's teams will increase the use of supported internships and apprenticeships to increase experience of work for those who need it, and also to prove to employers that adults with learning difficulties are valuable in the workplace.

The strategy says a priority will be to demonstrate to employers that there is value in providing employment for both care leavers and adults with learning difficulties.

The cabinet also recommends the Clinical Commissioning Group adopts the plan.