Marvin OnumonuOxfordshire Employment has been recognised nationally for its work supporting people with disabilities and health conditions to find jobs.
The service, run by Oxfordshire County Council, has renewed its Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) accreditation.
This confirms that the service meets the standards set by the British Association for Supported Employment.
The team first received the SEQF award after a two-day audit in September 2024.
Auditors reviewed over 150 pieces of evidence and spoke with customers, employers and partners.
The initial assessment gave the service a ‘good’ grade, scoring close to 80%.
Oxfordshire Employment later completed a follow-up review to show it had met the targets set out in its action plan and remained compliant with SEQF standards.
The renewed accreditation is valid for three years, with annual reviews.
Deborah Montgomery, contracts delivery manager at Oxfordshire Employment, said: “This achievement is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our team.
“We’ve worked hard to complete our action plan and improve key areas, including six-month employment retention for our customers, where we’ve seen a significant uplift from 53 per cent to 80 per cent.”
Councillor Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “This recognition reflects the hard work and values that underpin our supported employment services.
“Oxfordshire Employment is helping people build confidence, skills, and independence through meaningful work, and that’s something of which we’re incredibly proud.”
The SEQF kitemark is the new national benchmark for quality in supported employment.
The assessment covers areas such as vocational profiling, job matching, in-work support and employer engagement.
Oxfordshire Employment was also noted for its focus on continuous improvement, inclusive practice and data-driven service delivery.
