Career guidance in Astangu Vocational Rehabilitation Centre

Karin Olševski

Astangu Vocational Rehabilitation Centre

• Established in 1995 and operates under the administration of the Ministry of Social Affairs

• Main function of the Centre is to provide professional training and adjustment courses along with various rehabilitation activities to persons with special needs

• The main goal is to contribute to the social coping of people with special needs and to support their transfer to the labour market

Structure

The Centre is divided into 7 units:• Vocational training department• Rehabilitation department• Employment unit• Sheltered workshops • The centre of disability related information and assistive

technology• Development unit• Administrative department

Vocational training department

• Academic year of 2009/2010-117 trainees in 17 study groups. Each group has 6-8 trainees.

• Adjustment courses, rehabilitation course, professional training courses and vocational training courses.

Employment Unit

• Was created in 2002. • 3 employment specialists and 1 employment

specialist-psychologist.• Main activities:

– Preparing students for labour market (career guidance and company visits)

– Support in finding work practice places and jobs (supported employment method)

– Cooperation with Estonian Unemployment Incurance Fund; projects; statistics regarding employment of AVRC graduates.

Career Guidance

• Purpose of the lessons:– Support in making a suitable career choice– Preaparing students for employment (open labour market,

sheltered work, day centre)

• Number of lessons:– Adjustment courses and professional training courses-16

lessons in academic year– Vocational rehabilitation courses and rehabilitation courses- 6

lessons in academic year– Company visits- for all courses (exept rehabilitation course) 4

visits in academic year

Career guidance for adjustment courses

• Self recognition related to career planning• Introduction and analysis of different

vocations/occupations (working time, tasks, necessary skills, salary etc).

• Schools and specialities for people with special needs• Terms associated with employment • Different want ads• CV composing• Company visits

Career guidance for professional and vocational training courses

• Working in chosen speciality (conditions at work place, working hours, assignments, necessary skills, work positsions, salary etc)

• Employment oppurtunities near home• Want ads• Terms associated with employment• Company visits• Alternatives

Career guidance for professional and vocational training courses

• Job searching• CV, application, motivational letter• Job interview- video training• Employment contract• Behaviour at work place and during work

practice• Sick leave benefit• Services offered by the Estonian

Unemployment Inscurance Fund

Materials/methods

• Job description DVDs• Animated cartoons (behaviour at workplace and job

safety)• Other materials/worksheets- websites related to career

planning; issued by Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund; combined by employment specialists.

• Video training• Games, role plays• Practical assignments

Company visits

• Purpose- to see real work enviroment• Overview of the different companies in the area • Overview of the positions within the companies• Contact with employers (future work practice

places and jobs)

Work practice

• Support in finding a suitable work practice place in cooperation with vocational teachers and students network member

• Take into account students abilities, preferences, previous work practice experiences

• Supprot during work practice to the student and also the employer

• Summary and analysis

Thank you!

Contact:Karin Olševski

AVRCHead of the Employment Unit

Phone: +372 6877 219

E-mail: karin.olsevski@astangu.ee