presentation for transition information network by ela nisbet

Supporting students with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet

Supporting students with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to

employment

Presentation for Transition Information Network by Ela Nisbet

Outreach Transition Worker at Oaklands College, Hertfordshire


Introduction

• Job remit: to support students aged 19 -25 who have

learning difficulties and/or disabilities, in their transition

from education to employment.

• Aim of the programme: to facilitate the development of the

student’s employability skills, and so to enhance their

opportunities for finding and sustaining employment.

• Method: provision of a variety of supported working

opportunities in the local community.


Elements of programme delivery

• Vocational Profile, Action Planning and Goal Setting• Choice and variety of working opportunities, appropriate

to the individual’s skills and abilities• Gradual skill development – “stepping stones”• Training on the job to a job specification• Help with negotiating paid or voluntary employment• 1:1 individual support, personal coaching, job coaching• Information, advice, guidance and support for student

and employer, for as long as it is necessary• Continuity of support - supported referrals to other

service providers• Inter-agency and partnership working


Lee Saunders - developing confidence, social skills and specific work skills -

Case study

• Lee went to a special school, then to another college in Hertfordshire before enrolling on the Ready for Work course at Oaklands.

• Traditional work experience organised by the college work experience coordinator, at the local Somerfields supermarket.

• Employers impressed by Lee’s hard work and good attitude, willing to employ him - no vacancy for a Customer Assistant.

• Vacancy in the Bakery: to bake bread and to operate the rotisserie.


• In-house training facilitated by Somerfields with worksite analysis and job coaching provided by Oaklands College.

• In paid employment at Somerfields since May 2007 (3

mornings per week plus extra hours in holidays) - Lee’s “perfect job”.

• In education - Entry Level Business Administration and Retail course at Oaklands (2 days per week).

• The Future? Further support for Lee and Somerfields will be available, if necessary, from Work Solutions or the Shaw Trust, for as long as it is needed.

Lee’s story can be found in the February issue of My Future Choices magazine

Lee Saunders Case Study, continued


Patrick Fitzgerald - developing social and vocational skills -

Case study• Mainstream secondary school (nine GCSEs), followed by

Oaklands College (GNVQ Intermediate in IT).

• Wanted to leave education and to find part-time employment (paid and voluntary) in Administration.

• Supported work placement (Junior Admin Assistant) at a local hospital – excellent feedback but no vacancies.

• Interview process – very difficult (problems with

communication).

• Leaving college: support with finding and sustaining two paid, and two voluntary posts.


Patrick Fitzgerald Case Study, continued

• Further opportunities for personal, social and vocational development available after leaving college: Macintyre Care Transition, and WorkABILITY Projects

• Redundancy (company relocation) from one of the paid

posts – support from the college

• Careers Advice

• Supported referral to the Shaw Trust for further career development

Patrick’s story can be found in the February issue of My Future Choices magazine


The benefits of supported work experience – for the student

• Opportunity for seamless transition from work experience into paid employment

• Opportunity to experience the real world of work

• Opportunity to train on the job to a real job specification

• Earning while learning (in employment and in education)

• 1:1 support from the college (personal, and job coaching)


The benefits of supported work experience – for the student, continued

• Support at work (work buddy and a job coach, if appropriate)

• Coursework easier to understand when already doing the job

• Good knowledge of workplace routine – confidence building

• Supported employment – further help/support with job/career development


The benefits of supported work experience – for the employer

• Time spent on training is invested, not wasted

• Students are ready for employment at the end of work placement

• In-house training to employer’s own standards

• Opportunity to employ someone already trained, with a proven track record

• Specialist support (disability information, advice, guidance and job coaching) available, if required


The benefits of supported work experience - for the employer, continued

• Unique opportunity to increase workforce diversity and expand customer base

• Effective, no-cost recruitment

• Opportunity to recruit hard-working, dedicated and loyal employees

• On-going support for as long as necessary - provided by a named professional from a well-known organisation


• local and national economy• social services• local communities• all disabled individuals and their families

Wider benefits of supported work experience -


At the end of [the process] you’ve got a member of staff that’s very loyal very thorough and very willing to please.

Irene – Manager at Somerfields Work experience has

been a great help to Lee and it’s nice to think that people like him are given a chance

Sheila - Supervisor at Somerfields

If we had the work, yes! [I’d take on another person like Patrick]

Chris – Company Secretary at ACP

presentation for transition information network by ela nisbet

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