APPENDIX 1
Information for Middlesbrough Scrutiny Panel
These are just a sample of a range of schemes and programmes that have been written up as good practice examples that can be found in the resource library of the ncas website and I have also included some example of the positive action taken by some local authorities which you may also find useful.
Work awareness programme – St Helens
A 5 day programme offered by the young persons team in partnership with members from the local chamber of commerce to raise young people’s awareness about the world of work and what employers are looking for and ended with a visit to a couple of the large employers from the area.
Work preparation programme - Lincolnshire
This course encourages young people leaving care to look at why people go to work and is aimed at those with little or no work experience. The course leads onto a supported 6 week work placement and is used to prepare young people for the council apprenticeship scheme.
LEAP Project – pre employment scheme – Bradford
Bradford City Council’s LEAP (Learning; Employment; Advice and Preparation) Team provide a 12 week ETE programme for long term NEET care leavers and prepares them for employment, and increasing their employability prospects. The programme links the young people into work placements, traineeships and other employment opportunities.
Internship Scheme – Hampshire
Hampshire County Council in partnership with Catch22 and the University of Winchester offer a supported apprenticeship scheme called Internships Plus that offers care leavers a 12 month paid internship and helps them find employment.
Local authorities that have Apprenticeship Schemes for care leavers include:
Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Leicester, Bradford, Doncaster, Hartlepool, to name a few..
Positive Action taken by LA’s:
East Riding of Yorkshire Council - offer a guaranteed interview to all care leavers who meet the essential criteria for a job. Where there are a high number of applicants the process would normally mean that desirable criteria would also be taken into account so care leavers are exempt from this.
Contact: Anna Barson (Organisational Development Officer) – coordinates the authority’s work placement and apprenticeship scheme
Hull:
Seven traineeships linked to NVQ training have been created within the council for care leavers, commencing April 2012, 4 Park Rangers, and 3 in Catering. This was a change from the apprenticeshipsoriginally envisaged by the council leader, which was made in response to need.
Personalised CV writing and interview preparation is continuously provided by the PA for Economic Achievement. Intensive support was given to all applicants for the traineeships
Contact Lisa Hunter – leaving care team manager –
Islington:
Islington Council’s procurement team work ensure that any contracts issued include aSection 106 agreementthat supports employability in Islington. This includes opportunities that are offered to care leavers.
Below is a link which outlines how Islington have used their procurement process to ensure opportunities are offered and have also used this process as a way of gaining access to suitable accommodation for those wanting to pursue HE and this was a barrier:
Islington also offer an apprentice support package which tops up a young person living allowance to ensures care leavers can maintain work placement and their accommodation.
Contact Ken Simpson
I am also aware how there are a number of authorities who pay a top-up to their care leaver apprentices who are living independently and whose housing benefit payments are effected to make sure they have a minimum income to live on. While I don’t have a list at the moment I could look to provide one at a later date if that would be useful.
Andy Pickering
Senior Employability Worker
From Care2Work
Apprenticeships and Employability Directorate
Catch22