New routes in homeless services

1. New routes in homeless services Labour market reintegration in the homeless sector A/57, FT id.: HU–32 EQUAL–2.1.1–2005–10–0008/10 Supporting the training of homeless people

2. BMSZKI presentation • One of Central Europe's institutions dealing with largest homeless peoples • 15 institutions, 1500 beds for homeless peoples • Nearly 3000 homeless move on the accomodations annually The forms of the homeless supply: • night refuge • transitional accomodation

3. special night refuge • rehabilitative accomodation • day-time shelter • medical crisis service • service helping homeless living on a street

4. Preparational group training IN-training support Supporting those who have dropped out Job-seekers training Helping those finishing professional trainings into employment In-job support during the first three months of employment BMSZKI Job Centre – Services of the Training Department • Coordinating and preparing professional trainings • Agreements with the Labour Office and trainers • Recruitment • Registration of candidates, making suggestions on what kind of trainings are needed (based on prior assessment), connecting dreams with reality • Group Information Days – psychological and motivational assessment

5. Registered Person Ratio (%) Altogether into training Professional training 152 8 152 35% Professional training and looking for a job 474 27 474 Looking for a job 1152 65 Total 1778 100% 626 Data from BMSZKI Job Centre – Ratio of those looking for employment or professional training (July, 2005.-August, 2007.)

6. Finished school Men Women Total % none 1 2 3 0 Unfinished 8 grades 13 35 48 3 Finished 8 grades 498 289 787 44 Unfinished trade school 29 20 49 3 Trade school 393 79 472 27 Unfinished trade high school 10 10 20 1 Trade high school 32 15 47 3 Unfinihsed hogh school 12 8 20 1 A-level/Bac 179 90 269 15 Unfinihsed higher education 6 2 8 0 college/university 38 17 55 3 Total 1211 567 1778 100 Schooling of the users of the BMSZKI Job Centre (July 2005 – August 2007)

7. Year Number of users in BMSZKI Job Centre People supported into professional training People supported in finishing primary education 2005 334 29 - 2006 958 124 7 2007október 632 17+55 13 Total 1924 170+55 20 People into professional training July 2005.-October 2007.

8. Professional training Started Dropped out Finished/still attending Cook 33 13 20 IT 19 1 18 Security Guard 22 2 20 Forklift operator 18 2 16 Social nurse 25 6 19 Cleaner (with machines) 20 7 13 Plumber 8 3 5 Crane driver 2 0 2 Waiter 1 0 1 Mason 2 2 0 Electricien 5 0 5 Baby-sitter 2 1 1 Shop-assistant 4 1 3 Mason 3 0 3 Stoker 1 0 1 IT software manager 1 0 1 English language 1 0 1 Confectioner 1 0 1 Reastaurant management 1 0 1 Marketing and advertisement expert 1 0 1 NC-CNC machine expert 1 0 1 Tradesperson 1 0 1 Total: 170fő 38fő (22%) 132fő (78%)

9. Reasons of drop-out person % Irregular attendance 25 66 Health reasons 5 13 Found employment 2 5 Did not go to take the exam 2 5 Substance abuse 1 3 imprisonment 1 3 died 2 5 total 38 100 Reasons for dropping out of the training

10. Current status Person % Works in learnt profession 44 40 Works in other profession 22 20 Looking for employment 18 16 Unreachable 21 19 Sick 1 1 Maternity benefit 1 1 Substance abuse 1 1 Died 2 2 Total 110 100 Employment data of those who have finished a training and have a profession

11. Numbers – July 2005. – October 2007. People registered in the Training Department • Registered for training: 626 individuals • Vocational guidance: 989 ind. • Group recruitment :263 ind. • Pre-training group work: 139 ind. • Currently in professional training: 22fő • In training group or individual support: 170 ind. • We have helped people into training in 22 profession: cook, IT, security guard, plumber, care-driver, mason, electrician, Forklift operator, social nurse, cleaner, etc.

12. The process of training - Preparation • Needs Assessment – in homeless services • Referral by personal support worker • Registration– Advisors of Training Department • Vocational guidance – finding the balance between dreams and reality • Group recruitment – Assessing psychological state, level of motivation and substance abuse issues • Choosing the candidates for pre-training group work – based on the test results and personal interviews

13. Communicational exercises Conflict-management Screening of substance abuse issues Sorting out accommodation Final choice: 15 individuals get chosen to proceed to the professional training The process of training – Pre-training support • Preparation: 1 - 2 weeks, depending on the length of the course • 25 participants in 2 groups Pre-training includes: • Introduction of chosen profession • Skills development • Time management • How to study

14. Visiting students during practical training Developing personal strategies – with the student – to improve the chance of finding employment Group work 3 hours a week after the training, during the first three months of employment – to help keep the job Monthly meeting for mentors, supervision The process of training – In-training support (both in a group setting and individually) • A mentor follows up with candidates from the group recruitment • Keeps in touch with personal social workers and services • Cooperates with trainers • During the theoretical training 3 hours a week - employment, accommodation, and substance abuse issues

15. Personal plan Setting personal goals Personal relationships, behaviour therapy in group setting Job-seekers training • Action plan on how to start in the new profession • Personal issues of employment • Analysing professional strengths and weaknesses • Interviews • Employment rulas • Preparation for working life

16. Difficulties • Lack of cooperation within the social sector – Often there is no communication between various service, which also means there is no joint action • Inflexibility of system of trainings - Choosing the right candidates, ideal candidates should have access to any training, currently it is more likely if we have good personal informal contacts, not necessarily in the profession the user wants most • Weak motivation of students • Uncertainty regarding opening of professional training • High percentage of candidates with substance abuse • Lack of adequate social support during the trainings – As most students are facing multiple disadvantages, they need more personal and financial support in order to finish the training and to find and keep a job. • Insufficient links with employers - We need to build more formal and informal links with employers to help our users fresh out of training to quality jobs.

17. Achievements of the system of trainings • Empowerment - empowering candidates to get into training, acquire a profession and find a good job. • Skills development -During the pre- and in training support we have developed skills to help users successfully finish the training and find a job • Enhancing user activity- For those who did not make into the actual training, it was still a form of activation to participate in the pre-training groups work. • Strengthening the role of social workers – By developing the position and skills of mentors, we have helped social workers find new ways and skills in supporting their users into and during training and employment. • A new service that was missing before – Currently the Labour Office does not offer meaningful and holistic support for homeless people, only limited and mostly administrative help. Our project was much needed to fill the void. • Supporting the flexibility of life-long learning – by uniting the services of the social and employment sub-systems.

18. Proposals • Workplace training the financing of trainings for homeless employees • The articulated the liquidation of a training system • Quality assurance the derivational suffix in institutions • Providing social work mentors to the students • Support into the work to a position, the keeping of the workplace

19. I say thank you for the attention! Zsolt Keserű social politician employment rapporteur kezso8@yahoo.com