Presentation for Transition Information Network by Ela Nisbet

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

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

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

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

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

6. Lee Saunders Case Study, continued • 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 Supporting students with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

16. Wider benefits of supported work experience - • local and national economy • social services • local communities • all disabled individuals and their families Supporting students with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet

17. If we had the work, yes! [I’d take on another person like Patrick] Chris – Company Secretary at ACP 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 chanceSheila - Supervisor at Somerfields Supporting students with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet