National Learning Network Individual approaches to ensuring sustainable employment outcomes

1. National Learning Network Individual approaches to ensuring sustainable employment outcomes Marie Kelly

2. NLN WHO WE ARE • Specialist Education, Training, & Employment Access services • Specialists in helping people overcome barriers to employment • Work with all types of disabilities • Focused on Employment as amain goal

3. NLN WHO WE ARE • 50 different types of vocational training programmes • 5,000 students • All training designed to lead directly to jobs+ • Nationwide network of 3,500 Employers

5. ALIGNED WITH INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICE EFQM - Recognised for Excellence EQUASS Award Excellence Through People Award FETAC Approved Training

6. FLEXIBLE & PERSONALISED APPROACH 3. Employability Skills

7. 1. Pre-training Assessment Individual Assessments • Application • Interview • Health Report • Risk Assessment • Individualised Needs Analysis • Psychologist/Educational Assessment • Practical Skills Assessment

8. 2.Individual Employment Action Plan Action Plan • Personal assessments  documented Individual Employment Action Plan • Reviewed & updated monthly with Key Worker • Facilitates structured guidance and advice • Overarching aim is to move person towards employment and/or higher educational opportunities

9. 3.Employability Skills Employability Skills Training

10. 4. Vocational Skills Vocational Skills Training Labour market relevant skills Information Technology Business & Office Skills Tourism, Catering & Sports Horticulture & Green keeping Art, Craft and Multimedia Design

11. 5. Mandatory Work Placement Mandatory Work Placements • All NLN students have mandatory work placements • Centre-based training • Employer based training • Blended learning

12. Personal Supports • Multi-disciplinary team • Provide practical supports • Documented in an Individual Employment Action Plan 6. In-Training Supports

13. NLN Transitioning to Employment • Developing appropriate job attitudes and behaviours • Maintaining close links with employers • Supporting job searching, applications and interview. Employers 7.Transition Supports PERSON Community

14. Employer involvement in programme design • Sourcing applicants • Providing placement advice and support • Support on regulatory & governance issues OUR APPROACH Close relationship with employers 7.Transition Supports

15. OUR RESULTS • Highly successful • Over 80% achieve certification. • Over 90% progress to employment, further education or training.

16. FUTURE CHALLENGES • Continued labour market alignment • More flexible forms of vocational training • Blended learning and e-learning • Deepening employer relationships • Meeting Value for Money demands while protecting quality standards • Maintaining outcomes levels with scarcer availability of jobs

17. KEY LEARNING POINTS • Personalised, flexible training works • Importance of strong quality systems • Constant innovation to meet changing employer and economic needs