Employment Programmes
Employment Programmes provides a range of services in co-operation with different community groups. These consist of employment and development programmes that focus on the integration/re-integration into the labour market of long-term unemployed and other marginalised people. Programmes include Community Employment, Supported Employment and Job Clubs.
Community Employment (CE) is an employment and training programme primarily aimed at the long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged groups. CE helps people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. The programme assists them to enhance and develop both their technical and personal skills which can then be used in the workplace. CE offers participants an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed-term basis. In this way, local organisations help to develop their area by Sponsoring Programmes, typically in the areas of social services, healthcare, heritage, arts, culture, tourism, sport, environment and education.
Supported Employment Service is an employment and recruitment service to assist people with a disability to secure and maintain a job in the open labour market.
Supported Employment Service provides a range of supports to employers and people with a disability, through Job Coaches. The range of supports include:
- Individual Needs Assessment
- Vocational Profiling and Career Planning
- Individual Employment Plan
- Job Sourcing and Job Matching
- On-the-Job Support and Coaching
- Advice and Support to Employers
- Follow-up Support and Mentoring to both Employers & Employees
Job Clubs provide training to assist participants who are ready for work, to develop skills which they can use to find a job. This active, practical and participative process takes place under the guidance and supervision of the Job Club leader. Anyone who is ready to work and is between 16 and 64 years of age can join a Job Club. Participants do not have to be on a social welfare payment but if they are, it will not be affected by becoming a member of a Job Club.
- The Job Club aims to expand awareness and help participants understand how the application of simple techniques can greatly enhance jobseeking skills. Membership of a Job Club may help participants to be more acutely aware of their employable/marketable personal attributes. There is an emphasis on 'skills' learnt when gaining a qualification, not merely the subject matter.
- The following can be done through a Job Club:
- Develop jobseeking skills and techniques such as preparing a Curriculum Vitae and application letter;
- Develop an individual job search plan;
- Prepare for interviews;
- Build relationships and rapport;
- Develop verbal communication skills as well as body language skills;
- Identify individual strengths and skills and match them to local work opportunities;
- Identify ways to improve jobseeking decision-making capabilities;
- Explore and analyse local work opportunities;
- Have access to the facilities of the Job Club (telephones, computer, email, newspapers etc.);
- Develop a network of contacts which can be of help in getting work.