What’s the project all about?
To support unemployed people to address barriers to becoming involved in paid employment in direct care by participating in a pre-recruitment training programme. Taking part will provide opportunities to develop skills, which will help individuals to secure employment within the social care sector.Participants will sit the European Care Certificate examination at the end of the programme.
The project will specifically target women, older people (50+), unemployed parents with caring responsibilities and people with inadequate basic skills.
The 10-day training programme includes:
- Information on working in the social care sector
- Information on jobs available
- Work observation visits
- Assistance in completing forms
- Interview tips
- European Care Certificate examination
Developments in the project so far
Two programmes have been held:
Programme 1: Sept/Oct 2008
- 14 people started the programme and eleven completed.
- Out of the nine people interviewed for positions, eight were successful.
- All eleven participants completed the ECC exam and five passed.
Programme 2: Jan/Feb 2009
- 13 people started the programme and twelve completed.
- Out of the seven people interviewed for positions, all were successful.
- They are currently awaiting the results of their ECC exam.
Expected outcomes for the future
We plan to carry out a further five pre-recruitment programmes within the Belfast and South Eastern Trust areas. The project will support 70 people and it is anticipated that at least 40 people (57%) will secure employment at the end of the project.
Useful Information
- Read about the Getting Started Publications available from ARC.
- If you’d like to find out more contact Lorraine: lorraine.boyd@caresector.net
- (funded by: Positive Futures, South Eastern HSC Trust, Belfast HSC Trust, European Social Fund, Department for Employment & Learning NI)
