Recently member organisations of ARC brought forward the challenges faced in finding and employing staff for specific roles in the social care sector. In response, ARC (NI) is piloting a one-year project called Getting Started, which aims to support 75 unemployed people to become support workers for people with a learning disability.
The project, part funded by Ulster Garden Villages, will support participants to address barriers to employment and receive value-based training, imperative to further developing the quality assured workforce in the learning disability sector. The pre-recruitment training programme will be delivered in tandem by Ingeus and ARC (NI).
Training will include safeguarding, encouraging positive behaviour, human rights, person centred practices and risk assessment – all of which are the standards required to work in the social care sector. Through Ingeus the individuals will be enhancing their capacity and developing skills for job seeking, preparation for interview and sustainable employment.
This innovative pilot is also ensuring that people with learning disabilities are at the centre of the training, therefore, will also provide training to help the participants understand the issues that are crucial to them and their every day support. Upon successful completion of the programme participants will be given the opportunity to interview for social care jobs.
If you are interested in Getting Started, please contact Louise Hughes on 028 9038 0965.