6.0 Progression from PEP
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- 6.1 How can we help learners make contact with employers and other services?
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- As for section 3.3
- Tell employers about the JCP Recruitment Subsidy. JCP are offering £1000 to employers who employ JSA claimants who have been unemployed for 6 months or more. To be eligible, the employee must work an average of 16 hours per week for a minimum of 26 weeks
- The National Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching Service (NAVS) has been live since January 2009. This online service matches apprenticeship applications with real vacancies. https://apprenticeshipvacancymatchingservice.lsc.gov.uk/navms/Forms/Candidate/VisitorLanding.aspx
Tools/Information to help:View the case study for Canterbury College. They have established a recruitment agency as their key strategy for delivering PEP.
View the Learner Journey of Pippa Howell. Pippa gained employment at the college having completed her PEP programme where she combined employability training with qualifications in literacy and numeracy.
- 6.2 How can we help people to gain access to learning once in employment?
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It is vital that we help learners to not only enter employment, but to sustain employment through continued training and development.
Tell learners about opportunities to continue learning and gaining qualifications once in work, e.g. Train to Gain (TtG). Talk to your TtG team in house, or if you do not deliver TtG, identify who your local providers are. To find out more, follow the link http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/lsc/SouthEast/Basically_5_-_TtG.pdf
Tools/Information to help:View the learner journey of Rebecca Cooper. Rebecca has secured work, is progressing from level 1, through level 2 and has aspirations to complete an access course and eventually become a midwife.
- 6.3 What educational progression opportunities can we offer/signpost to learners?
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Traditionally, progression linked to PEP relates to employment opportunities, whether to paid employment, voluntary work or work trials. However, for some learners and in some areas where employment opportunities are low, progression to further learning and other forms of support may be more appropriate.
Possible alternative progression options:
- Further learning within your own organisation:
- Further learning through other organisations. You could:
- directly refer to local organisations you know who offer specific provision to suit the individual
- refer the individual to Nextstep to explore further learning options (see 6.4)
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When a learner is progressing to another course, please notify their JCP Adviser.
It is imperative that an individual within the provider organisation assumes accountability for the learners’ journey. For the hardest to reach individuals this is especially important. If a learner is referred to another course or provider it is vital that there is a tracking/updating process implemented by the person who was the learners’ original contact. This provides extra support to the learner and helps ensure seamless transition between programmes/providers.
(Rhona Foley, Placement Officer, Canterbury College).Tools/Information to help:
View Learner Journeys. PEP has helped inspire many of those learners to progress through a number of courses/qualifications to achieve their goals.
- Further learning within your own organisation:
- 6.4 Who can help learners get access to information about a range of services?
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- IAG Services, e.g. Nextstep in the South East – in addition to information about learning and work, they also give information about a range of help available, including funding, childcare, and support for people with disabilities. Find your local Nextstep Adviser through the link http://www.nextstepsoutheast.org.uk.
- Welfare Officer – some providers have these
- 6.5 What information should we be sharing with JCP as learners progress?
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For learners claiming unemployment benefits: It is vital to inform the learner’s JCP Adviser whenever there is a change in circumstance. The Adviser will know detailed information about the learner and their journey towards employment, and part of their job will be to help that learner progress into suitable work based on their training and qualifications. Therefore it is necessary for them to know if the learner is changing course, has finished early or is progressing to another course.
When creating a relationship with JCP, think ‘points make prizes’. Feedback the success to the originating adviser, let the actual advisor know them, e.g. if they have referred someone to you and they have completed a course/got a job, let them know. They will appreciate this as they can log this on their system to show the impact of their referrals. This establishes working rapport building future capacity for referral and delivery.
(Glenn Floyd, Project & Partnership Manager, Canterbury College)