Work Experience works!

Jobcentre Plus1 June 2011 Jobcentre Plus, Hants & IW

Work Experience works!

Building on opportunities in the private, public and third sectors

Leone Hill Jobcentre Plus PortsmouthLorna Tang Jobcentre Plus WorthingAlan Robinson Jobcentre Plus HoveLinda Taylor Portsmouth City Council

Jobcentre Plus2 June 2011 Jobcentre Plus, Hants & IW

Work Experience – a reminder• Aimed at people with little or no work history - mainly 18-24 year olds

• 2 to 8 weeks structured placement with a host organisation

• Mainly with private sector employers – but also the public & third sectors

• Commitment from many national companies and organisations

• Participation is voluntary

• Different from Work Trials – no end vacancy required

• Any occupational sector - but geared to local labour market needs

• Provides a reference and experience to discuss at interviews etc

• Improves confidence and motivation – and may result in a job!

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Adding value to Work Experience

• Offer a bespoke service – finding placements to match customer’s aspirations

• Use a fast track system to get customers into placement quickly

• Provide a range of placements within Portsmouth City Council – including lone parents and ESA customers not included in mainstream Work Experience offer

• Placements with third sector organisations and small enterprises via Community Empowerment

• Securing employment where no vacancies existed

• Working with National Careers Service following Skills Health Checks

• Don’t lose the momentum - update CV, interview technique and build on experience to plan next steps


Bespoke Work Experience

• Florist • Garage mechanic • Gardener• Casino – dealers and

receptionist • Baker – hopeful!• Producer / editor • Kings Theatre • Canine Assistant • Hairdressers

• Chemist • Health food shop • Tattoo artist • Scuba diving• Painter and decorator • Nail technician self employment

• Library and museum • Computer repairs


Where do we find the opportunities

• Employers who have used us before

• Personal knowledge

• Adviser’s family, friends and neighbours

• Contacts at events etc - partnership managers etc

• The phone book

• Labour Market knowledge

• Customer’s own ideas

• …. contacting former customer who has opened a business


Fast track

• Keep CVs and generic application forms to match to Work Experience placements and job vacancies as they arise

• Aim to get customer an interview the same day as they agree to Work Experience or when a placement is secured

• Gaining employer’s trust that we can provide the right candidate – rather than spend their own time interviewing

• Aim to start the placement within 2-3 days – if not sooner!


Work Experience works• Hayley had factory & waitressing experience and listed cleaning as her preferred job

– but it was floristry she really wanted to do. We phoned a local florist and “persuaded” her to see the applicant. After 8 weeks, the employer decided she couldn’t do without her!

• Jack has a degree in the history and philosophy of art. He needed hands-on experience. Following his placement at the City Museum, he has been offered paid work to help with summer events.

• Grosvenor Casino offered placements following media publicity earlier this year. Jodie had retail experience but not worked since being made redundant. She is now a receptionist. “Without this chance I’d never had got a job like this. I recommend it.” Tia and Jasmine are starting work as dealers / croupiers after their placements.

• Charlie wants to be a baker. We found him a placement to learn cake & pastry skills at a local café. He phoned to tell us he is ‘loving it’!

• Josh: “Everyone around me had money to spend – I get £50 JSA! It’s a no brainer!”

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Community Empowerment – Community Routes into Employment

• Linked with the Co-operative organisation – a charitable society for the benefit of the community

• Offers unique opportunities for jobseekers to improve their employability

• Placements are bespoke - jobseekers are interviewed with an ‘open book’ and ‘open mind’ – full consideration given to applicant’s interests and ambitions

• Placement providers are charities, social enterprises and community prganisations providing community benefit.

• Placements help the community and helps the organisation develop.

• Community Centre Asst Manager, social media communications support; Southsea Greenhouse community Co-op, Website Design


Community Empowerment – case studies

• Liam: Communications asst placement with a social enterprise running a member’s online forum. Extra responsibility managing a team of volunteers. Secured employment with East Hants District Council as a Youth council support worker.

• Damien, Tim and Amy: all had design skills and produced excellent promotional & marketing materials. Having gained experience and confidence all three have formed Coastal Creations, a worker co-operative design & media studio.

• Dan: Placed with a newly formed co-operative enterprise, Southsea Greenhouse. He gave support on the accounts and project management. He is still volunteering there.



Portsmouth City Council• Flexibility to work outside the JCP Work Experience rules – hours, age, benefit.

Flexible placements for lone parents etc

• Builds on goodwill with departmental managers from FJF – they realised the benefit for jobseekers as well as the benefits to them and their teams.

• Created opportunities in a wide range of departments: eg the Museums Service, Parking Services, Regeneration, Care Homes, Communications and admin

• Bespoke opportunities for people who want a specific opportunity.

• 8 week package of support including:

– On-line training on PCC policies and procedures– Access to PCC L&D for their paid staff - inc leadership & management topics.– Mentors for some customers from within the council– Onward progression - apprenticeships, work clubs – Registration on Temporary Register for paid work

within PCC and other public sector partners


• Lauren - single parent on IS. Children 6 and 2. Retail experience but no work in 7 years. Attended Work Club. Placement in PCC Comms Team, 10 hrs pw for 6 mths. Supported Lauren when applying for new Morrisons store. Offered 2 mornings and one evening pw. “It was great being out in the real adult world again working alongside colleagues and having the chance to learn new things.”

• Carmen - mid 30s, teenage son. Changed from ESA to JSA as she felt ready for work. After volunteering running a Work Club, offered placement at PCC using her IT skills to improve and relaunch their Jobcafé website – a careers & jobs resource. Secured 1 yr contract based on her performance & skills. Thrilled with the opportunity she generated herself and being in

an environment where she could extend her networks. "Your team have changed my life - I am heading in an entirely new direction. My life is moving forward and I am getting somewhere. I hope to go to University.”

Jobcentre Plus14 W2W 2012 Jobcentre Plus, Worthing

Innovative Work Experience

Ch ‘ARTY’ Art Exhibition

Underpinning the Importance of Community Based Work Experience.


Jobcentre Plus in the Community

• Forging links within the local community by promoting Jobcentre Plus initiatives and achieving what is best for our customers

• Creating new ways we can work in partnership with voluntary sectors and highlighting the resources we have access to.

• To support and create bespoke work experience opportunities to inspire and re-engage our unemployed 18-24 yr olds.

• Creating unique opportunities to achieve inspiring work experience


Overview

• Approached 12 local charity stores pitching the idea of 4 week WE placements, selling unsold art, pictures and prints held by the Voluntary Sector

• Designed for clients interested in Art, Fundraising, Project and Events Management.

• Co-ordinated by Jobcentre Plus - this involved young people working collaboratively, managing a project from start to finish, using their own initiative and creativity to identify audience, obtain artwork to sell from local artists and organise donation drives, free advertising, art work (Northbrook College ) research and selling art work on the night.

• Method – Group sessions and review meetings


The Art of Charity

Free design – sourced

Free printing of flyer negotiated

Mayor attended

Local college donated items

Local artists supported

Venue donated

Pianist

Donation drive

Logistics of transport


The benefits – Jobcentre Plus outcomes

• 8 x 4 week work experience placements created

• The concept and participants work was so well received by the Mayor she invited them attend a VIP reception to receive a certificate of distinction in recognition of outstanding community work. This was held in local council chambers and highlighted the postivite work that was achieved

• Participants felt remotivated to enter the labour market and had improved self esteem and self confidence.

• They were able to test their career choices and develop significant skills to add to their CV

• Allowed participants to work along side a variety of people and network with prospective employers in the community


The benefits - voluntary sector

• The event raised the profile of each charity within the community

• Approx £500 raised in total without any financial outlay

• Closer working partnerships have been made with the Jobcentre for ongoing Work Experience placements and future community events.

• Continued volunteering from some of the WE participants



Photos


What's next ? Use this format and success to

create more community based work experience placements and to inspire and motivate 18-24 yr olds back into employment.

• Community Digital Champions

• Worthing Town Initiative

• Large community fashion show

to include local school/ college input

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“By the Community, for the Community”

“Celebrate 2012”

Olympics & Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Themed Fashion Show Charity Event proves Work Experience works!.

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“ By the Community, for the Community.”

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Objective

To create a fun community based fundraising event bringing together local employers, charities, providers, residents and activity groups.

To raise the profile of the local area and it’s businesses & amenities while promoting Jobcentre Plus positively within the community, utilising initiatives such as voluntary Work Experience.

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“ By the Community, For the Community.”

The plan – where to start ?

• Defined our role as a facilitator in encouraging employers and community organisations to become involved in the event.

• Decided on a theme to attract people to the event – ‘Celebrate 2012 ! Celebrating the Olympics & the Queen’s Jubilee’

• Decided on a fashion show sourcing clothes from the chosen charities.

• Compiled list of possible local charities who could benefit from their involvement in the community event.

• Identified local employers who might offer vacancies, work experience placements or donate prizes.

• Investigated venues to host the event at the least possible cost.

• Contacted local singing, dancing and sports groups to provide entertainment and showcase their interests.

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The plan

• Developed marketing material and posters detailing the concept to “ hit the streets “ and contact organisations to gauge initial interest in the event.

• Identified the roles we could create within these organisations for our customers as work experience placements to develop skills and competencies and improve their employability.

• Promoted the concept and objectives to Jobcentre Plus Advisers and identified and commissioned a customer to create artwork for the event.

• Contacted local media to assist with promotion.

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“ By the Community, for the Community.” Outcomes

• 5 charities involved - Age UK, British Heart Foundation, Oxfam, Save the Children & Scope.

• South Portslade Community Centre provided the venue. Prizes & vouchers donated by of local employers - meals , flowers, cakes, photo shoots & party items. Aldi, Sainsbury’s & Tesco provided refreshments

• Local salon, Jewel, did hair and make up for the models. Local photographer, Phase Photography, took photographs at the event.

• A face painter provided great enjoyment for the children Local artists produced pieces of art work. Local press and radio covered the event

• The Coastline Harmony Singers performed. Local pop star, Conor Maynard, donated signed merchandise.

• A local councillor attended and was greatly impressed!

• The sun shone down which encouraged people to attend!

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Outcomes

Hove Jobcentre Plus placed 15 customers in Work Experience:

• The charity shops, sourcing clothes for the fashion show’s theme, promoting the event and gaining great retail experience

• The beauty salon: hair , make up & nails. Did preparation work for the event and helped on the day.

• Creating the graphics for the posters - printed by a local printer free of charge

• Event management experience, getting employers on board, obtaining donations and distributing the advertising.

• Jobcentre staff helped: modelling, setting up, selling raffle tickets, taking entrance money and running the kitchen - serving teas, coffees and refreshments.

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Objective met ? What were the benefits ?

Voluntary Sector:• Money raised - £200 distributed equally between local charities.• Door money & refreshment money raised donated to the Community Centre• Profile of charities raised - subsequent increase in volunteers• The Community Centre has received an increase in inquiries and bookings of

rooms for local groups or for family events. Increased revenue for them.

Our JSA customers:• Have developed significant skills and competencies to include on their CVs• Improved their employability.• Have improved their self esteem &confidence in themselves and their abilities.• Gained references from employers or charities.

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The benefits to Jobcentre Plus

• 15 Voluntary Work Experience starts, 1 Work Trial & 3 job starts, including our own Work Experience person who suggested the project initially

• She is now working for one of the companies we approached for donations

• Raised profile of Jobcentre Plus and its services

• Good feed back from employers about our bespoke, customised service

• Interest and vacancies from new companies

• Interest and awareness of our digital services including Directgov and Twitter

• New Work Experience placements created on an ongoing basis. Very much a “ ripple “ effect from the event.

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This enjoyable community event was a great success for all involved - everyone benefited in some way.

The benefits for Hove Jobcentre Plus:

• As facilitator, engaging with the local community, • Developing partnerships with local charities & employers• Providing our customers with valuable work experience • Creating a community event which everyone could enjoy • Minimal financial cost • Raising awareness of our services and creating goodwill in the community

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Leone Hill 07971 [email protected]

Lorna Tang 01903 [email protected]

Alan Robinson 01273 368140

[email protected]

Linda Taylor 023 9284 [email protected]

Work Experience works!

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