Steps To Work


<!–[endif]–>What is Steps To Work?

Steps To Work (STW) is a new and fresh approach to assisting people find employment. This menu-based approach provides a flexible way to help you with your individual employment and training needs.

Who is eligible?

If you are 18 years of age or over, and in one of the following groups, you will be able to join Steps to Work:

• Not working and not in receipt of any benefit
• In receipt of Jobseekers Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Income Support, Pension Credit or any other benefit

Area covered

Magherafelt, Cookstown, Limavady and Coleraine District Council areas.

STEP ONE

Provides support to those who feel they need a minimal amount of help to find work. The range of elements include:

Short Accredited Course

You can select a course lasting up to a maximum of 10 days. These courses are aimed at people who are mainly “job ready” but may not have an accredited vocational qualification needed for particular jobs e.g CSR or a computer course. In addition, you can undertake the following elements, (or all as a 10 day course of the following elements):

Essential Skills Assessment

As well as assessing your reading and writing skills, this 1 day element will advise you about the support that is available to you to improve your skills and therefore your chances of getting and keeping a job.

Personal Assessment

This element, which can last up to 3 days, will help determine how ready you are to find work, identify your training needs, consider any problems or concerns you may have around finding employment and advise how you can work towards overcoming these.

Internet Navigation/Introduction to IT

This one day element will help you acquire the skills to improve your jobsearch activities through the use of IT.

Self Employment Awareness

A basic awareness session (1/2 day) which will provide information on self employment with the opportunity to participate in a more comprehensive 5 day Start a Business training course if you wish to explore self employment further.

Step Two

Time spent on Step 2 can vary – it will normally range from 4 to 13 weeks but can last up to a maximum of 52 weeks depending on the provision selected. While taking part in Step 2 you will receive a weekly Training Premium and keep any benefits currently being paid to you. If you feel that the support available in Step 2 is the right option for you then you can choose from the following elements:

Essential Skills Training

Essential Skills training aims to help improve or develop your reading, writing or figure work; it can also provide you with a nationally recognised Essential Skills qualification. While participating in Essential Skills training you can also be assisted to develop a range of other personal and work related skills such as self-confidence, commitment, motivation, team working and communication, all in a workplace setting.

13 Week Provision

You can access provision up to 13 weeks which may consist of a quality job placement, through on-the-job work experience within the private/public/voluntary/community sectors, or you could undertake a Vocationally Related Qualification, combined with a work experience job placement. The key objectives of this provision are to:

  • increase your employability so that you have a better chance of finding work;
  • provide you with up-to-date, meaningful and relevant experience of the workplace; and
  • help equip you with the skills likely to be sought by prospective employers.

Qualifications

You have the opportunity to pursue accredited qualifications, which are approved by the Adviser, namely:

  • A full NVQ at Level 2 or 3 linked to NI employers’ skills needs and job vacancies
  • Units of an NVQ where these contribute to the achievement of a full NVQ

Self Employment – Test Trading

For those who are serious about setting up their own business, this element offers the opportunity to move into supported self-employment. You will receive advice and support to set up and run your business for a period as well as receiving an allowance while remaining on Steps to Work.

Subsidised Employment

The aim of the subsidised employment element is to improve your chances of finding permanent work. It offers a prospective employer a subsidy of up to £100 per week for up to 26 weeks for employing you. As an employee you will receive the normal rate of pay for the job.

Additional Help

You may feel that you would benefit from some more personal help or advice while you are taking part in Steps to Work or starting employment, particularly if you have been out of work for a long time. An agreed period of one-to-one support can be arranged to help you overcome any barriers or problems and increase your prospects of obtaining or keeping a job.

Step Three

Step three elements are for those who have not found work after taking part in Step 2 who may need continued assistance from an Adviser.

The Adviser will provide support aimed at helping you use your newly acquired skills to maximise your chances of finding a job.

List of Training courses on offer

Short accredited courses include:

  • Construction Skills Register (CSR)
  • Forklift course
  • Food Hygiene
  • Food safety
  • Certificate in Bookeeping and accounts

NVQ Business and Administration (52 weeks)
NVQ Information Technology (52 weeks)
Essential Skills- Literacy and Numeracy. (26 weeks)
Key skills

 

Step Ahead

‘Step Ahead’ is open to those who have been out of work and claiming benefits continuously for 30 months or more.

 The jobs will be within the voluntary and community sector, for example, environmental organisations, charities, sports clubs, playgroups and church organisations.

 Step Ahead offers:

  • 20 or 30 hours per week paid employment.
  • An opportunity to undertake an accredited training course while in the job (receiving £100 bonus on achieving this qualification).
  • Access to extra support to help them settle in and stay in the job.
  • Access to a Job Coach who will offer assistance with active job search, development of a CV and job applications.

To apply for the programme please contact the office.

Contact details/More information:

Shauna Kelly (Steps2Work Co-ordinator)
Network Personnel
The Rainey Centre
80-82 Rainey Street
Magherafelt
BT45 5AJ

Email: shauna.kelly@networkpersonnel.org.uk
Main Tel: 028 7963 1032
Lo-Call No: 0845 362 0747

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