Frequently asked questions

• Will it cost me anything to take on a young person?
• Will I have to train them?
• What is a job trainer?
• What is a job analysis?
• How long will the work experience placement last?
• What if the young person's work isn’t good enough?
• How should I talk to the young person and can they understand me?
• How will the placement affect my other staff?
• Will I need to provide special facilities?
• Are there any health and safety implications?

A. If we are negotiating paid jobs with your company we would be looking at trainees receiving the general rate for the job. If you are offering work experience to a young person then you will not be required to pay a salary to the young person.

A. We would ask you to treat the trainee as you would any other new member of staff which would include some initial training and induction including health and safety. The job trainer would provide support for them to access this and would provide all additional training that is necessary.

A. The job trainer accompanies the trainee to provide one-to-one support and training throughout the day. Some trainees may gradually learn to do the work independently and will no longer need the trainer constantly on hand; however, some of our trainees, perhaps because of a physical disability, will always need a certain minimum level of support and the job trainer will be there for this throughout the course of the placement or job.

A. Before the placement or job starts the job trainer will arrange to come in to meet you and your staff and to do a ‘job analysis’. This involves doing the job themselves to understand what is required then breaking it down into teachable steps which can be used for training. They will also devise a method of recording the trainee’s progress in learning these steps which will be used throughout the placement or job. Sometimes to augment this record we like to take photographs and video footage; this would, of course, be agreed with yourself and anyone else involved beforehand.

A. This is negotiable between you, the trainee and ourselves. Usually, however, a placement will last for 12 weeks giving the trainee time to get a feel for the job, to acquire skills and to get to know their fellow workers.

A. We try to always place trainees in a setting where we are confident they can learn to do the job to the required standard. However, if for some reason their work is unsatisfactory it is right and proper that this should be addressed. Your first course is to talk to the trainee and their job trainer and this will usually sort it out. If this is not effective or you wish to talk to someone else then you will have a contact number and the name of the job training co-ordinator at A Chance to Work who will be happy to discuss the problem with you.

A. Again, the simple guide is to treat the trainee like any other member of your team. Some of our trainees are not able to speak themselves and we understand that it can feel strange at first knowing how to talk to them and not being sure if they can understand you. We always assume that a person can understand and address them accordingly. Some people may have their own means of communicating, perhaps through pictures or a letter board; if so the job trainer will help them to show you how you can use it with them. If a trainee does not have a formal system like this it is a case of spending time getting to know them and giving them the time and space to express themselves.

A. We would like you and all your staff to see the trainee as you would any other member of the team. If they have never worked with anyone with a disability before then they may feel apprehensive. If this is the case then we can arrange for the Job Trainer to come in before the placement starts to answer any questions they might have and allay any anxiety. Additionally we will also happily provide disability awareness training if required.

A. If a trainee needs special facilities, for example wheelchair access, we would usually try to approach an employer who already has this in place. However, if you are planning to provide access in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act we are happy to offer advice and consultation. If a trainee needs specific aids or adaptations to do the job that would not otherwise be needed then we would discuss with you how we might acquire these.

A. As part of the job analysis the job trainer will fill in a form with details of your health and safety policy, fire regulations, insurance and other related matters. Both the job trainer and the trainee are fully covered by a combination of our own insurance and your public liability insurance throughout the period of the placement. If a trainee is employed by your company then obviously your insurance will cover them and Barnardo’s will cover the job trainer.

The above are some of the questions we are most commonly asked and we hope that we have covered any concerns you may have. If you wish to discuss any of the issues further or you want to know any more about our work please contact us.