What we do

Choosing the right job, gaining the necessary skills

Each trainee experiences a set of work experiences/environments and an individual programme of work that identifies not only the area of work that the trainee may wish to pursue, but the other skills that are so necessary to enable that young person to sustain work, such as travel training, maintenance of health, personal care and presentation, job search, computer skills, career guidance and the opportunity to gain recognition for the progress they are making through the Oxford and RSA (OCR) National Skills Profile Certificate of Achievement.

Support in the workplace

Following on from initial assessment, induction and young person’s indicated preferences a small number of job matches are identified and the trainee begins working in a more sustained way in the workplace. Each trainee has one-to-one support and training in the workplace from a job trainer who will have already visited the job site and undertaken a full job analysis – this included detailed knowledge of the actual job tasks, arrangements for the trainee’s induction to the workplace, arrangements for monitoring progress, consideration of other aspects of work, for example, lunch hours, social contacts the working environments, codes of dress and if appropriate, opportunities for learning to travel to and from work independently.

When appropriate as the trainee begins to develop skills and gain confidence in the job the job trainer gives less intensive help. The vast majority will continue to need some level of support either from the job trainer or other workers/colleagues within the work site throughout their career.

Because of the very intensive support offered by the job trainers, the task of finding the work experience placements and long-term employment is the responsibility of the two co-ordinators who are provided with specific information from the job trainers regarding each individual learner.

Most young people who access our service are school leavers. Therefore A Chance To Work has close links with a variety of special schools around the Merseyside area and Connexions. We also have links with social services and the Learning Disabilities Directorate who can offer support in communication, occupational therapy, psychology and physiotherapy. These links can also open up employment opportunities.

If you would like to find out more please contact us.