STEPS TO WORK (STW)
What is Steps to Work?
Steps to Work is a fresh approach to helping you find work. It is designed to help people who are unemployed to secure employment by learning new skills and improving your work experience.
It offers a flexible menu of work related activities that can be tailored to suit your employment needs. When taking part in Steps to Work you will be allocated an Adviser who will provide support and guidance to help you decide which opportunities best suit you.
Who is eligible?
Anyone over 18 years old (or lone parents aged 16 years old or over) who is not working (or working less than 16 hours each week).
You will be able to participate on Steps to Work if you are claiming benefit or if you are not working and not claiming benefit. We are contracted to serve clients who are living in the North Down and Ards area.
What are the Benefits of Steps to Work?
Personalised advice and guidance to help you make the right choices
Help to find and remain in work
You can re-train while remaining on benefit plus receive a weekly Training Bonus
Opportunity to gain recognised qualifications
Opportunity to improve existing skills
Opportunities for work experience
How is Steps to Work Delivered?
Steps to Work is delivered in a ‘3 step’ process.
Step One
Step One offers anyone who is nearly ready for work:
On-going one-to-one support and guidance from an Adviser aimed at helping you to find work as soon as possible.
A range of short courses that can help you develop your confidence and motivation, improve your jobsearch skills and `accredited' courses, that can help you find work.
Step Two
Step Two offers a wider range of longer term support if you need more help to find work. Your Adviser can put together a package of support to best meet your training and work experience needs and the needs of employers.
Step Two can last from 3 weeks to 26 weeks depending on what you are doing. While you are on Step Two you will receive £15.38 per week in addition to any other benefits which you are entitled to.
Step Three
Step Three provides additional support and advice from your Adviser for up to 6 weeks to help you find a job. This Step can include access to Short Accredited courses if not already accessed on Step One.
Whats New on Steps to Work ?
FIRST START Programme
Eligibility
First Start job opportunities are available to 18-24 year olds who have been in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance for a minimum of 26 weeks (short breaks in claims not exceeding 28 days in total will not affect eligibility). The 26 week qualifying period also includes participation on the Steps to Work Programme.
Benefits to employees:
Paid employment for up to 26 weeks initially
Possible progression into further paid employment
Vacancies available throughout Northern Ireland
Support from a SERC Training Support Officer throughout participation for local vacancies
‘In Work’ Enhanced Support available from a qualified SERC Mentor on request for local vacancies
Personal tailored Plan towards Sustained Employment
STEP Ahead 50+
Eligibility
Step Ahead job opportunities are available to people aged 50 years old or over, out of work and in receipt of either Jobseekers Allowance (including Benefit Based Training Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit or Employment & Support Allowance) for a continuous period of 12 months or more, or a combination of these benefits.
A short break or an accumulation of short breaks, which do not exceed 28 days in total, will not affect eligibility.
Benefits to employees:
Paid employment for up to 26 weeks initially within the Voluntary/Community Sector
Possible progression into further paid employment
Opportunities to gain Vocational Qualifications, Essentials Skills or Personal Development
Vacancies available throughout Northern Ireland
Support from a SERC Training Support Officer throughout participation for local vacancies
‘In Work’ Enhanced Support available from a qualified SERC Mentor on request for local vacancies
Personal tailored Plan towards Sustained Employment
An Employers Guide If your organisation could benefit from more staff but you can’t afford the cost Steps to Work may be the answer!
The recession has resulted in a large number of redundancies in the North Down and Ards area and many people with a wide range of skills and abilities now find themselves out of work.
Steps to Work is a programme to help the unemployed and economically inactive secure employment.
As an employer you can benefit by partnering with SERC to provide valuable work experience placements for participants on the Steps to Work programme.
Benefits to your Organisation include:
An additional member of staff for a period of work placement ranging from 8 to 26 weeks.
No cost to your company as the participant retains their benefits plus a small top-up allowance.
Accredited training provided for the participant by the College will be free of charge.
Regular support from experienced College staff
FIRST START
Benefits to employers:
Recruitment of staff organised through South Eastern Regional College (SERC)
Weekly wage contribution to the employer for 26 weeks (£120 per week for 18-20 years old and £155 for anyone over the age of 21) – based at 30 hours per week at National Minimum Wage.
STEP AHEAD 50+
Benefits to Voluntary/Community Sector:
Recruitment of staff organised through South Eastern Regional College (SERC)
Employees will be paid at the National Minimum Wage by SERC for 30 hours per week
Employees will be offered the opportunity to gain Essential Skills (Numeracy / Literacy /ICT), Vocationally
Relevant Qualifications at level 2 or Personal Development Qualifications.
In work Enhanced Support available from a Qualified SERC Mentor
How do I find out more information about Steps to Work at SERC?
If you would like to find out more about the programme or would like to partner with the College in the delivery of the programme please contact Elaine Flynn (028 9127 6828) Ards or Vi Smith (02891 276138) Bangor for further information.
SECURING AN EMPLOYER
To gain entry to the Level 2 or 3 Apprenticeship programme, you must have an employer. The responsibility for securing an employer lies with you. This can be a daunting task for anyone, and so below is some advice on how to secure employment before attending College in September.
Once you have decided upon your course of study, you should seek an employer as early as possible, certainly before September. You must also complete an Application Form for your chosen course and send it in to the College. Please contact our Training Support Team to discuss your options.
Contact as many potential employers as possible by telephone, e-mail or in writing, making sure that you explain clearly why you are contacting them.
Research and prepare before contacting employers:
Get a list of possible employers from The telephone book,
www.yell.co.uk,
www.4ni.co.uk Write down why you are interested in working for them
Have information about your chosen course at hand
Prepare a CV - one A4 side of paper outlining your education, any part-time jobs
or alternative experience (voluntary, etc), and why you want to work in that particular industry
Contact any family or friends who could help you
If you need help deciding on your career or help with any of the above, contact our Training Support Team on 0845 600 7555 quoting the Campus of choice.
