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Targeted Initiatives
Targeted Initiatives
Background
In 2003 the Taskforce on Employability and Long Term unemployment was established to analyse the factors, which made individuals and groups employable and the obstacles faced by those who are economically inactive especially the long-term unemployed. Following consultation the Targeted Initiatives programme was established in 3 areas – West Belfast and Greater Shankill, Londonderry and Strabane as a partnership approach to addressing employability issues. The main features of the Targeted Initiatives programme were to gain local stakeholder involvement and to roll out new pilot programmes. Strabane Local Strategy Partnership was appointed by the Department for Employment and Learning to act as the Local Stakeholders Forum for the Targeted Initiative in the Strabane Area. Its purpose is to monitor the pilot programmes and deal with issues as they arise.
Transitional Employment Programme
One of the first schemes to run under Targeted Initiatives was the Transitional Employment Programme. TEP was a 50-week paid employment programme designed by the department to help unemployed people, who have not found sustained employment following a New Deal option, to gain sustained employment in the Open Labour Market through supported Transitional Employment. At the heart of TEP was the provision of paid work providing those marginalized from the labour market with a bridge back to the world of work by improving their employability.
The rationale for TEP is based on two principles
· The best way to develop employability skills is by being employed.
· The easiest way to find a job is by being in a job.
Strabane Local Strategy Partnership acting as Managing Agent for TEP tendered the programme seeking tenders from suitably qualified organisations to act as Lead Provider to deliver TEP throughout the Strabane District Council Area. As a result Strabane & District Community Work Programme were appointed as lead provider to deliver TEP. Steps To Work, as TEP was innovatively christened by CWP locally, provided 95 placements within a range of occupational areas across the Strabane District both on a full-time and part-time working basis.
Job Assist Centre
An additional programme within Target Initiatives was the introduction of The Job Assist Centres (JACS). These were a forerunning pilot initiative delivered in Strabane through the Strabane Community Work Programme and Customized Training Services. Job Assist Centres did not provide training or offer work experience or training placements. Instead, the purpose of JACS was to provide guidance on: completing application forms, getting ready for interviews, information on job vacancies, information on training courses, benefits and tax credit calculations. The Strabane Community Work Programme and Customised Training Services had the knowledge of local clients needs, and worked in partnership with statutory agencies and the Voluntary and Community services, to address the specific needs of those furthest from the labour market. They provided a client focused advice and mentoring service not only to assist clients into employment, but also to help them make progress where direct immediate employment was not an immediate option. Statistics for The Job Assist Centres showed that 95 participants progressed directly into unsubsidised employment with a further 45 having progressed to employment following a period of subsidised employment, training or further education.
LEMIS (Local Employment Intermediary Service)
In March 2007, the Local Strategy Partnership was appointed by DEL to act as Local Stakeholder Forum in taking forwards the Local Employment Intermediary Service (LEMIS) programme. The Strabane & District Community Work Programme and Customised Training won the contract to deliver LEMIS locally, which they market as Jobs First in Strabane. The purpose of Jobs 1st is to offer advice, guidance and support in all matters relating to finding employment including the financial implications of working. Jobs 1st offers assistance with the cost of training if that training will overcome any final barriers that could be holding an individual back from gaining permanent employment. Jobs 1st achieved good employment figures over its first 5 months of operation, however recruitment to the programme had been lower than hoped even given that the summer is generally a low point of recruitment for any employment focused programme. In response, Jobs 1st underwent an intensive period of advertising with a series of adverts targeting: Income Support Claimants, Lone Parents, Non Claimants and Incapacity Benefit Claimants. Recent statistics for the Jobs First programme in Strabane highlight how the advertising campaign had a positive outcome with 146 clients case loaded and a total of 40 having found employment.
Able to Work
Able to Work is a 30-week voluntary, wage based programme offering participants support and training through real employment. The primary beneficiaries of this programme are incapacity benefit claimants who will enhance their employability. To date 30 participants are participating on the programme and recruitment was ongoing until December 2007. The programme lasts for up to 30 weeks during which time participants avail of work based training with community/social economy organisations, public and private sector employers. Participants also have the opportunity to pursue training and qualifications via a flexible training fund. While no participants have attained employment to date via the programme, real progress is being made as 5 participants have commenced NVQ Level II in administration, two will commence an RSA in Word Processing and one will hopefully attain his 52-seat bus driving licence within the next month. 4 participants have already completed basic food hygiene courses with a further one booked to take part. This programme is delivered in Strabane through Strabane Community Work Programme as Steps2work and is funded through the EU Peace & Reconciliation Programme
For further information on Target Initiatives
or any of the projects involved contact:
Patrick O’Doherty
Programmes Manager
Strabane Local Strategy Partnership
47 Derry Road
Strabane
BT82 8DY
Tel: 028 71381309
Fax: 02971381346
Email: slsp@strabanedc.com
