For many children and young people, they are thinking now about what they want to do when they leave school.
For some people with additional needs or disabilities, finding work or opportunities to advance their skills may not always be easy. Here in Knowsley, there’s lots of help and support available.
Supported Internship programme
The Knowsley Supported Internship Programme offers young people aged 16 to 24 with a learning disability or difficulty the opportunity to gain paid employment, providing invaluable work experience and help to develop their knowledge and skills.
Those involved are supported by a Job Coach and after the one-year programme, the aim is that they secure full/part-time paid employment.
To find out more, contact Vicki Moss, Supported Internship Job Coach on 01744 623358 or 07785 624 850, or email vmoss@sthelens.ac.uk.
Knowsley Community College Supported Learning
The Work Skills programme is designed to support students with Special Educational Needs and / or Disabilities (SEND) to enable them to progress into employment or progress to a higher level course.
Tutors will work with the students to help develop their transferable skills such as problem solving, communication and teamwork. Alongside this they will complete further learning and employment qualifications including English and Maths.
During their time on the course students will also have the opportunity to attend ‘vocational tasters’ within other areas of the College to prepare them for future study and work experience opportunities.
Each student will have a personal tutor with specialist SEND knowledge who is responsible for all aspects of their study programme and will support them to make progress towards outcomes through an individualised approach.
To find out more or to apply, contact Paula Humphreys, Transitions Officer, by email at phumphreys@knowsleycollege.ac.uk. Alternatively you can submit an application form here.
Flourish Further Education
Flourish Further Education is delivered by Knowsley FACE (Family And Community Education) and is a post-19 specialist education centre for young people with high needs.
Flourish provides an individualised, flexible programme – a lot of which will be delivered in the community – to help build the skills and experience the young people will need for the future, helping them to progress their independence and transition into adulthood.
For more information contact Vicky.bolster@knowlsey.gov.uk.
Activate Work Skills Pathway
The Work Skills Pathway provides those learners who are able to make a positive contribution to their community through the employment and / or voluntary sector with the skills to overcome their personal barriers to independence. Learners are provided with a highly individualised timetable which ensures their Education Health Care Plan outcomes and specific support needs are met. Sessions are centred around preparing for adulthood, engaging with the community and developing skills for independence. Further information is available on the Activate website.
Alt Bridge Post-16 education programme
Alt Bridge has a bespoke Post-16 provision for learners who wish to access further education at the end of Key Stage 4. Further information can be found on Alt Bridge’s website.
Job support if you have special educational needs and / or a disability
The National Careers Service has a range of information and support for job seekers who have special educational needs and / or a disability. This includes support programmes, employment rights, support returning to work and advice on finding work. The service highlights programmes and support you can access if you are autistic, have a learning disability, have a sensory impairment, if you are deaf or have hearing loss, or if you have a long-term medical or mental health condition. For more information, visit the National Careers Service website to find out more.
The Positive Inclusion Programme
The Positive Inclusion Programme is a personal development and employability programme which aims to support local people of all ages from 16 years onwards, who require intensive specialist support to progress into education, training, or employment.
The programme is run through Knowsley Council’s Knowsley Works team and you will be assigned a personal mentor who will support you with your future career, life goals and action planning, training and short courses, job searches and job applications, developing a CV, confidence and motivational coaching, interview techniques and work placements.
To find out more, or to register, call the Knowsley Works team on 0151 443 5010 or 5015 and ask for the Positive Inclusion Team.
Cllr Margaret Harvey, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:
“A Key priority for us to ensure that all students can be supported to achieve their full potential at every stage of their education journey as well as preparing them for adulthood and the working world.
“We have a range of support available to support children and young people with disabilities and other complex needs to support them into adulthood and to be independent through training and employment programmes.”