The Ballymun Job Centre with the support of J.P. Morgan, the City of Dublin Education and Training Board and the Department of Social Protection are running a second Integrated Vocational Employability Skills Training programme.
Six programmes will be run over the period October 2020 to 2023. The first programme ran from October 2020 to March 2021, the second is nearing completion, and the third is scheduled to run from March 2022 to August 2022. The target audience for the programme are:
- Young people, male and female, aged 18 years upwards
- Unemployed or at risk of long-term unemployment with no sustainable career path
- Junior Certificate or equivalent qualification
- May or may not be in receipt of a social welfare payment
- Interest in ICT training and employment
To date participants have been recruited through the distribution of the IN-VEST 2 Flyer by BJC Staff; Social Media Campaign with JobAlert.ie; Community Businesses and Organisations; Department of Social Protection; Seetec; CDETB; Dublin Northwest Partnership Practitioners Network; and BJC Facebook and Website.
The application process consists of an invitation to attend an in-person Information Session, hosted by the IN-VEST 2 team and tutor in attendance via zoom. A Basic English Literacy Assessment and Digital Skills Assessment is administered. A follow-up session/interview with BJC staff takes place at which time the assessment results are provided. If all are not passed by the applicant, literacy support referrals are made; while if all are passed, the applicant attends an interview with the CDETB staff at the Finglas Training Centre. All going well successful applicants will attend an Induction Day in Finglas Training Centre with the IN-VEST 2 team and tutor.
Eight people completed the first programme, two are in employment and four progressed in further education and training. Thirteen people were interviewed from the second programme out of twenty three people assessed. Of the nine people who started the programme six were male, three female; six were aged between 18-24 years and three were aged between 25-64 years. Five people had their Leaving Cert, three their Junior Cert, one had a Level 5 in 3D Modelling & Animation. All nine were in receipt of a social welfare payment. Six had work experience in the areas of general op/security/customer care/warehouse op, and three had no previous work history.
The course is delivered through the CDETB, their Finglas Training Centre, who accredit the training. It runs over five days a week from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Monday to Thursday the programme is classroom based, with remote provision on Fridays.
The course content includes communications (QQI Level 5 accredited); presentation skills; project management skills; PowerPoint; online essentials and word processing (accredited); skills sampling: software development, network engineering, web design, graphic design; career planning: online applications, CVs and cover letters, and interview skills. Four to six weeks of work experience is sourced by the Ballymun Job Centre. Mock interviews are undertaken with J.P. Morgan staff; a portfolio of completed projects to present to potential employers; and online networking opportunities are provided.
Given the challenges COVID-19 presented in sourcing work experience for the programme participant, an opportunity was created in one location over a three week period for the participants to complete software testing on Eramus+ Project Future-Proof Your Career (FYC) Tool which is a career guidance tool for a modern labour market.
The learning arising from the first and second programmes have identified a range of barriers and challenges faced by the participants. These learnings will assist in the development of the third programme, and the modules/topics the BJC would like to include in the next programme are:
- Inclusion and Diversity in the classroom and workplace
- Manage your Metal Health
- Motivation and Autonomy
- Wellness and Self-Care
As with IN-VEST 1, a Social Return on Investment (SROI) evaluation will be undertaken throughout the IN-VEST 2 programme. Participants will be asked to complete a participant questionnaire at two stages and this will explore independence, personal development, health and wellbeing, community participation, and ambition and behaviours.
For further information please follow click here.