How we can help Education & Training Training Support Services - Help in education and training Our disability support continues to be delivered during the COVID-19 period by our Training Support Services team. This has been agreed with the Department for Economy. Our 14 Training & Learning Support Officers continue to deliver disability support across Northern Ireland to all our TfS / Skills for Life and Work Trainees, Apprentices and Training providers. Are you a young person aged 16-22 years who has left school and needs some support in education and training to achieve your goals? Our experienced and understanding Training Support Services team, comprising 14 Employment & Training Officers located throughout N.Ireland, can help, advise and assist you to participate in training as well as gain valuable work experience. The team has been providing Disability Support on youth training for over 20 years working closely with all colleges, training organisations and the Careers Service across Northern Ireland to enhance the support necessary for over 600 trainees on the Training for Success programme which closed for new starts on 31 July 2021 (but will stay open for participants who are currently in training) and has been replaced with the Skills for Life and Work programme (September 2021) and the Apprenticeship NI programme. Skills for Life and Work Programme The Skills for Life and Work is a training programme, provided by training organisations and most of the Further Education Colleges across N.Ireland, for young people who want to develop their skills and get ready for work. If you’re not sure what kind of job you’d like, Skills for Life and Work can help you decide. Skills for Life and Work is strongly focused on helping you move on successfully after you leave the programme. This could include aiming for a Traineeship or an Apprenticeship, or other employment. Apprenticeship NI Programme An apprenticeship can give you the training and qualifications you need to help you get ahead in your chosen career. The Apprenticeships programme offers training, across a wide range of apprenticeships, to people aged 16 and over. Terms and conditions apply if you are 25 years and over. As an apprentice you will be a new or existing employee, in a Northern Ireland-based company, working with experienced staff to learn and develop your skills. An apprentice also receives ‘off-the-job’ training, usually on a day-release basis with a training provider, to work towards achieving vocational qualifications and Essential Skills qualifications (reading, writing, maths and computers). How we can help and support you Work with you to prepare a tailored Personal Training Programme to reflect any specialist support requirements you have – and advise and help you get on the right course for you Help you settle into your training course Help you to increase and improve your confidence, self-esteem and value, in order to help you to progress within your training and prepare for the work. Disability Action’s fully qualified and British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) registered Integrative Mental Health Counsellor will work with you Assist you with job or placement matching and help you settle in One-to-one mentoring throughout your training to help you get qualifications Job Coaching – support you on your work placement to help with your induction and understanding your job duties Talk to your placement training provider and employer to help them to make any changes to support you and provide advice on compliance in relation to DDA and other legislative issues Pastoral care to ensure that appropriate child protection and equality policies are provided and observed Provision of an advocacy role to ensure that the level of support for you is fully discussed in association with other key stakeholders, such as your parents or guardian, throughout the decision making process Help you prepare for the next steps once you finish your training Assist with disability benefits advice and guidance Eligibility for support and how long it will last We will support you throughout the 3 years of your Skills for Life and Work Training or on the Apprenticeship NI programme. You can get support from our team if you: Are aged 16- 22 years Are starting the Skills for Life and Work or Apprenticeship NI training in N.Ireland Have a disability Our team is making a difference. We just wanted to thank you all for the difference you and your team have made not only to Sean but our home life as well. The way he prepares and is ready for school each day has turned our home from a battle ground to a wonderful picnic in the sun. Sharon and Dwain Gervin wrote to us expressing their gratitude for the support their son Sean received from the team. Read the full story here. Resources Students & Parents/Guardians: Skills for Life and Work - In-training Disability Support Training Providers: Skills for Life and Work - In-training Disability Support Provision Get in contact with us If you would like to find out more about the support we can provide, contact Lisa McVeigh, Training Support Services Manager (Temporary) on T: 028 9029 7880 or E: [email protected]. About our team Read the Blog on our team (June-July 2021) to learn what support they provide