Kristien Smet

“ Improving Diversity through

Supported Employment ”

From school to work: an early preparation for a

better outcome

hosted by:

In association with:

Studies on the labour market

• Higher level of education improves chances on the labour market

• Low skilled students & special needs students encounter difficulties to find a job

• Still unemployed after 1 year• 37 % of the students in special needs schools• 19% for the students without special needs

Studies on the labour market

These youngsters come to the same labour market as the others, but are in a weaker position.

Need for early support starting from school

Lifecoursemodel

Vision on life-course guidance

• Education & employment contribute to social inclusion

• Quality of life • Empowerment & self-determination• Competence-oriented support • Systems thinking • Support from a life course perspective

Lifeline & transitional moments

• From school to work is a big step • Long term perspective• Look ahead at the next phase & take action• Look back!

Transition trajectories

• How it all began • Goal and for who?• Some results • How it works

History

The European Goal

2006 – 2012 ESF fundings2012 – 2013 GTB2013 – 2014 Flemish Government

VDAB & partnership with FeGOB2014 – 2015 Flemish Government

Goal & target group

• Students with disabilities

• Age 17,5 to 25 • Goal is paid work• Completely voluntary• New point of view • Risk of dropping out• Limited network

• Make transition to labour market fluent

• Connect seamless from school guidance to labour guidance

• Prevent drop-out

Some results

• 2013-2014: 665 transitiontrajectories started in school

• 357 closed trajectories• July ‘15: final results

expected

Some results

• 410 guidances started after transition in school

• 175 closed files

Transition trajectories: 5 steps

1) Acquaintance: Who am I?2) Search: What do I want?3) Exploring: What are my skills?4) Action: We make a plan5) Follow up (with partners involved GOB, VDAB,

welfare service …)

Transition trajectories: Stijn

(Don’t) Do this at home

• Communication & collaberation with all partners (education versus labour market)

• Cooperation counsellor GTB & jobcoach GOB: sharing information about & with the client for a better transition

• Refine tools • Use personal network • Build trust with the student• Clear plan, small steps• Biggest challenge: fundings to create

transitionstrajectories

Thank you for listening.Any questions?

Kristien.Smet@deploeg.beEsther.Soeryanto@vdab.be