IntroductionObjectives To give an overview of Scope and the Starting Line programme Get to know each other Share your goals and expectations Understand a little more about the next 7 weeks

Your advisor’s role To support you to reach your goals To offer advice To share their knowledge To learn from you

Your role To support each other To ask questions To be involved To share ideas and your experiences To be responsible for your own learning To have fun!

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Ground rulesGround rules are about how we will work together so that we all feel happy and create a positive learning atmosphere.

We’ll all do this activity together. Afterwards you can write down our agreed lists here if you would like.

Things we should do Things we should not do

What can Starting Line offer you?

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Training in key employment skills Individual and group sessions Specialist employment advice, tips and motivation Interview preparation skills  Personalised action plans, so you’ll know what to do next

How does it work? 7-week programme Timetable of module delivery Agreed one-to-one sessions focussing on what you need including

support with applications for work or training All actions agreed on your personalised action plan updated regularly

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Goal settingObjectives Learn the difference between an aim and a goal Learn how to set goals that help us achieve our long-term aims Understand the importance of regularly revisiting goals Skills practice in writing goals

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What are goals? Goals describe the steps you will take to achieve what you plan to do Goals help you break tasks down into bite-sized chunks Goals are about achieving specific outcomes Goals can be short, medium or long term

SMART goals Specific Be clear and detailed about what you want to achieve Measurable Make sure you can track your progress Attainable Make sure your goal can be achieved Realistic Be sure about your abilities and what you can do Time Set yourself a deadline to achieve your goals

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SMART or not?Here are some examples of goals that are not specific and some of the reasons why they are not.

I will have driving lessonsDo you want to be able to drive?Do you need to drive?When will you have them and for how long?How many lessons will you have?Who will give you the lessons – parents or a professional driving instructor? Driving lessons are the activity. Passing your driving test is the goal.

I will improve my IT skillsHow will they improve?Where are you now on the ladder?Where do you want to be?How will you measure the improvement?When will you do it by?No idea of whether it is realistic or achievable because we cannot measure ‘improve’.

I will apply for jobsWhen?How many?What sort of jobs?What is the measure of success? Applying for jobs is an activity. An outcome is to get interviews.

I want to get lots of interviewsHow many is “lots”?When will you get them?What jobs do you want interviews for?What is the measure of success? The interview is the activity. Getting offered the job is the goal.

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Activity 1 – your goalsA: What are your goals?

B: When would you like to achieve these goals?

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C: What help do you think you need to achieve these goals?

D: What do you think could stop you?

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Checklist for achieving your goalsUse positive language.• Be specific about what you want.• Focus on what you want, not what you do not want!

Know you start point and where you want to end up so that you are specific about the outcome• Where are you now?• Where do you want to be?

For example – I know very little about how to use Excel spreadsheets. I want to be able to create simple spreadsheets that can manage my monthly incomings and outgoings, so I am in control of my money.

Do you know what success looks like?• How will you know when you have achieved your goal?• How will you measure your success?

Think about what support or help you might need to achieve your goal.• What resources do I have now?• What resources do I need to get my outcome?• Who can help me? • How will they help me?

What can I do for myself? • How will I do this?

Set deadlines or timescales for achieving your goal.• When will you do it by?• How long will it take you?• How much time do you need to devote to achieving your goal?

Think about how achieving the goal fits in your life and your life goals.• What will achieving it allow me to do?• Is this good for me to do? • Why is this important to me?

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Activity 2 – Writing goalsThink about Activity 1 and your goals. Can we turn them into SMART goals?

Goal 1:

Who is involved in helping you achieve this objective?

What support do you need?

When will you start?

When will you finish?

How will you know when you have achieved this objective?

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Goal 2:

Who is involved in helping you achieve this objective?

What support do you need?

When will you start?

When will you finish?

How will you know when you have achieved this objective?

How will you know when you have achieved this objective?

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The importance of reviewing your action plansDuring the programme we will regularly review your action plans with you:

1 Has the goal been achieved or changed?

2 Have all the steps been met?

3 Which steps were not met and why?

4 Which steps were achieved and why?

5 What might you have done differently?

6 If you were doing it again, what would you change?

7 What worked?

8 What did not work?

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Personal action plan – setting goalsWhat have I learnt?

What more support do I need?

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