A model for working with jobseekers in libraries - Lancashire County Council

A model for working

with jobseekers in libraries

Kevin VickersUK Online Coordinator

Lancashire Adult LearningJune 25th 2014

Overview• Lancashire Adult Learning provide

support to jobseekers across Lancashire

• We work with a wide range of partners to ensure we can meet the needs of learners

• My role is coordinate the Learn My Way service in Lancashire libraries and run a number of Work Clubs

Work Club

Learn My Way

National Careers Service

Information Advice and Guidance

Library JCP

Additional learning with LAL

Libraries

Library staff have to deal with...

• “I need a CV by tomorrow or else my money will be stopped”

• “I need to apply for this job today but can’t use a computer”

• “The Jobcenter said you’d do this for me”

• AND staff reductions, increased workloads etc

Letter for Library StaffDear Job Centre Advisor Thank you for referring …………………………………………… to the library today. In order to assess his/her needs in full, we have asked him/her to attend the Work Club. Tutors at the Work Club will

help to plan and advise on how best to achieve the client’s job-seeking goals and will offer advice on any additional training that may be required.

................................... has agreed/not agreed to attend The Work Club takes place at ............................................. Library Your client should attend at .............................am/pm Yours faithfully NamePosition etc

Jobcentre Plus

Work Club

Learn My Way



Library JCP


Jobcentre Plus• Referrals are made directly to Work

Clubs• No service level agreement• No assessment required by JCP• Feedback on learner progress available• Need to have confidence in the quality

of what we provide

Working with JCP – Some Tips

• Make it easy for the advisors• Have a single referral point (Library)• Attend advisor briefings to increase

awareness• Make sure learners are noting

attendance on UJM, including what they are learning

• Be prepared to be flexible!

Work Clubs

Work Club

Learn My Way



Library JCP


Work Clubs• Work Clubs are held once a week in libraries

across Lancashire• They run for 3 hours and are staffed by

Employability Tutors from Lancashire Adult Learning

• They are open to anyone over 19 and are free to attend

• Referrals usually come from JCP and the host library

• We have working relationships with Remploy, Bootstrap, Help Direct, Via and others

Work Clubs• Initial Assessment – We use the first hour of Work

Clubs to assess the needs of new learners• Plan the learning journey with the learner• Set goals – these must be agreed by the learner• Individualisation – we ensure our teaching

methods/materials etc are flexible and suitable for each learner

• Feedback from learners is vital, we ask each learner to reflect on what they have achieved and what they want to do next

• Keep JCP informed (UJM Activity History)

Work Clubs: Some Tips• Give new starters enough time to

discuss their needs and previous experiences with learning

• Agree attendance and punctuality requirements

• Set review dates during the initial assessment

• Be clear about why you are referring learners to other services and use letters to reassure learners

Letter for Work Club referral to other provision

Dear Job Centre Advisor Thank you for referring …………………………………………… to our Work Club at………………………………………………………………………………………………. We have assessed…………………………………….. skills and feel that our Work Club will not meet his/her needs and is

therefore unsuitable at this stage. We have recommended to him/her that the following course(s) would be more beneficial:

• A course to further develop English language skills • A course to improve reading, writing and spelling • Learn My Way; or a similar basic computer course in order to gain the skills to word-process a CV, undertake

online job search, and complete online application forms ………………………………. has agreed/not agreed to be referred to the appropriate person within Lancashire Adult

Learning. The referral details are……………………………………………….............................. Yours faithfully

Learn My Way

Work Club

Learn My Way



Library JCP


Learn My Way• Jobseekers are referred from Work

Clubs• Learners are guided towards

appropriate learning (Skills for Job Applications etc)

• Learners are encouraged to take the City and Guilds qualification in Online Basics

• Jobseekers are referred back to Work Clubs when ready


Work Club

Learn My Way



Library JCP


National Careers Service• Referrals are made to a single person at NCS,

allowing us to track referrals and outcomes easily • NCS will see an individual up to 3 times in 12

months (this is about to change)• Fantastic way of getting good quality CVs for

learners with no IT skills• Great referral point for learners needing career

advice• NCS refer their clients to Work Clubs and Learn My

Way


Work Club

Learn My Way



Library JCP



• Provide the “next step” for learning beyond Work Clubs

• Can advise on availability of training and education at all levels

• Can provide careers advice and provide ways to access new careers

What next?• Make contact with your local JCP to let

them know about your service• Consider having flyers made for JCP

staff to refer to• Get involved in local network events,

build relationships with other providers• Talk to learning providers about how

they can support you

Questions?

Technology

A model for working with jobseekers in libraries - Lancashire County Council