HI

This is something on which I have reflected and think that when attempting to engage with people in this age group,in an employability context,you are asking people who,in all probability, have deep and rich experience as well as highly developed skills to expose themselves to all the insecurities implicit in the novice role. This would be difficult for anyone. Their experience and skills may not stem from occupational activity but it is very likely that there is a field of human activity in which they feel as if they can act or speak with confidence.

If you can work out what this is and offer them the chance to engage in meaningful activity which allows them to demonstrate their knowledge or skill or even better put it to good use. You will enable them to engage with dignity.

Men's sheds are good at this as are music groups, gardening / DIY / craft groups etc. I think that what long term unemployed people desire most is the opportunity to feel useful. One thing I think you must resist is the temptation to talk to them about C.V'S, Job Interviews / applications etc until they are ready.

It is their decision to make as to when they are ready to do that.

People in this position have been knocked back so many times it is not surprising that they are averse to further reinforcement of the idea they have nothing of value to contribute. It is also very likely that,if they are long term unemployed,they will have been required to take part in various employability programs previously that included CV writing, job applications etc.

If you can provide people with the opportunity to make incremental progress toward meaningful achievement they are more likely to develop the sense of agency which is so important to us all.

Having said all this, would like to implement it more effectively myself.

Hi

We (CLDS) run a weekly  IT drop in mainly (but not always) for older learners. This is  to support absolute beginners/ improvers to learn basic skills. We do have learners who are long term unemployed and need skills to job search, fill out online forms etc. As many of the users in this category lack confidence in IT and feel digitally isolated we find that  this can be a good first step to improve confidence and address feelings of isolation and loneliness whether they are actively looking for work or not . Because it is skills based learners can leave feeling more positive. There is also a social element to the drop in and all learners and other community members are invited to stay for a home made soup lunch.

Thank you for all your responses so far, you have definitely provided some food for thought. I really appreciate you all taking the time to respond.

Allan, I completely agree with everything you have said and I would really like to change how our own service works to one which is more person centred and looks at the assets individuals already have as opposed to what the employability sector feels they are lacking in.

Hi

I agree with Oonagh-keep it social practice and learner centred!

Having said that, we are part of the Glasgow Region City Deal Working Matters Programme for people who have been on ESA . Our participants are not job ready, they have a case manager who undertook an individual need assessment and action plan with them.   The programme had funding attached to it so each participants had 1-1 contact with a case manager who referred them to existing activity or bought in activity. The programme took a more 'holistic' view of the participant so we could be doing stress management/ health and wellbeing/ confidence building etc.  In Glasgow the provider did arts and crafts,  which I thought was ironic as CLD has been steered away from that sort of thing! In the employability world it's called  barrier removal/ positive activity :-).   I've attached the initial needs assessment used in the programme which helped form an action plan, which gets regularly updated, you could adapt it to suit. (You may have this already or it may not be what you're looking for, so apologies if this is the case).

Cheers

Jane

This certainly is a challenge. Although I am not in a position to do this through work, as I am part of a Community Development team, I have the opportunity to do this as part of a charity that I set up 4 years ago (Leaflet attached). It reflects the approach of doing something practical, gives real work experience, while allowing 'shoulder-to-shoulder' conversations to take place that develop confidence, self worth and mutual respect, team work and people skills, time keeping and routines, etc.