Invite, Intraining, NCG, Jobcentre Plus Work Programme, Leicester

This week saw my first interview with my advisor at intraining for the new Work Programme.

I took the train to Leicester and arrived a little bit early, its important never to be late.

I met my advisor Richard nice chap also a immigrant from down south.

We had a chat about some of the issues around me finding employment. The time of the session was restricted due to a heavy case load and it appears a reduced number of staff. I would say there was less than half the desks since my last experience of Intraining. Richard is also a trained first aider and referred to large multi story car park, visible from the office window, during his first week he assisted a man who had jumped from the top and landed in the Intraining car park. Fortunately nothing like that happened whilst I was visiting.

The toilet has one of those horrible blue lights meant to make it difficult for drug user to shoot up.

My second appointment was made, I was handed a pack containing three leaflets. Then it was off to see Martin the receptionist who refunded the £13 travel cost.
Here is the content of the three leaflets that explains the programme. The first one explains the steps of the programme. Stereotypical photographs included 'Men are mechanics and Woman cleaners.

We're here to Help.

All you need to know about the Work Programme, delivered by Intraining.

What is the Work Programme?

The Work Programme is the Government's scheme to help long term
unemployed people back into sustained work. It has been developed to
provide a tailored and flexible approach to a wide variety of customers
including those on Jobseekers Allowance and Employment and support
Allowance.

At Intraining we are working with Jobcentre Plus to deliver the right
service to you, enabling you to complete a journey back into work,
finding you the right job that you can keep for a long time.

Work Programme is part funded by the European Social Fund (ESF)
and aims to help tackle worklessness, support the most disadvantaged
and provide the very best for social inclusion. You will receive information
on ESF when you have your first appointment.

Who are Intraining?

Intraining, part of NCG, is one of the largest national training providers
in the UK, with a network of over 50 regional offices across England,
Scotland, and Wales. We work with a diverse mix of people, ranging from
school leavers just starting out on an Apprenticeship to the long-term
unemployed who are looking for a job.

In training will be responsible for the delivery of Work Programme to
you. The Intraining team will be working closely with you, and the
employers within your local area, to give you the best chance of finding
a job and keeping it.

We have developed a flexible, tailored and innovative approach
to getting you back into work and support you to stay in work. We
know that you will need dedicated help and support that is tailored
to your needs.

Intraining customer journey Explained.

The diagram gives you a clear view of your journey, but we will wxplain
some of the stages in more detail to help you understand our approach.

At Intraining we need to find out
what your individual barriers are and
understand the best way to get you
motivated and enthusiastic about looking
for work and then supporting you once
you are in work to keep that job.

In order to deliver the best service we
can for all  our customers, we have
developed a customer journey that you
will go through. However this journey will
be different for each and everyone of
you, as it is developed with your needs
in mind.

The stages give you a progression route
to work with. This helps you understand
how far you have travelled and what you
need to do next. This is
a five-stage process that you can move
through at the pace that suits you.

Stage 1. invite

Referral to Work Programme

This is your official handover to the Work Programme as part of your agreement with Jobcentre Plus to find work. Intraining (NCG) is the organisation that will be responsible for working with you on your route back into work. You will have spoken to one of our team already who booked your first appointment with your Employment Advisor.

Stage 2. Invigorate

Welcome to Intraining (NCG)

This is your official welcome into the Work Programme from Intraining. You will be sitting down with your Employment Advisor at the first meeting for them to get to know you and for you to get to know them and the Intraining office you are in. You will be shown around the facilities. At this point you will be given your welcome Pack, which will have all the information you need to start your journey back into work with us. At
this stage your employment advisor and you will have a better understanding of the next steps, identifying the options you can take up at this stage or whether you are ready to move through to the Inspire or Intensify stages. To finish this stage you will agree a Career Progression Plan that you and your  Employment Advisor will go through and then update as you progress.

Stage 3. inspire

Gathering momentum and addressing barriers

At the invigorate stage you have been working closely with your Employment Advisor to understand your barriers and work out the next steps in your personal journey. This stage is about undertaking activities that will enable you to be prepared for going into work. You will be working through all the actions on your Career Progression Plan; going to group sessions or working on one of e-learning platforms to be ready for applying for jobs. You might need some specialist support to help you overcome certain barriers, our Employment Advisors will be with you every step of the way giving you the support and guidance you need.

Stage 4. intensify

Preparing for Employment

Intensify is the stage in which you start to prepare for work. You have got everything you need to be someone that can succeed in the job market. All you need now is more practical and intensive support; It may be through work placements, learning on the job in  work environments. It could be more proactive and dedicated work on your CV and job applications, this stage is all about you being 'job-ready'

Stage 5. independence

Our Support doesn't stop

You have now got your job. this is the most critical part for Intraining, as we want you to keep that job and enjoy it. We know how different it can feel to be in work, we are here to help you settle in the best way you can. We also do our best to work with your new employer. We will look at the job you are doing and assess whether you need further training, and working with your employer we can make this happen. We know this is an important change for you in your life, and we will be able to give you as much advice as we can to keep you motivated and excited.

The Key things to Remember on your journey with us are:

You Employment Advisor is your main contact, they're your mentor
and coach throughout the process.

You will be given a Career Progression Plan that you work through
and update with your Employment Advisor.

You will have regular, ongoing contact with you Employment Advisor
and will engage in activity every two weeks.

What is our ultimate goal for you?

It's simple really. We want you to have the best opportunity to find a job,
that you likem and support you in keeping that job and progressing in it.
We know it will be tough at times and that is why our service has been
developed to understand your needs better and then help you break
down those barriers in the best possible way.

Our intention is to give you access to activities, tasks and sessions
on a one-to-one or group basis that will enable you to become more
employable, but more importantly mor confident and enthusiastic
about yourself.

Some Important Information to helo you on your journey.

Online Diagnostic and Skills and Attitudes (Empro)
This is a series of questions that will help you understand your current
situation a little better. This will then inform the Career Progression Plan
and provide a structure and flexible timetable of work and activity for you to
complete to move closer to being job-ready.

Career Progression Plan.
The Employment Advisor will use the informtion gathered during their
conversations with you and from your Empro session, to create your  Career
Progression Plan. This will include specific and measurable actions and
clear concise goals. This plan will be continually reviewed and updated
throughout your journey, even when you have found a job, to help you keep it.

Discount Card.
Intraining will reward your journey back into work by providing a card that will
enable you to to receive discounts on purchases for a variety of areas. This
card is to reward you for your journey back into work and will be yours for the
duration of the programme and beyond.

(I think beyond is good no point in discount if you don't have a job and money to spend)


Getting in Touch with intraining

We want to ensure you keep in touch with us, we want to talk to you at every stage of the journey and want you to talk to us if you need to, for whatever reason. The number to call is 033 0123 1200
Open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Click Here To See Leaflet Two Welcome to InFIT.
Your Guide to our motivational and goal
setting fitness course - InFIT.

Click Here To See Leaflet Three We Hear You
Our Customer Charter.
Your rights and responsibilities while
you are with us.