Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has launched a new scheme to provide bespoke, enhanced employment support for some of its most vulnerable residents.
Connect to Work is a UK government initiative that will be delivered locally by the council’s Work and Skills team, which already provides employment support for residents aged 16+. It will offer ongoing support from specialist coaches to people who face significant barriers or challenges to finding or maintaining work.
The council hopes over 2,000 residents could benefit. This could include:
– Those with disabilities
– Those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
– Former veterans
– Domestic abuse survivors
– Carers
– Care experienced people
– Former offenders
– Refugees
The council says local employers will be key to the scheme’s success by offering job opportunities. All placements and support will be delivered by the Work and Skills team in line with the Supported Employment Quality and Individual Placement and Support frameworks.
Running alongside Connect to Work will be the Welsh Government-funded Trailblazers initiative, which offers funding for new approaches to helping people not only find work, but overcome the personal, physical and emotional barriers that can affect their chances of success.
Initiatives being considered include working with the council’s Youth Engagement and Participation Service to provide employability workshops for young people, and with its Leisure for Life service to offer community-based or virtual interventions to help people improve their physical and mental wellbeing to prepare them for employment.
Cllr Scott Emanuel, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Leisure, said: “Residents in our county borough can face a range of barriers and challenges when it comes to not only starting and maintaining employment, but also being in a position to look for work in the first place.”
“Disability, health, confidence and personal circumstances all contribute to where a person is when it comes to making those first steps.”
“Connect to Work and Trailblazers will, between them, allow our dedicated Work and Skills Team to further expand its remit and work intensively and innovatively with residents to help them to overcome the barriers they may face – and stay in work.”
“Both schemes will be rolled out with the support of partners, including local businesses and employers and we look forward to sharing progress as the schemes roll out.”
The schemes remain in their very early stages. Residents and businesses interested in getting involved are urged to follow the Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Work and Skills Team on Facebook for the latest news and updates.
The Work and Skills Team also offers one-to-one employment mentoring, training courses and skills sessions (many of which lead to an accreditation or qualification), support on using volunteering to gain skills and experience, work with businesses on training and recruitment needs, and bespoke training sessions linked to recruitment drives, such as for teaching assistants, school catering staff and cleaning staff, with guaranteed interviews for successful participants.
