Employment Support and Training
Case Study: Joe
Background
Joe was 25 and had recently completed a master’s degree in Concept Arts achieving distinction and also a first class honours degree in Computer Character Animation. Our team first met him when he attended our job club at Westfield Farm and he was advised on how to improve his CV and we referred him to our Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) Programme. Joe then met one of our Advisors at Eston Job Centre to further look at Joe’s options, as he needed to secure a work experience placement.
Joe had so much to offer – he was a presentable and well-educated young man, with manners, morals and the desire to do well. After an honest conversation with our advisor about the reality of pursuing a career that would make full use of his degrees in the Tees Valley, we discussed what volunteering and work experience opportunities were available to him at Beyond Housing.
Westfield Farm (our training and resource centre), was suggested as a perfect starting point for volunteering because it is a warm and welcoming environment with supportive colleagues.
Story
On Joe’s first day at Westfield Farm, he immediately felt ‘at home’. He volunteered once a week and the improvement in his confidence was almost immediate. Joe appreciated the level of support and encouragement he received and how he was welcomed into the team.
He went from strength to strength with the support of Westfield Farm, finally finding the confidence to apply for other opportunities. With regular face-to-face catch-ups with his advisor and telephone support when needed, Joe attended a job fair at Middlesbrough College to speak to prospective employers. This is something he would never have dreamed of doing before as his anxiety would have prevented him from walking through the door. He also registered for a customer service course with a local provider, which gave him knowledge and skills to transfer into many employment opportunities.
Outcomes
Through this process, Joe realised he had such a lot to offer an employer and found the confidence to apply for a temporary housing admin position at Beyond Housing. His advisor arranged for an informal chat with a colleague about the role in preparation for his interview, and although he was unsuccessful, he’d impressed the hiring manager so much that he was placed into the talent pool! This was an amazing achievement, especially for someone with little work experience to draw on.
Joe immediately began looking at work experience placements within the service centre and housing teams at Beyond Housing. He was advised this would give him a solid understanding of the roles within those departments – and it would provide him with real work experience ready for future interviews.
The team helped Joe obtain a provisional driving license, so he has a photographic form of ID, supported him with the purchase of professional work clothes ready for when he secures employment and reviewed his CV so he’s ready for future opportunities.
Finally, Joe applied to the NHS Prospects Programme, which is a 12-week work placement at James Cook Hospital.
‘It’s been a pleasure working with you Joe – people like you are the reason why we love our jobs!’