General Chat

" Hayley Taylor's job is to persuade single mothers on benefits to go back to work.
The company she works for, A4E, which is helping to tackle the Government's target of getting 70 per cent of lone parents into paid work by 2010, is the largest welfare reform company in the world.

A4E is run by multimillionaire entrepreneur Emma Harrison, who believes her business is 'improving people's lives by getting them into work.'
Until recently, the 700,000 lone parents receiving benefit didn't have to look for work until their youngest child was 16. Soon, they must either work, or be looking for work, once their youngest child is seven.
At Doncaster A4E, Hayley runs a course called Elevate that aims to give lone parents the skills and confidence to enter the workplace and convince them they'll be better off doing so. Cameras follow her group of ten single mothers during their intensive six-week course to prepare them for work"


Any opinions?

some interesting comments on

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/benefit-busters/episode-guide/series-1/episode-1

lol oh go on Angie... ;) I have a job sitting on my hands ( as is well known) so need someone else to say something :)

Rose xx

I didn't watch it as I suspected it might get up my nose a little . I saw the clip on the news this morning and the character of " Pauline " with her pens off of the " League of Gentlemen " sprang into my mind : ))

Angie :)))))))))

I also so wanted to ask the obvious question, where was the contribution of the other parent in all this? I don't dare go further than that or I will have a rant lol,

xx

Edit, posted twice

You'll find this at http://forums.liverpoolecho.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=111413

You may well find it interesting - given that your taxes and mine foot the bill

Sue x

A4E could not organise a p***up in a brewery

I am not saying a word and am sitting on my hands too.!

Hi Dion

I quite understand what you're saying, but before you get too wound up about individual cases and what it costs us, can I suggest you look at the bigger expense

http://forums.liverpoolecho.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=111413

Sue x

I had not run into A4E before ( how I do dislike these glib abbreviations!) , so reading that link with interest Suzian :)

xx

Make your own mind up, Rose

Sue x

Please do Dion

And, while you do, remember that your taxes and mine are paying for this.

Sue x

This is rather interesting , from A4E's vacancies


A4e Job Description and Person Specification. Please note the listing of duties and result areas is not meant to limit staff or be an exhaustive list but a broad indication of the scope of the role.

ROLE TITLE:
BASIC SKILLS TUTOR


REPORTING TO:
BUSINESS MANAGER

A4E DIVISION:
A4e WALES

IS THE POSITION EXEMPT FROM THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ACT AND IS FULL DISCLOSURE REQUIRED?


YES

DOES THIS ROLE REQUIRE A CRB CHECK?

YES

Division Purpose



Purpose of Role

To identify and address clients’ training requirements and barriers to employment.


Key Responsibilities

Key Result Areas
·1 Identify the needs of clients through one-to-one interviews and ensure that identified action points are fed into the training plan and the review process
·2 Ensure that all clients have an individual training schedule to address their training requirements, which links with the training being completed on their work placement
·3 Continual review of client progression to ensure that the training continues to meet their identified needs
·1 Prepare, deliver and review comprehensive lesson plans for all sessions, that address the identified training needs of the client group
·2 Actively gain feedback from clients and other sources, reviewing training content accordingly
·3 Confidently uses varied delivery techniques to engage and stimulate both individuals and client groups and increase client retention. This may include off-site activities.
·4 Dealing with difficult / demanding clients and situations without this being of detriment to the larger group
·5 Has a sound knowledge and understanding of the contractual requirements e.g. client attendance and discipline; ensures A4e’s equal opportunities and health and safety procedures are adhered to, with specific attention to health and safety requirements when organising off-site activities
·6 Completion of all necessary administration e.g. reviews, timesheets, training plans determined by external and internal requirements in line with contractual deadlines
·7 Works with colleagues / hosts to assist clients’ progression towards qualifications, placement opportunities and movement into employment
·8 Roles may vary in some detail between offices and flexibility is a prime requirement of staff.
·9 Carry out any additional duties as reasonably requested by line management



Qualifications


Basic Skills Trainers – Certificate in Literacy and / or Numeracy at minimum

Subject Support level (level 3), Certificate in Education or equivalent


ESOL Trainers – Certificate in
ESOL at minimum Subject Support level (level 3), Certificate in Education or equivalent



Skills


Experience


Detailed contractual understanding

Clearly communicates in a manner appropriate to the group / individual e.g. age, ability, ethnicity

Engages and motivates clients in group and one-to-one sessions

Empathic to the needs of the clients, whilst remaining focused on contractual targets

Organised, using structured lesson plans

Deals with challenging situations whilst remaining calm and in control




Experience of planning and delivering training to mixed ability groups, on a roll-on, roll-off programme

Demonstrable relevant soft skill and / or vocational experience

Numerate and literate


Innovative, prepared to think outside the box in search of new ideas

Committed to continuous improvement – personal and organisational

Experience of completing administration relevant to training role