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Care Leavers – Further Employment Support Information

Finding employment is important for all of us. The services below are ready to help with practical advice and support:

Orkney Islands Council

Guaranteed interviews for care leavers as long as they meet the minimum required standards of the post applied for.

NHS Orkney

Guaranteed interviews for care leavers as long as they meet the minimum required standards of the post applied for

CLDE / Youth Services
  • Employability programmes linked to the transition to adulthood, including work experience opportunities.
  • Delivery of confidence-building programmes and targeted projects to enhance employability skills.
CITB (Construction Industry Training Board)

Construction Apprenticeships for anyone age 16+

SCQF Level 5 and Level 6 qualifications as part of a Modern Apprenticeship across a variety of trades (including Joinery, Brickwork, Scaffolding, Plant Operations, Plant Mechanic etc)

Contact: Francis Sinclair, Apprenticeship Delivery Officer for Orkney, Caithness & Sutherland

07771343712

Francis.sinclair@citb.co.uk

Or

Jacqueline Argo

Apprenticeship Delivery Manager

07826 955905

Jacq.argo@citb.co.uk

Skills Development Scotland

Skills Development Scotland offer an all-age careers advice and guidance service. We provide assistance and support with career planning, goal setting and job seeking. We aim to develop and promote Career Management Skills which will help individuals achieve success. Our careers advisers are based in schools across Orkney and in the Kirkwall Centre on Albert Street.

Contact: Kirkwall@sds.co.uk

01856 872460

Blide Trust Housing First for Youth (HF4Y)

Targeted housing support for Care Leavers (includes support to secure and maintain employment)

Contact: Leah Bliss

Leah@blidetrust.org

Tel : 07516245449

Blide Trust Care Experienced Young People Project

Targeted scaffolding support to Care Leavers and Care Experienced Young people, including  support with job seeking, preparing for interviews and paid employment opportunities in Blide café as well as the ‘purposeful Blide’ project.

Contact: Jaden Browne

Jaden@blidetrust.org

Tel: 07719732999

Developing the Young Workforce

We work with young people up to the age of 25 years, to access employer engagement opportunities to help develop employability skills. We can support with accessing work placement opportunities.

Contact: orkneydyw@uhi.ac.uk

Tel: 01856 569352

Employability Orkney

Employability Orkney is a registered charity that was established in 2005 to help provide a range of sustainable supported employment, training and volunteering opportunities for those with a barrier to gaining employment. This broad remit includes individuals with a learning disability, physical disability, mental health needs, alcohol/substance misuse needs, ex-offenders, care leavers, long-term unemployed and anyone who experiences a disadvantage in entering the labour market.

Contact: reception@employabilityorkney.co.uk

01856 876650

All age Disability Employability service

Connect

Connect works with young people (15-21) who find things particularly challenging at this transition point in life and takes referrals from partner agencies, young people or their carers who feel that more individualised support to build confidence and skills is what may be needed.  

Programmes are strength and interest based and may include small group work, supported volunteering and links with other services and agencies. 

Contact: karen.mack@vaorkney.org.uk

01856 872897

Who Cares? Scotland

Advocacy can offer support to care-experienced young people to:

  • Help them articulate their employment goals
  • Provide assistance to engage with services offering employment supports, opportunities and pathways.