Greater Wessex Lone Parent Support

The aim of the Lone Parent Support provision is to provide an innovative approach to tackling real or perceived barriers to help claimants overcome their personal challenges and move them into employment whilst equipping them for the ‘digital by default’ age.

The provision will target claimants residing in Greater Wessex Jobcentre Plus District and will be split into the following CPAs:- CPA1: Wiltshire and Dorset, including:- Devizes, Bournemouth & Winton, Poole & Blandford, Weymouth & Bridport, Swindon, Chippenham, Trowbridge, Salisbury.

CPA2: Hampshire and the Isle of Wight including:- Gosport, Alton, Borden and Petersfield (as one location), Eastleigh, Farnborough, Winchester, Hythe, Havant, Andover, Cosham, Portsmouth, Aldershot, Southampton, Lymington, Basingstoke, Fareham, Ryde (IOW), Newport (IOW).

The training will address • Confidence Building – placing an emphasis on transferable skills developed through parenting or previous employment, identifying personal skills, capturing and assessing individual attributes, values and achievements • Increasing motivation levels and life skills, challenge and inspire claimants whilst allowing them to develop techniques to cope with new and difficult situations – a ‘can do’ attitude • Increase the employability factor of claimants by developing effective workplace behaviours, attitude and ‘soft skills’ such as self-presentation; communication skills; punctuality; time keeping and management; • Digital Needs – Setting up email, and a Universal Jobsearch account, delivering training on navigation and access. • Improving basic IT skills • CVs including preparation, order and content, what makes a good or bad CV • Interviews - preparing for interviews, dress code, first impressions, interview skills • Applications – completion of application forms, understanding what makes a good application, understanding why CVs and applications are rejected, digital recruitment methods, assessment days • Identification of realistic “jobs for me” – strong element of job searching including using UJ, transferable skills in job context, • Identifying the advantages of employment, pros and cons, gains and sacrifices. • Setting short, medium and long term goals and related milestones. • Finding and getting a job – preparing covering letters, time management, impact of work i.e. managing childcare, arranging child care provision, budgeting, travel to work, dealing with emergencies, local labour market vacancies, what employers look for as some customers have never worked and have no idea of expectations • Provide an overview of the local labour market, so that claimants can make informed decisions on their next steps towards employment; • This list is not exhaustive and potential suppliers are encouraged to be innovative.