I have the honour or helping young people plan and prepare for their futures, in my role as Careers and Skills Adviser for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Moving to digital support
I’ve been continuing to engage virtually with students right across the county, setting up sessions within their specialist schools, completing group activities and focused 1:1s online.
The main aim behind these sessions is to help:
- Raise aspirations
- Explore opportunities
- Imagine the possibilities available to people
When we run these sessions, every student is encouraged to identify what they want for their future. We start getting people thinking about:
- How they like to work
- Where they would like to work
- What access they imagine themselves having to community, friends and family
- The level of independence they would like in their life
- How to keep healthy and safe.
This work allows young people to have a voice. All of this information is then shared in their Educational Health Care Plan annual reviews, which are seen by families and key people in their lives. It shapes their decisions and opportunities as they prepare for adulthood.
Action planning is crucial to employment success
Following these sessions, we then begin to action plan. We focus on capturing career journeys, following up on any progression and ensuring the young person has all the support they need during these life transitions. This is all crucial to people’s success.
Additionally, in November 2020 I worked with a range of employers and small local businesses to provide students with an insight into employment. We did this through virtual sessions with employers to groups of students in Fairmead School in Yeovil Somerset, across the week.
Our very own Martin Clayton from Inspired to Achieve also gave an overview of employment, opportunities and shared his employment journey. Again, raising aspirations, presenting opportunities and possibilities through vital employer engagement.
Working with employers to ensure SEND young people are given opportunities
I am lucky to be leading the South Somerset Supported Employment Group, a group with key representatives from local specialist schools, colleges, training providers, DWP, The Careers and Education Company, enterprise advisers, and employers. This group is dedicated to driving forward the agenda of Supported Employment for young people with SEND and are focused on increasing the opportunities in employment in our local area. This will be a significant group to ensure that young people with SEND are considered in the current changing and uncertain employment environment.
Employers and educators need to work together to develop new strategies for recruitment. National research has also shown that young people with learning disabilities are at the most risk of not gaining sustainable employment opportunities.
It is increasingly important that these vulnerable learners are supported effectively and both employers and educators have an important role to play.
Through Somerset Skills and Learning we’ve been successful in delivering workshops for families of young people with SEND in seven local specialist provisions. During April and May 2021, 42 parent and family groups will engage in focused workshops delivered by myself. These provide insight and information to help individuals plan and prepare for the future, to explore and understand employment opportunities, pathways and possibilities. Hence the title ‘Imagine the Possibilities if you had the Opportunities’!
The agenda for ensuring our young people with SEND have a voice, are heard and have aspirations, opportunities and choices is behind all the work I do.
Careers and Skill Advisor
