How does the Work Programme actually work ….?

A client of BHT was put on the Work Programme. She said it prevented her from moving forward in her life. She was required to do newspaper and online searches for jobs, three hours a day. She said she received no training and could not talk about her support needs. She said she became increasingly stressed and had nowhere to turn.

She then heard of BHT’s Intern Programme. Our Intern Co-ordinator, Rob Robinson, negotiated with the Work Programme provider that she be able to do a placement through the Intern Programme. Her support needs were identified, as were the skills she had, and a placement was made available for her at our Advice Centre in Queens Road where she was encouraged and appreciated.

Within five to six weeks her growing confidence was noted. She absorbed the learning opportunities made available to her, and she thrived on the culture and work habits. She was encouraged to become more involved with the work and was valued by her colleagues.

She began telling Rob Robinson: “I can do stuff” and “Someone might want me to work for them”.  Through her own efforts, without being forced, she looked for jobs, received training on CV writing and interview skills. She was successful with the first job she applied for, and is now working in a private solicitors practice in Brighton.

Each year BHT commits £40,000 of our charitable funds to the Intern Programme, and this is matched by £35,000 from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

Depending on how long she stays in work, the Work Programme provider will receive between £10k and £13k. BHT will receive nothing.

Comparing the Work Programme and the BHT Intern Programme

Like many other charities, BHT made a decision very early on not to become directly involved in the Work Programme. Our decision was based on our assessment that it would not work, for participants and for charities like us.  The experience of many of our partner organisations, most of whom have now withdrawn from direct involvement with the Work Programme, appears to have vindicated our decision. An honourable exception, and one doing excellent work on bahalf of its clients is the Newhaven Community Development Association.

We co-operate with some Work Programme providers such as Avanta.  It is not that we oppose the objectives of the Work Programme. On the contrary, it is our commitment to providing real opportunities to our clients that drives our work regarding employment and what was behind our decision to set up the BHT Intern Programme.

BHT has committed a significant sum of its own charitable funds in our programme. We are extremely grateful to the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation for its three year investment in the programme.

This week I heard more about the personal development and action planning undertaken by our Interns, and how we didn’t get it right at the outset. I was surprised by what I learned.

All participants in the Intern Programme were prepared to do job searches and applications. However, the majority initially shied away from actually doing them. This isn’t because they were workshy or not interested in getting employment. On the contrary, they are highly motivated and keen to develop and use their skills.

Common feedback, when asked why they hadn’t done a job search, was being intimidated and bewildered by the array of choice when doing job searches.  The more they look, the more reluctant they were to apply. To overcome this we arranged one-to-one sessions where our Intern Coordinator, Rob Robinson, provided an encouraging helping hand. It is a time-consuming process, but time that Rob feels is well spent. By doing it with the Interns, confidence is built along with the necessary IT skills, and their fear is overcome. Rob says that he helps reframe in their minds what they can do as opposed to what they can’t do.

There was a similar experience when it came to doing actual job applications. Rob initially took them through a mock application process . He was aware that they were not happy with this exercise and several became distressed. One said the sight of an application form made him feel physically sick.

Several Interns expressed a fear of the empty boxes on most application forms, and the fear that they would never be considered for the post. As a result when it came to doing an actual application, they put it after the last minute and then it was rushed. One individual said that such was his past experience of failure that, to get the necessary courage to proceed, he first needed to get drunk, with predictable consequences.

As a result, Rob evolved a new bespoke approach, delivered on a one-to-one basis which drew on the rich, diverse experience of people who had for various reasons become very disempowered. He said that many did not know what they were good at even though it was obvious to him.

Rob described an approach with 13 steps which included spreading out application forms on the floor and into different sections, first dealing with the standard questions around employment history, references, etc, and then underlining in the remainder of the form precisely what was being asked for. And so it goes on, breaking it down into smaller, bite-size chunks. This approach has been successful and of the first 16 who have been supported by Rob in this way, within six months, six had already got into paid employment. This compares favourably with the achievements of the Work Programme.

Rob, who knows a lot more about this than I do, says that if we are serious in helping people into employment they need small, bespoke employment schemes. He says that groups, even small ones, are limited in their effectiveness. Participants don’t want to reveal their lack of knowledge or their fear in front of others.

I wonder how anyone in a group of up to 30 individuals have any hope of doing anything meaningful, no matter how committed the Work Programme provider might be.

One thing that Rob did not say was that jobseekers need someone on their side, someone who will champion their cause, and sensitively nurtured them. In Rob, those on the BHT Intern Programme have such a champion and cheerleader to boot!

BHT signs up to the Living Wage

The National Living Wage Campaign is 10 years old in November.  The Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce is spearheading a campaign to encourage businesses to sign up to a pledge that they are paying their staff a ‘Living Wage’ (currently £7.20 per hour in Brighton; it is £7.60 in London).  This amount is higher than the National Minimum Wage (£6.19 per hour for over 21’s from October 2012) as it reflects the true cost of living in the City.

Here is a brief overview provided by Susi Doherty who is the Campaigns Manager for the Chamber:

• Many companies have signed up to say that they pay the Living Wage over the years. Information can be found here: http://www.livingwage.org.uk
• Many Campaigns are running throughout the country. Typically for Brighton, we are the only area where the local Chamber of Commerce is running it, to ensure a business-led approach (usually the Local Authority run it).
• The plan is to have a Brighton & Hove Living Wage website and logo that signed-up businesses will receive for marketing purposes by December.
• Sign-up is simple and free.

BHT has had just two posts (3 employees: cleaners/kitchen porters) that were paid just a little below the living wage.  We have now rectified that and I am delighted that we will be signing up to say that now all BHT employees are paid the Living Wage.

But we must do more, and I am pleased to say that other than less than five employees now get paid at least the London Living Wage.  Watch this space.

For further information, click this Living Wage Campaign link or email Susi Doherty.

BHT Intern Programme: The views of an Intern

There was a mixed response to the recent item in the Brighton Argus regarding BHT’s Intern Programme. I responded on Twitter and on this blog, but yesterday I received the following from someone on the Programme:

“My internship…

“Before moving to Brighton & Hove, I had no idea of Community and Voluntary Sector (CVS) or even the idea of community. Having completed my degree in philosophy I had always worked in the private sector whilst being conscious of the fact I needed to be beneficial to our society. Having managed a business for four years working round the clock, I burnt myself out and made myself ill, all for the aim of making money.

“I moved to Brighton and stopped working due to personal issues. I wanted to take advantage of the situation to change my career path. I wanted to work in the CVS in order to add value to my life by improving the lives of others. I started out as a volunteer in my local community group. I quickly moved on to organising large events and running a local community magazine. I felt that this sector added value to my life and enabled me to help others. Due to medical reasons I have been unable to work professionally but I’m very eager to get over these issues and start to work in the CVS in a capacity that best suits my skills and values.

“Without any recognised qualifications and having been out of the professional work environment for a long time, I needed a platform to achieve my goal of getting back into work in this sector. Brighton Housing Trust’s Intern program is the perfect opportunity.

“Before starting my internship I took on some voluntary work, helping a small charity aimed at improving the area in Hove. I helped organise large events, creating a community magazine and running the community café. I learnt a large amount by volunteering and it gave my life a sense of purpose. The government’s new volunteering policy, expecting people to volunteer in order to receive their benefits or social housing, so long as it’s managed correctly, it’s a great idea. Volunteering certainly gave my life focus and opened my mind to new possibilities as well as revealing hidden skills I never knew I had.

“There have been articles written arguing that BHT has taken advantage of these new legislations regarding their new Intern program. As I mentioned above volunteering really does pay you back in kind but the intern program is a totally different kettle of fish. With the intern I may not be getting paid financially but the level of precision in BHT’s delivery will certainly lead to getting a paid job in the sector I wish to work in.

“The intern application was managed in a very professional manner with a process that emulates a real job application. I had to give references, fill application forms, as well as have several interviews and meetings both with the Intern co-ordinator and the team of the service I applied to do the intern with. Since I started I have been treated with the upmost respect as a valid team member.

“Right from the off, personal development plans have been implemented, guidelines set and frequent supervisions. The supervisions are a key part of the internship. They provide the opportunity to have an open and honest discussion with both myself and my mentor about how I’m progressing, work on my personal development plan and discuss other matters such as training opportunities to further increase my employability. This professionalism and structure is often missing in voluntary roles

“The team are very understanding with regards to personal issues an example being my arthritis. They help by going through my difficulties and creating solutions and coping strategies. Not only that but all of the staff members have very friendly and eager to help whenever I get stuck or don’t understand something fully.

“I certainly don’t feel that BHT are taking advantage of me or any of the other interns. It’s a reciprocal relationship and the more you put in the more you get out. I’m fully confident that by the time my six months intern is finished, I’ll have a fantastic CV and a great amount of relevant experience to maximise my employability, which is obviously exactly what both parties aim to achieve.”

BHT’s Intern Programme is responding to the needs of BHT clients

Over the last few days, following an article in the Brighton Argus, there have been some comments made about BHT’s decision to launch its Intern Programme.  Of course with the scandalous revelations this weekend regarding unpaid labour and the stewarding of Jubilee events, the focus undoubtedly would return to the merits and, more to the point, negative sides of internships.

One critic on Twitter has written “so shocked Brighton Housing Trust, which has an honourable history promoting social justice, is joining workfare – why? Unpaid internship undermines labour markets – flooding job market with unpaid work is no solution to unemployment!”

BHT is offering 40 unpaid internships to its current and former clients. We wish they could be paid positions but the current economic climate does not allow this. It is our ambition to pay not just the National Minimum Wage, but to pay the Brighton Living Wage which is higher.

This is not “workfare”. Under workfare, recipients have to meet certain participation requirements to continue to receive their welfare benefits.  An important criterion for our programme is that participants engage voluntarily in the programme.  We are not engaged with any of the government backed schemes.

Those who are taking up the opportunities we are offering are current and former clients of BHT. Many of them will have had years of unemployment.  They will have addressed the causes that led them, for example, to homelessness, addiction, and mental ill health.  While they are able and talented, they lack experience of the workplace. Gaining such experience makes a difference between long-term unemployment and securing jobs.

We didn’t launch the BHT Intern Programme without first consulting clients and making sure that they were happy with what we were proposing. Without the support of potential beneficiaries we would not have made to the investment to ensure that this is a good programme.

Many employers, including BHT, are spoilt for choice when it comes to filling vacancies in the current market.  BHT has a commitment that 15% of our staff will be former clients by the end of 2013.  Currently 30 (12%) of our staff are former clients.  With the Intern Programme I anticipate that we will easily exceed that 15% target.

The BHT Intern Programme is up and running, and doing great things

BHT has, after many months planning, launched our Intern Programme.  It is funded by the Esmee Fairburn Foundation and BHT itself, and provides opportunities for up to 40 people per year to take up an internship in BHT.  The programme has been designed to enable participants to gain the skills and experience needed to increase their employability.

Internship opportunities are on offer in BHT projects in Brighton & Hove, Eastbourne and Hastings. Interns will complete a six month work placement and are supported by a trained mentor.  Each participant has a tailored training programme that focuses on the skills employers look for.

The programme is open to BHT clients and those who have experienced long term unemployment or those who lack the skills and experience to break into the job market.

We are lucky to have appointed an experienced manager from within BHT, Rob Robinson, as the Intern Programme Co-ordinator.  He has said: “The programme will give participants the edge when entering what is an incredibly competitive job market. Our interns will graduate with CV boosting skills and experience and will have evidenced their commitment. The structured training programme incorporates key employment skills such as team working, communication and problem solving”.

The idea was mine, and I originally proposed the initiative following successful internships undertaken by my own daughter, locally and in London, in her year out before going to university.  Having seen the benefits and confidence that Clare gained from her experience as an intern, I questioned who was creating such opportunities for BHT clients. I concluded that unless we did something, our clients would continue to be excluded and marginalised.

We are immensely grateful to the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation for their confidence and generosity in part funding this programme.  The challenge for BHT now is to ensure that, having gained experience as interns, our clients can progress to paid employment.

For more information please contact Rob Robinson on 07827 803102.

Real Life Stories: David’s Story

This is the third in a series of posts that record the experiences of clients of BHT.

“David was made redundant after being employed by the same company for years. He was unable to find employment and couldn’t keep up with rent payments for his private rented accommodation.

“Having never been in this situation before, he was not aware of claiming benefits and he exhausted his redundancy pay. Within the space of four months David found himself street homeless. He was sleeping rough, usually in the tunnels underneath Brighton Pier or empty phone boxes or the shelter at Brighton bus station.

“He was very vulnerable and was subjected to assault, robbery and hate crimes. This had a dramatic effect on both his physical and mental health and he was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety.

“David was referred to the Accommodation for Work project by First Base. He attended weekly one to one sessions with his project worker and they developed an Employment Plan. The project supported him to complete two part time I.T courses. David decided to do these courses to open himself up to a wider job market, increasing his chances of securing employment.

“The project referred David to Business Action on Homelessness, and he completed a two week work placement. The management of the company was so impressed by his hard work, ability to learn quickly, and positive attitude, that he was offered a full time permanent job straight after the placement. David continues to work there full time.

“He saved up enough money for a deposit and first month’s rent and he has secured his own private rented tenancy.

“In a year, David went from rough sleeping, suffering from anxiety, and feeling very far away from his old life to having a new career, getting his confidence back, and feeling positive about the future.”

Real Life Stories: Sue’s Story

This is the second in a series of Real Life Stories, the experiences of BHT clients in their own words:

“I am at last writing to you to inform you of how Homeworks has helped me over the past 18 months.

“In September, 2010 I experienced a period of severe clinical depression which necessitated me leaving my job, and therefore the accommodation that was tied to that job. I had minimal input from the Mental Health Teams despite two suicide attempts in a week, but I was given a Homeworks leaflet.

“On contacting Homeworks, I met Mandy, who instantly facilitated looking into my options. She linked me in with Housing Benefit and Employment Support Allowance, which was something I had absolutely no prior experience or knowledge of.

“I quickly moved in with relatives, after my landlady staged a break-in at the cottage I was soon to vacate, in order to encourage me to move out quicker than the four week notice period. I eventually moved in with my Mother, with my 2 children, to a rented house in Eastbourne and thanks to Mandy’s advice added my name to the tenancy which then permitted me to claim Housing Benefit, facilitating a level of independence. She also suggested applying for Disability Living Allowance, which was granted. I used the first payment, which was back-dated to September, to pay for a week’s respite at Forresters in Southampton, again Mandy’s idea, which was a really useful break.

“Mandy helped me to navigate the Mental Health Teams, which was something I just could not manage, and liaised between the acute and community services, which at that time did not appear to communicate, in order to find out where I was on the list for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and which list I was on; a list I had been added to at least a year earlier before I became acutely unwell.

“I saw Mandy weekly and provided a huge amount of emotional and practical support. She sorted out all my Benefit applications, which was further complicated by divorce proceedings and imminent sale of my part of the marital home. We used the Eastbourne Advice Centre on a number of occasions to clarify matters relating to Benefits. I would not have been capable of any of this without Mandy’s help and support.

“At this time Mandy also supported me through making a complaint to the NHS regarding the lack of mental health care I was experiencing. Having written to the NHS Trust and getting no reply, I eventually wrote to my MP, Norman Baker, detailing my experiences, who contacted the Trust on my behalf. Mandy and myself subsequently attended two meetings, one with an Acute Services Manager and one with the ‘Adult Mental Health Recovery Team’ Manager, and ultimately received a written unreserved apology from the Trust.

“Since contacting my M.P. the care I have received has been good, with regular support from a Clinical Psychologist for several months, followed by a course of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and regular follow up with a Consultant Psychiatrist.

“Again, Mandy’s support was instrumental in pushing to get the mental health support I needed, and which was not forth-coming until I complained. She helped me to stay calm enough to get my point across when I was finding everything very difficult.

“In March 2011, my Mother needed to move on and I became homeless. Mandy supported me through submitting a Homeless Application, which was accepted by Lewes District Council. I moved to a series of Bed and Breakfast accommodation, to Seaford for a weekend, to Jevington Gardens, Eastbourne for a couple of months, then to Hanson Road, Newhaven, for three months. Mandy supported me through all these moves, which were stressful, unsettling, expensive and a bureaucratic ordeal, as each move required a new Housing Benefit application, requiring new evidence etc. At Hanson Road, I managed to persuade the Council to allow my 2 cats to be returned to me, by supplying a “cat reference” and supporting letter from my GP, which again were Mandy’s ideas.

“At each step Mandy’s gentle insistence that all the options be looked at, gave me the feeling that I could make the decisions regarding my future, which was very difficult due to my mental health problems at the time. She facilitated my independence when I felt very low and unable to mentally juggle all the issues that were immersing me.

“In October 2011, I moved to a three-bed house in Newhaven, and am currently on a starter tenancy, with the full likelihood of going on to a secure tenancy. I have a house that suits my family’s needs, is affordable, and close to my children’s school in Seaford. Mandy’s support at every step of the way has enabled me to get to a point where I am again living independently and in receipt of Benefits that are enabling me to recover from my mental health problems.

“I cannot thank Mandy and Homeworks enough for the help and support that I received during a very difficult time. Without that help, I have no idea where I would be.”

Real Life Stories: Lesley’s Story

I often receive letters and notes from clients of BHT’s services that tell real life stories about how they have seen their lives changed by the support, advice and encouragement of our staff.  I am planning to publish these accounts, with the agreement of the individual concerned, on this blog. The words are theirs, not mine:

“I am a single woman who found myself homeless and unemployed due to a combination of circumstances, this was not something that I had expected or planned for.

“I found my way into your service by speaking to the Eastbourne Job Centre who advised me to approach BHT Eastbourne Advice, I was unsure of the processes involved but received help and advice from the receptionist who made an appointment for me to speak to the accommodation advisor.

“Within days I had a roof over my head and a support package provided by Firm Foundations and Homework’s that has helped me to get back on my feet.

“By having a roof over my head and the support of the organisation I have been able to achieve many of my goals, I am now self-employed and although not earning fortunes I am more independent financially and more confident for the future.

“I believe that the opportunities given to me by BHT have been life changing, I am now looking forward to finding my own accommodation in the private rented sector and rebuilding my life.

“I strongly believe in what BHT are doing to help the homeless and I am looking to become a volunteer with the Tenancy Centre to help other people.

“Thank you.”

BHT Intern Programme

Last year BHT secured funding from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation to launch its Intern Programme. The Intern Programme will boost the chances of those people embarking on a work career after, in many cases, years on the margins of society.

It is our aim that at any one time 40 Interns will be working across the organisation (on six-month placements for a minimum of two days a week) gaining valuable workplace experience and undertaking a tailored training programme.

Our vision is for the BHT Intern Programme to be recognised as an ‘Academy of Excellence’, where a reference from the Programme is regarded as a significant endorsement by future employers in the locality. We want to overcome prejudice of potential employers, so that the training and expertise gained through the Programme combined with the life-experience of our Interns will provide a blend of experience and expertise that cannot be bought.

BHT as an organisation will benefit from furthering our Mission to “create opportunities and promote change”. We will gain from the experience of clients, embedding their experience within staff teams. BHT, and other local employers, will also benefit from workforce planning, where we are training up the next generation of staff including in the care and support sector.

Our existing staff will benefit from engaging with former clients as peers, challenging prejudice and testing individual commitments that change is possible. Staff will also benefit from the opportunities for career development. They will receive training and practical experience in the mentoring and supervision of Interns, together with a small salary enhancement for the added responsibility of supervising an Intern.

The target group for the Programme will predominately be men and women who have been clients of BHT’s projects (or other local projects working with our client groups), who face multiple barriers to employment, including poor educational attainment, lack of confidence, self esteem, lack of workplace experience and workplace discipline and facing strong competition from people recently unemployed.

We will expect those applying to become Interns to have addressed any issues that might have led to homelessness or unemployment. For example, if someone has had an addiction, a prerequisite of joining the programme might be that interns must have followed a recognised abstinence-based treatment programme and/or have been clean for a period of at least two years.

There will be a range of placements available, initially within BHT projects (possibly with other local agencies once established) and each placement will be advertised with a full description of the role and its requirements. Each placement will have a dedicated, specially trained mentor to work with the Intern from within the existing staff team they will be working with.

Interns can either be referred into the programme by staff or refer themselves. They will need to complete an application form for the placement they would like to undertake and have an interview. If successful the placement will be organised with the Intern, HR, the Projects’ Manager, the staff mentor and the training department.

The Interns will gain on the job work experience (for at least two days a week) focussing on building confidence and self esteem, introducing and explaining workplace processes, PC and internet training and skills specific to the placement.

Whilst in the placement they will be required to produce a personal development plan which will be regularly reviewed and updated with their mentor.

All interns will be expected to attend a tailored training and induction programme to introduce BHT’s processes and inform around health and safety, professional boundaries and other areas relevant to their role.

Interns will also be supported to undertake further training within BHT or with other external learning providers such as City College, Brighton and Hove. The type of further training could include NVQ and City & Guilds courses, where funding will allow.

Successful completion will result in a placement certificate, a reference, a portfolio of BHT training courses undertaken and a possible job-related qualification.

I am really excited about this programme and I am sure it will help change the lives of those on it.