The Hub Outreach Case study - John

Participant

John

Name of Employability Provider

The Hub Outreach

Background

This participant registered with us in September 2017. He had previously worked as a computer programmer for a large company in Aberdeen. Unfortunately his mental health took a turn for the worse and he found himself unemployed and claiming Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Our client attended a medical and he was found fit for work, even though he was struggling with severe anxiety and in the past had been dependent on alcohol.

How it happened / the process

He began claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance and registered with Karen at our Blairgowrie Outreach service. They began looking together at areas that he could improve on, such as updating his CV, benefit advice and confidence building through interview skills workshops.

At the Hub, we offer a job brokerage service where prospective employers can use our services to fill vacancies. An employer contacted Karen to see if there were any potential candidates that would be able to fill a Warehouse Operative position. Karen suggested this client, explained his background and mentioned that he would also be a suitable Wage Subsidy candidate. The employer was willing to bring him in for an interview.

What were the challenges and how did we help?

Our client was fearful that his alcohol issue would return as he was spiralling further and further into anxiety and depression. Our Blairgowrie Outreach Service supported him, encouraged him with skills-building and helped him get the confidence he needed to move forward.

Outcome and next steps

After meeting this client, the employer was keen to offer him a subsidised position within their establishment which will hopefully lead to full-time employment. Our client had explained that he had previously worked in programming and he has been given the additional duty of updating their computer system.

This opportunity has given him the chance to move forward positively into the world of work.

Who can come to The Hub / ESF for support?

Anyone can come to The Hub centre for support into work, and if you face two or more serious barriers to employment, our ESF Employability Pipeline team can give you targeted support.

For example, you might have left school after 4th Year and be keen to work but not know where to start. You might have been made redundant and be struggling to find your place in society again. You might be tackling issues around mental health or be long-term unemployed. Or you might be nearing retirement age and finding that there aren’t as many doors opening to you.

How does our service benefit people? What can it do to help you?

We help you to find out what you’d like to do next. That could be getting back into the same sort of job you’ve had before, or doing something completely new and different. We encourage you to think outside the box and try new opportunities. We have lots of great ideas, and we have good relationships with supportive, welcoming employers.

We help you to believe in yourself and develop your skills and confidence, so that you will feel ready to take the next step.

Karen Henderson, ESF Employment Support Advisor, says: “I like to see people coming in every week, and moving forward, and their confidence is building and they’ve got a real passion for something that we’ve talked about. I’ve said to them, try thinking outside the box, what about this, and they’ve never thought about that before. And if they get a job, that’s fantastic. Or they might go to college, they might want to get back into studying. I like just seeing the change in people.”

Any new projects or developments coming soon?

Karen says: “I’d like to continue my work with homeless people, delivering Employability skills. I’d like to do group sessions for anyone who’s interested, too, so that our clients can meet and share experiences.”

Lesley adds, “We offer Skills Academies in Construction and Hospitality but I’d like to develop them in other areas of work. I’d also like to work more closely with Criminal Justice, to support those with criminal records to move on and find work. We’d also like to go out and target groups of clients and invite them to use the service.”

How can you get Employability support from The Hub?

If you’re looking to move into work, volunteering or training, the easiest way is to pop in and visit us, at 31-33 South Street, or call 01738 459609. We are open from 9.30am to 4.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (9.30am – 12.30pm on Wednesdays). You can just pop in – you don’t need an appointment.

We’ll have an initial chat to find out what you need support with and how we can work together.

If you’re an employer who’d like to work with us or find out more about our Skills Academies, Wage Incentive scheme or Job Match service, please call 01738 459609 or email thehub@pkc.gov.uk.