Skills Coaching
Skills Coaching offers one-to-one, long-term support to help you become ‘job ready’ if you need to improve your skills or bring them up-to-date.
The project is for people who are on Job Seekers’ Allowance (JSA), Incapacity Benefit (IB) or Income Support (IS). It gives you the chance to get regular advice and guidance sessions with a trained professional and to take part in any training you need.
When you join the Skills Coaching programme you will meet your skills coach. He or she will talk to you about:
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the skills you have at the moment
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how you can show employers that you have these skills (eg through your CV or in an interview)
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the skills you need to develop
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how to get these skills (eg through a course).
Penny Robinson, the Skills Coaching Development Manager, says: “What we really like about Skills Coaching programme is that what it means by ‘skills’ is very broad. It’s not just about IT skills or communication skills. If you think that you need to develop in other areas, we can look at this – so you could be just as likely to develop your skills through assertiveness training or anger management”.
How your programme is structured and how long it takes will depend on what you need. Most people are likely to receive around eight hours of direct contact with their skills coach. The time you spend on the programme could be anything from six weeks to nine months, depending on what type of development you take part in and when any learning you need is available.
The project is organised by nextstep and Jobcentre Plus, and your Skills Coach will be from a nextstep centre. At the moment the project is only available in some areas of the county, including Sutton, Worksop, Mansfield, Watercourt, Castle Boulevard and Bulwell.
You can take part in Skills Coaching from the time you start to receive Incapacity Benefit, Income Support or Job Seekers’ Allowance. You will receive travel and childcare costs for the time you spend with your skills coach (although not for any time spent on a course).
