The Employer Liaison Partnership was formed during January 2008 as a sub group of Merthyr Works. During September 2009 Merthyr Works disbanded therefore the Employment Liaison Partnership became a sub group of The Worklessness Steering Group. October 2008, partners met to start an exercise of mapping provision available within the borough to help the citizens of Merthyr Tydfil gain opportunities within Education, Training and Employment.
This information was then populated into a web based directory – a central point of resource to help practitioners support their clients and sign post to the relevant agencies.
The website has been further developed with the intent that it becomes the central point for practitioners, employers and individuals. The information will range from a Partner Directory, Employer Links and Profiles, and employment related activities such as workclubs, vacancies and training available.
The focus of the partnership is to forge strong links with local and national employers to identify vacancies and skills gaps, and work in collaboration to develop training opportunities and share good practice.
Elan Assisted Living Services was established in 2011 and managed by Steve Roberts. Elan is a small residential care home situated in Aberfan and concentrates on helping service user with specific mental health and personal care needs.
Elan Assisted Living Services worked in collaboration with the Employment Liaison Partnership and assisted in the development of the Care Sector Pre employment Course. It was an excellent experience and helps any prospective employees gain a valuable insight into the industry of care.
Both centres concentrate on personal care and support to maintain independence and provide holistic therapies to the more profound disabilities – through meaningful activities. Where practical, service users are encouraged to integrate into the community and develop skills to enable individuals to live as much as possible independently.
Twenty seven employees work between the two centres with Ty Gwyn Newydd and Sandbrook having thirty service users each.
Through the managerial support of Mike Palmer both centres and their staff have helped to develop the Care Sector Pre employment Course in partnership with Bridges into Work and other participating care centres.
Mike has found the course well worth putting on stating, “The candidates that undertook work experience with us here were fantastic and integrated very much as part of the team”.
Work Clubs
Work Clubs are community based hubs throughout Merthyr to help unemployed people into work. They are voluntary and free of charge.
You can get help and support with CV’s, application form filling, interview skills, telephone skills, job search, on line support , access to the internet and advice on volunteering and training.
Work Club Timetable:
Sector Skills Training is a collabortative skills training developed to fill a local skill gap. Where a skill gap has been idendified the Partnership work in collaboration with local employers to develop a bespoke package of training and work experience.
The Sector Skills Training in Care was a collaborative venture between Cwm Taf Health Board, Bridges into Work (MTCBC) and Job Centre Plus. It was developed following the identification of unfilled vacancies and skills gap in the care sector.
Following a consultation event with a number of local care providers a training package was developed. The consultation event enabled the Partnership to identify training needs, potential vacancies and interest from the employers in supporting such a training initiative.
A two week training package was developed that consisted of specialised training in Care and a vocational training opportunity at one of four work placements, which consisted of two local private care providers, one Local Authority service provider and the Local Health Board.
Collaboration between Bridges into Work, Job Centre Plus, Cwm Taf Health Board and three care providers enabled 9 unemployed participants gain accredited qualifications and vocational experience in Care. The course format included a two week skills training and a two week voluntary work placement at one of four care providers. Of the nine participants on the course, four secured employment with Greenhill Manor.
Greenhill’s experience has been very positive and has resulted in us recruiting all of the individuals on placement. Greenhill is a large business and recruiting can be very time consuming and costly in finding the right individuals. The Bridges into Work team have been very supportive throughout the process both to the applicants and us. I look forward to working together in the future, not only to benefit us but also to assist in finding job opportunities for individuals living in the local area”.
If you would be interested in finding out more about the course and Bridges into Work please telephone 01685-727099
