Leaving care (Local Offer for Care Leavers)
Education, training and employment
We want to support you to succeed, and we know that this starts with helping you to feel confident to access education, training or employment.
There are different routes that you may prefer, depending on your individual goals and needs.
Support available
Job Club
This is a weekly drop-in held on a Tuesday morning at the MarketPlace. You can discuss options, and get help with applying for employment, education and training, and CV writing. It is run by a member of the Leaving Care Team, and is supported by an adviser from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and a sessional worker (see below). Breakfast buns and a cuppa are also included!
Work placements and shadowing opportunities
We have a specialist role within the Leaving Care Team, known as the 'opportunities broker', who is dedicated to making stronger links with local employers and training providers. They will support you to access to work placements and shadowing opportunities. Our opportunities broker is called Alex Simpson and can be contacted on alex.simpson@southtyneside.gov.uk.
One-to-one support
One-to-one support is provided by the opportunities broker (see above), and from your personal adviser. A peer mentor can also help you to access and prepare for education, employment and training opportunities.
Sessional work opportunities
If you have received a leaving care service, you could become a care experienced sessional worker at the Council. This provides a range of opportunities for paid work.
Links with employers
We have links with external organisations to help support you into employment opportunities by taking short training courses. Our links with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust offer routes to work as healthcare assistants, porters, catering assistants, cleaners and more. We also work with Barnardos to support with warehouse assistant jobs at Amazon. If you are interested in exploring these opportunities, speak to your PA or contact Alex directly.
Career Coach
On the Career Coach website you can complete a careers assessment which matches careers to your interests, skills and personality. See Career Coach.
Financial support
There is a range of financial support to help you with education, training and employment.