Work Placement Unit

The job of the Work Placement Unit is to prepare young adults with the right potential to transit smoothly from a school environment to the adult work environment (Open Employment).

On completion of their academic programmes to the optimum extent of their abilities, students over 16 who fulfil the identified criteria undertake individual training programmes to further develop their practical skills.

The Work Placement Co-ordinator sources the placements and, once the placement are confirmed, gives hands-on training and support to the students. The Co-ordinator, with the help of other staff at the Work Placement Unit, is available to give a moral boost to students during their initial days of settling down, until students gain in confidence and independence.

The aims of the Unit are:

• To maintain achieved levels of language and numeric skills.
• To teach functional academics, the focus being on the concepts of time, money and measurements.
• To teach telephone etiquette, interview skills and general office skills.
• To teach practical skills in the ‘external’ environment e.g. visiting post offices, banks, hospitals, etc.
• To work on the Self- awareness Programme
• To teach social skills and encourage acceptable social behaviour
• To address behavioural issues, if necessary
• To help with transition and integration into the work place
• To address issues that may come up within the work environment, specific to the young adult and/or the external work force
• To integrate the student into a regular work force and be a contributing member of society