Traineeships booklet | Active IQ

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Contents Traineeships....................................................................................... 3 What is a Traineeship?......................................................................... 4 Who can do a Traineeship?.................................................................. 6 How is a Traineeship funded?............................................................... 7 How do I work with Active IQ to deliver Traineeships?............................. 8 Adding Additional Active IQ Units/Qualifications to Traineeships............... 9 Useful reading.................................................................................... 10 To find out more................................................................................. 11

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Traineeships Introduced by Government in response to business needs, Traineeships started on 1st August 2013. They are part of the Apprenticeships family and fit within the broader study programmes.

A Traineeship runs for a maximum of six months and is designed to help young people who are focused on getting an Apprenticeship or sustainable job, acquire the skills and experience to compete successfully for vacancies.

Traineeships will ensure that young people have the work skills, maths and English, and work experience they need to start their careers, and provide a pipeline of talented young people with the personal and practical skills and experience required in the labour market.  

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What is a Traineeship?

A Traineeship can last anything from six weeks to a maximum of six months, and the content is tailored to the needs of the business and the Trainee.

The programme comprises three core elements: 1. Work preparation training, which ensures young people have the skills and confidence needed for an Apprenticeship or other job 2. English and maths support if required, to improve young people’s literacy and numeracy 3. Work placement, to provide meaningful experience and an insight to the world of work with a guaranteed interview (either for a job vacancy or as an exit from the work placement).

The work preparation training should cover any personal and social skills that the young person needs to develop in order to get the most out of their work placement and prepare them for future employment.

It is important that work preparation training covers both the skills that young people will need to find and secure a job (such as job search techniques, CV writing and interview skills) and 4

the skills and attributes that they need to sustain that job, for example planning, time-keeping, team working, self-confidence, resilience and strength of character.

This preparation should also include groundwork for the specific work placement that the young person will be undertaking.

English and maths are deemed by employers to be crucial employability skills and all young people undertaking a Traineeship will be required to study English and maths, unless they have achieved a GCSE grade A*-C in those subjects or, for those aged 19+, a GCSE grade A*-C or a Functional Skills qualification at Level 2.

In the majority of cases, Functional Skills are the most appropriate qualifications for Trainees to study in the first instance and, as part of a Traineeship, young people can study these at Entry Level, Level 1 or Level 2 depending on their prior attainment and identified skills needs.

However, to fit with the wider study programme principles, 16-19 year old Trainees will need to work towards GCSE grade A*-C in English and maths and, where 16-19 year olds have already achieved a Functional Skills qualification at Level 2, they will be required to work towards the achievement of a GCSE grade A* to C.

Trainees should be supported to complete their English and maths qualifications within the Traineeship wherever possible but, in some cases, it may take longer for a young person to achieve these crucial elements.

The work placement (in a real workplace setting) is critical to the success of a Traineeship, as is the involvement of the employer, so the lead employer(s) for the work placement must be identified before the young person is enrolled onto a Traineeship.

The duration of the work placement within a Traineeship should be at least six weeks and no more than five months, although this does not have to be taken consecutively and, in some cases, a Trainee may take a number of separate work placements in different organisations.

It is for employers and the training organisation to agree how the following principles of high quality work placement are applied: • Choice and relevance; placement matched to the Trainee’s areas of interest and aspiration, with young people undertaking high-quality work experience rather than observation or mundane tasks.

• Organisational readiness; commitment from senior managers or owner/managers and a low ratio of Trainees to experienced staff.

• Good preparation; thorough pre-placement preparation by the training organisation, employer and prospective Trainee and an understanding of young people’s circumstances that may affect their workplace behaviour.

• Written agreement; made between the Trainee, employer and provider setting out mutual expectations and commitments, including the training plan and arrangements for reviews.

• A planned placement; a structured induction, clear objectives and integrated off-the-job training, with an identified mentor or buddy.

• Feedback and review; regular constructive feedback from managers and formal reviews at key stages with the manager, provider and Trainee.

The training organisation is expected to offer ongoing support to employers and young people throughout the work placement, to enable continuous learning and reflection for Trainees; this is so that the work experience element reinforces acquired skills and gives Trainees an experience that will help equip them for future employment.

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The guaranteed interview with the work placement host at the end of the placement provides vital experience to young people going on to seek work. Wherever possible, the Trainee should receive a real job interview where a post or apprenticeship has become available. Where this is not feasible, a formal exit interview with the employer who provided their work placement will help the young person to practice and prepare for future opportunities.

The Trainee should receive meaningful interview feedback to help them improve their performance, and a reference from the employer reflecting the time spent on their work placement.

Who can do a Traineeship?

The employer and the training organisation must believe that the would-be Trainee has a reasonable chance of being ready for employment or an Apprenticeship within six months of engaging in a Traineeship programme.

Who are Traineeships for?

Traineeships are an ideal opportunity for young people who are motivated to get a job but who lack the skills and experience that employers are looking for.

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Young people who have been applying unsuccessfully for Apprenticeship vacancies due to a lack of skills or experience could be good candidates for a Traineeship, and can be ready for employment or an Apprenticeship within six months of engaging in a Traineeship.

The potential Trainee is motivated to work but unemployed with little work experience; 16-18 year old Trainees must be qualified below Level 3, while 19-23 year olds must not have achieved a full Level 2 qualification.

Who isn’t suitable for a Traineeship?

Individuals who already have the skills and experience to start an Apprenticeship or find work, or who have a job already, aren’t suitable for Traineeships.

Neither are the most disengaged young people, who require very intensive support.

Unless they have a Learning Difficulty Assessment up to academic age 25, those aged 24 and over cannot embark on a Traineeship.

Who can deliver Traineeships?

Performance Management

In 2013/14, the delivery of Traineeships will be limited to those providers who have achieved an Ofsted inspection grade of Outstanding or Good and are not under Notice from either the Education Funding Agency (EFA) or the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) for any reason.

The SFA and Ofsted will monitor and review the provision of Traineeships through their established processes.

The EFA and the SFA have jointly published the list of eligible providers for the Traineeship programme in 2013/14.

N.B. The age range ‘16-18’ refers to young people aged 16, 17 or 18 on 31st August in the relevant funding year. The age range ‘19-24’ refers to young people aged 19, 20 or 21 or 22 or 23 on 31st August in the relevant funding year.

How is a Traineeship funded?

Training organisations are expected to work with an employer to deliver the work-placement element of the programme and make Traineeships attractive and effective.

A subcontractor declared on the Subcontracting Register at 1st June 2013, is permitted to deliver Traineeships on behalf of a lead provider.

However, subcontractors must have an existing Ofsted inspection grade of Outstanding (Grade 1) or Good (Grade 2) and must not be an Ofstedgraded inadequate provider or a provider under a Notice of Concern or Notice of Improve.

The SFA’s Funding Rules 2013/14, EFA’s Funding Regulations 2013/14, and The Study Programme Principles apply to Traineeships.

Training organisations and employers will be able to deliver Traineeships from August 2013, subject to the quality criteria*.

Training organisation funding routes There is a close fit with the wider funding system for 16-24 year olds and for young people with Learning Difficulty Assessments up to academic age 25 from August 2013; the funding methodology and rates for Traineeships will build upon the existing systems for 16-19 year olds and young adults.

This means that, subject to the quality criteria, training organisations that currently deliver provision for 16-19 year olds and hold a contract 7

with the EFA will be able to deliver Traineeships within the new study programme arrangements using the funding per student methodology.

or by:

Apprenticeship providers that currently deliver provision for 16-19 year olds who do not hold an EFA contract will be eligible to deliver under their SFA contract, which will be amended to allow for delivery of Traineeships using the EFA funding per student methodology.

• Working towards becoming an approved provider in their own right for future years.

Training organisations that currently deliver provision through the Adult Skills Budget will be able to deliver Traineeships for 19-24 year olds using the existing freedoms and flexibilities within that budget. Traineeships will be funded on the basis of the published matrix rate for any accredited units and qualifications delivered as part of the Traineeship in addition to funding for the organisation of the work placement.

• Working in partnership with an existing funded training organisation

* In 2013/14, the delivery of Traineeships will be limited to those providers who have achieved an Ofsted inspection grade of Outstanding or Good and are not under Notice from either the EFA or the SFA for any reason.

How do I work with Active IQ to deliver Traineeships?

In response to the Traineeships’ objectives, Active IQ has developed two work preparation qualifications specifically for Traineeships in the Active Leisure sector.

Employer funding routes Employers will be able to lead the delivery of Traineeships to young people funded via: • The Employer Ownership of Skills pilot • Their existing Apprenticeships or Adult Skills Budget provision for young people (by varying their Agency contracts to cover Traineeships)

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These can be delivered as whole qualifications, or as individual units, in accordance with the needs of the Trainee and the employer.

Active Level 1 Award in Preparing for Employment in the Active Leisure and Learning Sector (QCF)

5. Developing self in an active leisure job role (1 credit)

A ten-credit Award, this qualification is made up of four units:

7. Understanding employment rights and responsibilities (2 credits)

1. Employability and Career Opportunities in the Active Leisure and Learning Sector Level 1 (2 credits)

8. Working with people (2 credits)

2. Applying for an Employment Opportunity Level 1 (3 credits)

10. Supporting equality and diversity on sport and active leisure (2 credits)

6. Understanding the active leisure and learning sector (2 credits)

9. Customer service in sport and active leisure (2 credits)

3. Preparing for an Interview Level 1 (2 credits) 4. Principles of Communication Level 1 (3 credit).

To achieve the whole qualification Trainees must successfully complete all four units.

Active IQ Level 2 Certificate in Preparing for Employment in the Active Leisure and Learning Sector (QCF) A seventeen-credit Certificate, this qualification has ten units*: 1. Employability and career opportunities in the active leisure and learning sector (2 credits) 2. Applying for an employment opportunity (3 credits) 3. Preparing for an interview (2 credits) 4. Principles of communication (3 credits)

To achieve the whole qualification Trainees must successfully complete the mandatory units (units 1-7) and a minimum of two credits from the optional units (units 8-10).

Adding Additional Active IQ Units/Qualifications to Traineeships The design of Traineeships should be flexible to meet employer and learner needs appropriately and training providers should work closely with employers to agree the design of their traineeship programmes.

As identified earlier in this document the three core elements of a high quality work placement, a focussed period of work preparation training and 9

English and Maths must be incorporated within a Traineeship; however dependant on the Employer and learner’s needs it could also include other units and/or qualifications. For example, some employers may agree that by also adding the Active IQ Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing (QCF) to a Traineeship programme will enhance the learner’s prospects of gaining employment at the end of the programme; allowing them to progress onto a full apprenticeship.

Other employers may believe that by equipping the learner with the Active IQ Level 2 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (QCF) will strengthen their opportunities for gaining longerterm employment.

Traineeship programmes will allow providers to work closely with employers and learners to design flexible, bespoke Traineeship packages and Active IQ is able to offer a wealth of choice in terms of units and qualifications. Active IQ can work with you to create bespoke traineeship packages dependant on your needs.

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Useful reading Study Programme Principles http://www. education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/ youngpeople/qandlearning/programmes Traineeships, Framework for Delivery (July 2013) https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/ system/uploads/attachment_data/file/223591/ Traineeships-framework-July2013.pdf Funding guidance for young people 2013/14; Funding regulations http://media.education.gov. uk/assets/files/pdf/f/funding%20regulations%20 2013-14%20-version%201%2001.pdf SFA Funding Rules 2013/2014; Traineeships for 19 up to 24 year-olds http://readingroom.skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk/ sfa/funding_rules_traineeships_19-24_july2013. pdf

To find out more To find out more about Active IQ Traineeships or to create a bespoke traineeship package contact yvonne@activeiq.co.uk for more information.

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