Draft minutes of Employment and Skills Practitioners Forum Eastside Youth and Community Centre 7th May 2015 - 2.30-4.30 Attendees: Shelu Miah – The Rooted Forum Justin Brett - IAG Officer, Circle Housing - Tara Khanom – Raising Aspirations Chair Amelia Willett – Working Well Trust Kate Coules - LBTH Childrens Centre - John Stevens – Working Well Trust Minutes Azad Hussain – Osmani Trust Juliana Ajibade - Limehouse Project Shumi Begom – TH Community Rehabilitation Genefer Chitolie – Bromley By Bow Centre and Recovery Team Bryony Pritchard – City Gateway Sharon Palmer – LBTH Skillsmatch Denise Hickford – Parental Engagement Catherine Shaw - LBTH Skillsmatch Team Zafreen Abedean - LBTH Skillsmatch Stephen Hanshaw – DWP Maura Farrelly – LBTH Economic Development Team Fahima Begum – The Rooted Forum Apologies: Veena Torchia - Crisis, Robi Bibi –Hestia. Neda Haghshenas and Mo Ali Gateway Housing. Louise Barnell – Create Jobs London. Janelle Wyke Joseph MIND. Aelswith Frayne – LBTH Economic Development. Lucy Ferguson – City Gateway. Amanda Hicks, Ahsan Habib, Deborah Okogwu, Dianne Carlton, Ebele Omo-Bamawo, Zubair Ahmed, Syeda Pasha LBTH Children’s Centres. Agenda Item Action Required 1. Welcome and Introductions Justin welcomed all attendees and brief introductions were made by all. 2. Minutes from previous meeting Agreed with no outstanding actions 3. Terms of Reference All agreed Terms Of Reference contained enough information and described the group aims.

Current members and Mailout list. Members List handed round for attendees to amend and update.

Clarification was requested about members willingness to having Kate to email contacts visible and for updates to be sent by using reply to all; update list Everyone present confirmed they wanted to remain on the email list . for Clare Skillsmatch team preferred information to go to one member in the Coombe to team, Claire Coombe who will then distribute as relevant. receive information on behalf of Denise H pointed out size of emails can be an issue for managing Inbox, Skillsmatch so all to be mindful not to send repeat emails or to ‘reply all’ if not necessary. Important to keep information relevant Agreed – that the group email list can be used by everyone for sharing and promoting courses/training/employment opportunities as well as for meeting information notices.

LBTH are developing an integrated database to track multi organisational working and aim to avoid repetition for service users and track progress. Catherine and Sharon can update on progress at future meetings.

4. Information sharing - forthcoming activities and opportunities Bromley By Bow Centre – Genefer: Capital Talent employment programme funded by Barclays, aimed at 14- 35 year olds. 5 week course held in various venues. 14-16 year olds sessions are held in schools. 4/6 apprenticeship roles are tagged for 18- 24 year olds with ISS Barclays Global Facilities, good rate of pay and local. Vocational Training for 16-18 year olds in Health and Social Care, Children’s and Young Peoples Workforce, Customer Service/Business Administration. Active Futures – employment support for young adults with disabilities includes mock interviews.

City Gateway – Bryony: Young people’s project offering apprenticeships in Business Admin, Customer Service, placements include House of Commons, NSPCC. Pre Apprenticeship training via Engage programme. Recruitment Day for Look Ahead Housing on 12/05/15 – age 16-24, minimum GCSE grade D, must be Tower Hamlets resident, 6 week training course if successful. Fathers Into Childcare – focus on recruiting fathers to gain Childcare qualifications and enter employment in the Childcare sector. New Womens project opening in Stepney. Compliments the existing project in Poplar for women aged 19+ new to the UK offering courses in accredited IT, Beauty, Health etc. All invited to the opening event.

Parental Engagement Team – Denise: Integrated project with Skillsmatch to identify and support families in receipt of Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) to access employment and skills focused activities. The aim is to support over 40 residents and get 30 people into employment so that they can be exempt from the benefit cap There will be two cohorts- ‘Building Skills and Confidence’ and ‘Next Steps’ which will offer an accredited 11 week placement ‘Learning in Your Childs school’. The courses are followed by a 20 week paid Work start placement. Next intake is in July so everyone asked to inform any of their service users who are in receipt of DHP about the opportunity

Jobcentre Plus – Stephen: Universal Credit-should be better for those ion zero hours contracts, low hours etc in terms of the turn around for payments. Current roll out is aimed at TH residents who are single with no dependants. Would like to work closely with partners; Stephen confirmed that the future of the Flexible Support Fund is looking quite bleak. Stephen said he was impressed by the strong network of providers and asked for ideas as to what DWP can bring to further support working together.

LBTH Economic Development Team – Maura: Welfare Reform task group are mapping organisations working with the 400 families who are currently benefit capped with the aim of avoiding duplication of services and better targeting of employment support to these families and directing relevant opportunities to them. The forum is a useful way of keeping up to date with who is doing what and is particularly interested in organisations who are providing employment support to families impacted by the benefit cap and other aspects of welfare reform

The Rooted Forum – Fahima: Fahima is quite new in post and is aiming to put together a list of opportunities. Road To Work project- primarily aimed at young adults aged 16-24 and some for up to 29 year olds. Shelu and Kate to catch Volunteering programme available includes an ASDAN qualification. up re local Courses offered: Fire Safety and 1st Aid. ESOL Shelu: provision RF started in 2007 and works closely with Tower Hamlets Community Housing. Activities include Youth Club, Health and Well Being activities, Study Support for primary and secondary aged children and an Intergenerational project. Volunteering opportunities are available in all these projects and in administration. RF are moving away from SIA training and are trying to find out what people want and their needs. They also want to explore what the ESOL need is in the area. Maura and Kate mentioned EPAG – External Partners Advisory Group for ESOL in Tower Hamlets. Kate also advised they should catch up about local offer as ESOL at Mulberry and Bigland Green Centre.

Skillsmatch: Sharon, Access to Employment: Construction employment – contact the construction number. SIA courses - funded for 2 more courses – refer anyone interested to Bernice Fullerton: [email protected]. Teaching Assistant course open days on 8th and 15th June, start date in September. Lasts 16 weeks and incorporates studying alongside the placement. Sharon added some schools are now asking for TA trainees to be graduates; this could become the norm for all schools. Discussion around the difficulties this could pose for low entry applicants and residents. Catherine, Brokerage Team: Placement opportunities available for graduates. Hospitality roles available include Kitchen Assistants - Skillsmatch have a good partnership with Premier Inn. NHS roles go via Sharon. Applicants need to have Literacy and Numeracy. Worked with housing providers – open to more partnership working to help improve skills and getting employers involved with interviews. Criteria: unemployed for minimum 6 months, 4 days working, 1 day training. Pay is £9.50 per hour and based on 4 days. Young London Working: Employers are quite specific about applicants for their vacancies. Drop in to Skillsmatch Mon – Fri 9-5 to register and be assessed then an appointment will be made with a brokerage officer. Supported job search available, 12 pc’s but best to call Skillsmatch in advance of going into use the computers. Clients also need to be registered. Outreach taking place in Whitechapel and Chrisp Street Idea stores on a drop in basis Mon – Fri 9- 5. Skillsmatch new offices at 55 Upper Bank Street Canary Wharf are a bit tricky to find but external colleagues are welcome to visit and look at facilities and sessions. Zafreen, Women Into Healthcare & Childcare Developing Health and Social Care or Childcare Training along with 25 placements across schools, early years and health settings-Currently in talks with Barts and the London about placements. Application is through screening process via the Skillsmatch phone line. Zafreen gave out flyers on the project to all attendees. Maura asked if those women who don’t get through the initial screening could be referred to relevant supporting agencies/partners on the network list (Kate to share) as this works toward the integrated service and partners can feedback to each other. Agreed that Skillsmatch would look at adding an extra question regarding interest in being referred to other agencies for employment and skills support , to the initial screening questions

Tara-Raising Aspirations This is an LBTH /Poplar HARCA and JCP partnership initiative based at Trussler Hall Supports clients far from the labour market from Lansbury and East India Wards that have multiple barriers to employment eg family issues .drug or alcohol addiction, mental health issues , young adults with low skills/motivation . Most referrals are from JCP. Short courses provided which are motivational and aspirational based, delivered in-house or tagged onto partners courses.

Amelia and John – Working Well Trust: Re-Work is borough wide, clients need to be in receipt of secondary support services so referral by a professional (eg consultant). Leaflets shared with information on projects. Healthcare changes happening in 2016 means the service is uncertain about the future and the implications of these changes. Support offered for anyone signed off work and who may be suffering in- work discrimination; this can be done through a work referral; check if employer have a Care Coordinator who can support/liaise. Aim is to support staying in work. Juliana to email Dress Kate LBTH Children’s Centres for Success Courses currently in the commissioning process but will share information information when confirmed. Brief overview of services given; all 12 to all centres across the borough have Family Support, Play and Learn play activities and Community Development Officers to support parents/carers with employment and training focused activities, volunteering roles - Administration, Play and Parent Ambassador. If anyone is uncertain which catchment a client may be in, contact Kate. Services are free. Courses may vary across the centres.

Shumi –Tower Hamlets Community Rehabilitation and Recovery team. Supporting residents with mental health to access work and training opportunities. Referrals are internal from supporting services. Cuts are due which will mean a change to the role and referrals to other colleagues/services. Shumi’s role will change after this. Shumi added information about clothing support for clients going to interviews from Smart Works. Juliana added information about Dress For Success for women who also offer mock interviews. Referrals can be made if organisations sign up to be a referral partner. Juliana will email info out to all.

Justin – Old Ford Housing Maths classes available, no more English classes taking place. Teaching Assistant training via Hackney Community Transport Depot, at the far end of Cambridge Heath Road. Care course – 3 days per week within school hours lasting 6 months. 24 places available, 5/6 in place already. Need to be in receipt of JSA, ESA or Universal Credit. IT, IAG, Hoist Training, 1st Aid, Food Hygiene and General training for Care work 1st Aid and Food Hygiene are accredited. Targeted outcomes are to get into work. IAG post available for this role specifically. IT ECDL courses available. Benefit sessions – These are provided by Account 3 and currently only half a day available for non Old Ford residents, Sessions are very busy. Maura added anyone needing social welfare advice can look for the nearest centre or specialist agencies on the Tower Hamlets Community Advice Network (THCAN) website at www.thcan.org.uk The site includes information on national and local agencies including partnership agencies Island Advice, Citizens Advice, Limehouse Project , BBBC , Account 3 and Legal Advice Centre. Maura advised people to contact agencies and develop referral relationship for clients who need help with benefits. housing or debt problems etc

Azad – Osmani Centre Employment project for 16-24 year olds with Business Administration. Open day on 12th May 10-12 for 10 week Business start-up course for any age group. Course is delivered in conjunction with CDA Family Link project are recruiting case workers, information session held on 12th May 6-8pm. Expectation that work will be part time. Azad will send more information out.

Business start-up support - Brief discussion about other organisations supporting business start-up and advice: Genefer noted that Business Hub in Stratford offers open access, wi-fi, ideas for development and its free. Also Beyond Business at Bromley By Bow Centre are open for new business ideas, funding offered for successful bids information in East End Life. Justin – Women Like Us offering flexible working advice to women. Kate – Small Business Centre (previously East London Small Business centre) has now broadened its reach beyond Tower Hamlets, hence the name change, offering support for business start-up advice. 5. Getting On With Money –Juliana Ajibade Information provided on the project including the money management workshops to help people prepare for the changes of moving into employment. Sessions can be delivered to client groups and staff to support frontline delivery. Email Juliana [email protected] or visit www.fith.org.uk for information about the range of resources and workshops on offer. 6. Date and venue for next meeting TBC but brief discussion for it to be in August before courses are offered and information can be shared with service users.