Transitions and Preparing for Adulthood

Support for Employment

Please click any of the following links to find more information on the services that offer support for employment:

General information on transition into employment can be found in the Department for Work and Pensions guidance on transition to work.

Birmingham Careers Service

Birmingham Careers Service (BCS) is located within the Skills & Employability Division of Birmingham City Council’s Children & Families Directorate.  The Service delivers impartial Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) and support to progress into education, employment and training for young people.

The service is delivered by Careers Advisers who are professionally qualified to a minimum QCF Level 6 in careers development/guidance.  The service is delivered across the city and all young people are allocated a named Careers Adviser. 

It is a free service for Birmingham resident young people who are aged 16 -19 (and up to 25 for those with SEND and/or other additional needs) who are: 

  • Not in education, employment or training (NEET)
  • Year 11 leavers identified as at risk of NEET
  • Elective Home Educated Year 11 students and their parents
  • Year 11 leavers without a school place
  • Young parents/expectant parents
  • Young people in care 

The service can be accessed from a range of local community venues, including the Library of Birmingham. Parents, carers, children and young people can book an appointment with a careers adviser, or alternatively can contact Birmingham Careers Service

Supported Internship

Supported Internships are structured programmes designed to help young people with special educational needs or disabilities develop their employability skills through placements at Birmingham City Council. Students will receive on-the-job training and personalised learning/support to fully prepare them for the world of work and achieve their desired outcomes, which may lead to paid employment. The programme is available to any young person with identified additional needs, with or without and education, health and care plan.

We want to help all young people to be able to get a job, training or education place that helps them achieve their ambitions. We work with some amazing partners here in Birmingham, including The Prince’s Trust, to offer mentoring and a wide range of opportunities. More information is available at Jobs, skills and lifelong learning support | Birmingham City Council.

Birmingham Adult Education Service

Birmingham Adult Education Service (BAES) is part of Birmingham City Council and is one of the largest adult learning providers nationally. More information about employability is available on the BAES website.

The service caters for developing educational needs for learners who are aged 19+. Currently our courses are taught across the Birmingham region. Our classes are small with a maximum of 11 learners per class. The sessions are taught over two full days per week, per cohort. Most classes have the additional support of a learning support assistant or a volunteer. The intent is that learners are given as much individual support as needed. This level of support enables the learners to develop their independence not only educationally but socially.

These courses are designed as a platform to help people to fulfil their potential, personal and/or career goals. 

We currently offer English and Maths at Entry Level 1 alongside the introductory courses which will lead into formal vocational qualification.  We also offer Introduction courses in ICT, independent living and working towards employment.

The working in catering programme is planned as a 3-year progressive programme beginning at pre-entry. At the end of the programme most learners will have developed skills that will enable them to work or volunteer within the catering sector.

The intent of the SEND Provision is that over a period of 3 years, the learners will have achieved an academic qualification and developed skills that will enable them to be employed or suitable for a volunteering placement.

If you are not sure about which course best suits your needs, or you want to discuss future goals, then we are here to offer comprehensive information, advice, guidance, and support. It’s all about the support we can offer you!

If you feel any of the courses are right for you, we would be very pleased to invite you to an assessment day to meet the team and get the right course for you. Please call our information line on 0121 303 4318 or email information@baes.ac.uk if you would like more details or some help to find the right special educational needs and disabilities course for you.

Contacts

Kelly Greevy,  Head of Faculty
Kelly.greevy@birmingham.gov.uk

Jocelyn Riley, Programme Manager
rileyj@baes.ac.uk

Employment by the Royal Association for Deaf People

The Royal Association for Deaf People (RAD), offers advice and support for deaf people looking for a employment. This includes both tips on writing a CV and applying for a job.

Further support and careers advice is available at the RAD website, or by contacting their employment team using the following email: employment@royaldeaf.org.uk