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Employment - getting advice (post 16)

  • Provide clear guidance on course options and how these relate to each young person’s interests, strengths, and future aspirations.
  • Ensure all young people have access to impartial, high-quality careers advice, tailored to their needs and ambitions - Youth Employment UK Careers Resources.
  • Offer sessions that help young people understand the requirements of employment, education, and training beyond college.
  • Facilitate work experience opportunities, starting with tasters and building up to longer placements with appropriate support.
  • Invite employers from diverse sectors to deliver talks, host drop-ins, or share “a day in the life” experiences.
  • Ensure young people understand the range of employment pathways, including:
    • Supported Internships
      Structured, work-based learning for young people with an EHCP, typically lasting 6–12 months - NDTi Supported Internship Guide.
    • Apprenticeships
      Paid employment with training, available at various levels.
    • Volunteering & Work Experience
      Builds confidence, skills, and networks. Can be a stepping stone to paid work or further training.
    • Supported Employment
      A structured model involving job coaching and tailored support to help young people with SEND secure and sustain paid work - Pathways to employment - The Education and Training Foundation.
    • Vocational Qualifications & Adult Learning
      Post-18 learners can access vocational courses at FE colleges or training providers, often with embedded employability support.
    • Self-Employment & Entrepreneurship
      Some young people may pursue small business ideas or freelance work, supported by enterprise programmes or mentors.
    • Access to Work Support
      Financial and practical support for disabled people entering or sustaining employment, including travel and equipment costs - Access to Work - Bury Council.
  • Use strengths-based vocational profiling tools to help young people identify suitable career paths - Vocational Profile | NDTi.
  • Encourage self-advocacy by helping students articulate their needs, strengths, and goals.
    Resources like “Like and Admire” and What Matters Island can support this - What Matters Island – NDTi.
  • Embed enterprise activities and projects into the curriculum to build confidence and transferable skills.
  • Build links with supported employment organisations such as the DWP, National Careers Service and Bury EST - Help finding work - Bury Council.
  • Promote attendance at careers fairs, job expos, and open days.
  • Signpost to resources such as National Careers Service, GMACS, BeeLine, Youth Employment UK and EmployGM.
  • Use structured frameworks like the Skills Builder Universal Framework
    to help young people develop essential employability skills (e.g., communication, problem-solving, teamwork).