Careers and Work-Related Learning
Careers Team
Our careers team at Dee Banks School consists of our
- Careers Leader/Job Coach Peter Bradbury
- Careers Linked Governor Amy Martin
- 14-19 TLR Peter Bradbury, and we also have access to a qualified Careers Advisor through Cheshire West and Cheshire Council
If you would like to get in touch with our Careers Leader, you can contact them on [email protected] or by calling school number 01244 667800.
Teachers
If you are a teacher looking for more information, you can find our careers program and resources on our shared staff intranet or through Peter Bradbury. If you are looking to plan a lesson around careers, please check out ‘Useful Links’ below for Labour Market Information.
Information for Parents and Carers
Our Careers Program
At Dee Banks School, we aim to ensure the best possible outcomes for all of our students. We work proactively with the Careers and Enterprise Company and the Pledge to build a careers program that empowers our young people to develop skills and confidence in their future, and informs them about relevant careers and pathways that work for them.
Dee Banks School is a special school and serves children who have very significant learning difficulties and disabilities. This consideration needs to be foremost in implementing a Careers and Work Related Learning Policy for the school.
In its widest context careers can be defined as ‘an individual’s path through life’. Careers education in schools is not simply about choosing a job but has a much wider concept of how people develop into contributing adults – valuing their own contribution and respecting and valuing those of others.
Work Related Learning (WRL) can be defined as a planned activity that uses the context of work to develop knowledge, understanding and skills useful in a work place, including learning through individual work experience placements.
Dee banks School is committed to maximising the benefits for every student, in the development of the whole school approach to work related learning. We have identified the importance of preparing our young people for their adult life. Throughout the Work Related Learning Curriculum, students in the 14-19 Department focus on learning to cope with life changes and having their say, when choices are made regarding their future, including College and the World of Work
Our careers program is monitored termly against the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks (shown below). It is evaluated annually and updated using feedback from students, parents/carers, staff, employers, and our destinations data. We also gain feedback after specific events to ensure they have met our aims and to monitor impact.
The Gatsby Benchmarks:
Aims
The main aims of our career program as a school are:
- Students are supported to grow their confidence, develop resilience and expand the skills they need for life beyond Dee Banks on their “Journey to Adulthood”
- Staff deliver exciting and engaging careers related activities, building on students’ individual interests and skills, encouraging them to reach their potential
- Students and their support networks will receive relevant and appropriate information and advice to enable informed, suitable and realistic choices to be made for their life beyond Dee Banks
If parents or carers would like more information about our careers program, we have a Careers and Work Related Learning policy which you can access here /uploads/612/files/Careers-and-Work-Related-Learning-Policy.pdf you can download our careers program here /uploads/612/files/Dee Banks Careers and Work Related Learning Programme Journey to Independence.docx or contact Careers Leader, Peter Bradbury [email protected] for more information.
Provider Access
Dee Banks School believes in giving all students relevant information about future pathways after they leave our school, including employment, apprenticeships, supported internships, and colleges (all where deemed appropriate for the student).
Destinations Data
At Dee Banks School we monitor the destinations of our students after they leave us to evaluate the effectiveness of our careers program
Information for Students
Overview of Events
As a student at Dee Banks School, you will develop key skills to support your future pathways throughout school- through lessons, experiences of the workplace, and employer encounters. Please see below for more information about what you will do throughout your time with us and the skills you will learn.
If you would like some more support or information regarding your future careers, please either get in touch with your class teaching team or Job Coach, Sally-Ann Ferrara to arrange an interview.
Employers- Get involved
If you are a local employer or business who would like to support any of the events mentioned above, or would like some more information, please contact Careers Leader, Peter Bradbury [email protected] to get in touch.
Getting a job can be life changing for the young person and their families.
Offer a work experience placement
We are committed to offering students placements in their local community to develop their skills.
Our work-based learning team will support you every step of the way, to ensure that you, your employees and our students, feel confident and comfortable.
What we’re looking for
- Entry level employment roles
- Training opportunities
- Volunteering opportunities
Benefits to your business:
- Introduce new perspectives and talents
- Improve diversity in your workforce
- Provide development opportunities for your staff eg mentoring
- Support your local community
Useful Links and Resources
Labour Market Information
National Careers Service – a comprehensive careers website with job profiles, outlining: the skills required, main tasks, pay levels and career prospects for hundreds of different jobs. In addition, valuable guidance on the different stages involved in getting a job.
Cheshire and Warrington Job Opportunities Portal – a portal with a range of information on local labour market information, including jobs, apprenticeships, and training providers
Cheshire and Warrington Your Futures a portal with a range of information on local labour market information, including jobs, apprenticeships, and training providers, all specifically for SEND.
My Path Careers Information about a wide variety of interesting careers with job profiles and videos
Cheshire & Warrington Carers Trust
Providing advice and support to carers of the disabled and elderly throughout Cheshire. Also includes details of social events and related carers news. Freephone helpline open Monday to Friday, see site for details.
https://cheshireandwarringtoncarers.org/
Post 16 Pathways
Petty Pool College A specialist education provider for young adults with learning difficulties that does a variety of vocational courses.
Cheshire College South and West Local college with campuses in Crewe, Chester, and Ellesmere Port offering T Levels, A Levels, apprenticeships, and vocational courses
Coleg Cambria Local college in Wrexham and Northop offering T Levels, A Levels, apprenticeships, and vocational courses.
Wirral Met College Local college in Birkenhead offering T Levels, A Levels, apprenticeships, and vocational courses.
Live! Cheshire A small local charity that provides a varied programme of fully inclusive and accessible clubs and social activities for young people with SEND, including their ‘Moving On’ program for 16-25 year-olds.
Below are some social groups and activities for young people with Additional needs - These are mostly taken from the Live Well Cheshire web page
https://www.livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/
Independence skills, day services and social groups
Good Company Social Group – online and in person groups throughout the county
https://www.livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/Services/843#:~:text=Fully%20inclusive%20weekly%20social%20group,self%20confidence%20and%20self%20esteem
The Peoples Choice group (includes the Grub Club, Drama Group, Group Culture, Thank you for the Music Singing Group, cinema and review club) Northwich
https://www.peopleschoicegroup.co.uk/
1st Enable various day activities and supported living
https://www.1stenable.co.uk/information/
Looking Forward social groups and day activities in Tarvin
http://www.lookingforwardactivities.co.uk/
Vivo day services, supported living and respite (Chester, Ellesmere Port, Winsford, Northwich)
https://vivocarechoices.co.uk/services/services-for-adults-with-learning-disabilities/
Live /Buzz Life Skills / Good Company Groups Cheshire
https://www.livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/Services/481
Ambito Day Services Chester for adults with learning disabilities
https://www.livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/Services/655
Mencap Gateway Wirral Bromborough for adults with learning disabilities – independence skills courses, sex and relationship courses
https://mencapwirral.org.uk/what-we-offer/gateway-award/
ACE club Great Sutton Village Hall for adults with learning disabilities
https://www.livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/Services/2101
Petty Pool Plus Winsford – day support around independence and friendships
https://www.pettypool.org.uk/pettypool-plus/
Storyhouse Chester (includes open mike night)
Disability Positive
Northwich based charity assisting disabled people, their carers and family across Cheshire with a range of services including respite breaks, advocacy, payroll services and a range of social activities and events.
https://disabilitypositive.org/
Cheshire Down’s Syndrome Support
A registered charity offering support, resources and social activities for families and carers throughout Cheshire looking after children with Down’s Syndrome.
https://dscheshire.org.uk/what-we-do/
Providing social group activities for people with with a range of disabilities as well as outing to local Cheshire places of interest. Also includes volunteering details.
https://chesteradult.phab.org.uk/
Vision and hearing loss
A purpose-built centre located in South View Road, Chester providing support, social activities and events to the deaf and hearing impaired community of Chester. Site provides location details and contacts as well as future events details.
https://www.dewis.wales/ResourceDirectory/ViewResource.aspx?id=542
Established in 1928 offering support services and social activities for the deaf in Cheshire. Also offers local sign language tuition.
https://www.sthelensgateway.info/organisations/deafness-resource-centre/
Founded in 1976 to provide support, social activities and events to deaf and hearing impaired people throughout Cheshire. Site offers location details, contacts and how to become a volunteer.
Chester based support services for blind and vision impaired people. Also provides social groups, club activities and equipment hire.
http://visionsupport.org.uk/what-we-offer/
Training for volunteering or employment
The Bren Project Chester (volunteering)
https://www.brenproject.org.uk/
The roodee café (volunteering and training)
http://roodeetrainingacademy.co.uk/training/
Activate - Knowsley and Wirral specialised provider of educational and vocational training for people ages 19 to 24 with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Providing voluntary opportunities in Cheshire and offering details of their local vacancies along with news, FAQ and contacts for getting involved.
Provides opportunities for volunteering, training and employment of people with a disability in Cheshire as well as dedicated to raising awareness. Site includes details of their drop-in cafe open Monday to Saturday.
https://dialwestcheshire.org.uk/
Farming, growing and animal care
Bridge Community Well Being Gardens, Ellesmere port – volunteering, day placements, arts and crafts workshops
Rooted and Booted – farming, growing day activities for young people and adults with disabilities
Rooted & Booted | farm-based learning disability support (rootedandbooted.org.uk)
Grozone Community Garden in Northwih creates a supportive, inclusive working and learning environment which also provides regular volunteering opportunities for local people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.?
Grozone Community Garden Northwich
Lets Farm Winford – working farm with opportunities for adults with learning disabilities and autism
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community-Organization/Lets-Farm-100181199021895/
Willaston Community Farm – Neston working with employment support to provide learning placements and employment for adults with disabilities
Willaston Community Farm - Farm Experience, Tractor Rides
Autism specific
Autism Hub, Chester (includes courses and Drop-in game Cafe for people with Autism)
http://www.westcheshireautismhub.co.uk/
Aspire, Chester adults autism support group
https://www.livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/Services/2828/Aspire-Chester-s-au
Cheshire Autism Practical Support Ltd
Holds regular monthly meetings offering support and social activities with practical support and services offered across Cheshire.
https://www.cheshireautism.org.uk/
Autism Together
An autism support group offering training, respite and day care services. Information about the club services with news and details of local disabled events.
https://www.autismtogether.co.uk/