PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT PROJECT

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• PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT PROJECT
• Béatrice Humarau
• Migrant Workers Seminar,
• Bedfordshire
• 16th May 2008

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What MENTER is

• The Black and Minority Ethnic Network for the
  East of England. 420 BME voluntary and community
  organisations on the mailing list
• Our organisational aims are
• To aid the development of the BME sector in the
  region
• To promote equality and advocate for the sector
• To build a strong and representative regional BME
  network

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What MENTER does

• MENTERs work with and for migrant workers
• Migrant workers one of the four groups that we
  actively support through our work
• The role of MENTERs Strategic Development
  Officers at sub-regional level
• The Partnership Development Project whose aim is
  to assist the integration of migrant workers,
  refugees and asylum seekers in the East of
  England and improve local community cohesion
  through partnerships working
• and

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The Pathways to Employment Project a brief
outline

• Funded by the Lloyds TSB Foundation for two
  years
• To support migrants during their journey to
  employment within the health and social care
  sector
• Definition of migrant workers and geographical
  location
• Why the health and social care sector?
• A pilot project approx. 20 individuals
  supported with small grants

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Barriers to employment and gaps in service
provision (1)

• Limited English language skills, particularly in
  relation to vocational language.
• Gaps in ESOL provision
• Non-recognition of qualifications, skills and
  experience gained overseas
• Limited use of NARIC and APEL procedures
• Problems to access reliable sources of practical
  information and advice.
• Specialist Information, Advice and Guidance
  support

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Barriers to employment and gaps in service
provision (2)

• Lack of familiarity and engagement with the UK
  labour market
• Limited opportunities for volunteering, work
  placements, mentoring
• Employers concerns regarding breach of
  employment law
• MINEM project, Migrant gateway, META hotline
• Labour market discrimination
• Increasing engagement with employers

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The Projects approach

• (1) Personalised support to clients
• Signpost and complement existing
  projects/initiatives/schemes
• Possibility of small financial contribution
  towards costs such as childcare costs, study
  costs
• Support them in gaining relevant UK work
  experience

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The Projects approach (ctd)

• (2) Contribute to partnership working and
  improved coordination
• With regards to IAG service provision
• With regards to engaging with employers from the
  health and social care sector
• Focus on the successful adaptation of
  professional skills gained abroad

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Contact details

• If you would like to be kept informed of the
  Projects progress in the coming months, please
  do not hesitate to contact me
• By email beatrice_at_menter.org.uk
• By phone [phone]