Career guidance in Astangu Vocational Rehabilitation Centre

1. Career guidance in Astangu Vocational Rehabilitation Centre Karin Olševski

2. Astangu Vocational Rehabilitation Centre • Established in 1995 and operates under the administration of the Ministry of Social Affairs • Main function of the Centre is to provide professional training and adjustment courses along with various rehabilitation activities to persons with special needs • The main goal is to contribute to the social coping of people with special needs and to support their transfer to the labour market

3. Structure The Centre is divided into 7 units: • Vocational training department • Rehabilitation department • Employment unit • Sheltered workshops • The centre of disability related information and assistive technology • Development unit • Administrative department

4. Vocational training department • Academic year of 2009/2010-117 trainees in 17 study groups. Each group has 6-8 trainees. • Adjustment courses, rehabilitation course, professional training courses and vocational training courses.

5. Employment Unit • Was created in 2002. • 3 employment specialists and 1 employment specialist-psychologist. • Main activities: • Preparing students for labour market (career guidance and company visits) • Support in finding work practice places and jobs (supported employment method) • Cooperation with Estonian Unemployment Incurance Fund; projects; statistics regarding employment of AVRC graduates.

6. Career Guidance • Purpose of the lessons: • Support in making a suitable career choice • Preaparing students for employment (open labour market, sheltered work, day centre) • Number of lessons: • Adjustment courses and professional training courses-16 lessons in academic year • Vocational rehabilitation courses and rehabilitation courses- 6 lessons in academic year • Company visits- for all courses (exept rehabilitation course) 4 visits in academic year

7. Career guidance for adjustment courses • Self recognition related to career planning • Introduction and analysis of different vocations/occupations (working time, tasks, necessary skills, salary etc). • Schools and specialities for people with special needs • Terms associated with employment • Different want ads • CV composing • Company visits

8. Career guidance for professional and vocational training courses • Working in chosen speciality (conditions at work place, working hours, assignments, necessary skills, work positsions, salary etc) • Employment oppurtunities near home • Want ads • Terms associated with employment • Company visits • Alternatives

9. Career guidance for professional and vocational training courses • Job searching • CV, application, motivational letter • Job interview- video training • Employment contract • Behaviour at work place and during work practice • Sick leave benefit • Services offered by the Estonian Unemployment Inscurance Fund

10. Materials/methods • Job description DVDs • Animated cartoons (behaviour at workplace and job safety) • Other materials/worksheets- websites related to career planning; issued by Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund; combined by employment specialists. • Video training • Games, role plays • Practical assignments

11. Company visits • Purpose- to see real work enviroment • Overview of the different companies in the area • Overview of the positions within the companies • Contact with employers (future work practice places and jobs)

12. Work practice • Support in finding a suitable work practice place in cooperation with vocational teachers and students network member • Take into account students abilities, preferences, previous work practice experiences • Supprot during work practice to the student and also the employer • Summary and analysis

13. Thank you!Contact:Karin OlševskiAVRCHead of the Employment UnitPhone: +372 6877 219E-mail: karin.olsevski@astangu.ee