Family Firm is an innovative programme supporting East Renfrewshire’s care experienced young people (CEYP) into sustainable work-related activities. It is about getting the best from the range of opportunities available locally to support improved learning, training and employment for our amazing care experienced young people.
Strong partnership working is at the core of Family Firm - between council services, skills agencies, local businesses, the Youth Intensive Support Services (YISS) - and with the young people themselves.
Since its inception in 2016, Family Firm has supported over 70 care experienced young people into a wide and varied range of work related activities, putting the young person at the heart of their own employment journey. Through a long-term relationship-based approach supported by a ‘no fails’ policy, our young people have grown in confidence and skills with 36% of current recruits reaching employment, 40% progressing to further education and training and 100% of those surveyed saying the programme had a positive long term impact on their life. Through the support and experience gained by our young people, we aspire to improve employment prospects and wellbeing in later life and reduce the need for future interventions.
Family Firm meets the demands of our corporate parenting duties under the Children and Young People’s legislation (2014) and links to the key pillars of the Scottish Care Leavers Covenant of which East Renfrewshire Council is a signatory.
Key Activities
Pre-employment
- Building relationships and skills base through one-to-one coaching and mentoring
- Work placements and volunteering to build up work readiness skills, action planning and goal setting
- Support with job applications, interview skills and CV development
- Specially tailored pre-employment course with school leavers/weekly drop-in service
Into employment
- Support with work trials, breaking down barriers to get into work
- Working with local employers (RERI grants ring-fenced specifically for Family Firm)
- Working closely with DWP and other agencies to mitigate the effects of the benefits system
- In-house environmental traineeship programme in place specifically for CEYP
In employment
- Through/after care support with young person and employer through regular check-ins and support with clothing/resources/travel until first pay packet
- If further on the job training is needed, this will be provided through skills audit and support with transition to full time employment working closely with employers
Benefits and Impact
- 100% of young people surveyed feel Family Firm has a positive long term effect.
- 75% increase in care experienced young people engaging in positive work related activities.
- 70 young people supported, participating in a wide range of work related activities (since 2016).
- Of current cohort, 36% supported into employment, 40% into further education and training, with remainder receiving 1:1 intensive employability support to remove barriers to work and to move young people up the employability pipeline.
- Ongoing meaningful relationships in place to support pathways to sustained employment.
- Internal Environmental Traineeship programme specifically ring fenced for our Care Experienced Young People within East Renfrewshire now established within the Environment Department.
- Creating positive outcomes for our CEYP across East Renfrewshire through partnership working, consultation with the young people, corporate parenting and relationship based practice.
Learning
The resourceful and innovative approach East Renfrewshire has taken to delivering Family Firm has been recognised as exemplary. The coordinator has shared expertise, learnings and best practice with a number of similar sized local authorities and provided a case study for the Centre of Excellence for looked after children in Scotland (CELCIS).
Co-location across the Environment and Social Work Department has meant robust information sharing, space for collaborative working and opportunity for breaking down ‘silos’.
The programme was awarded the silver COSLA award for better outcomes working in partnership 2018-2019 and shortlisted for the LGC Awards in 2019.
Further Information
Contact Family Firm Coordinator on 07393003851 or emma.aeppli@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk
East Renfrewshire Council - Family Firm Website
https://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/familyfirm
https://www.eastrenchampionsboards.co.uk/help-support/family-firm/