Employment, Education and Training

Our long established Employment, Training and Education programmes work with local authorities and agencies such as Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), National Offender Management Service, Education Funding Agency (EFA) and Job Centre Plus.

Employment and Training Support

We deliver specialist support for service users with complex health and social situations, including long term unemployment, offending histories, those with substance misuses issues, disabled people and other minority groups, all of which can face barriers to entering the labour market.

We help people to identify and remove these potential barriers in accessing employment. With the service user, we create a course of action to get them back into the work environment. We help them to gain qualifications and skills, and to create a work record which provides that all important springboard into employment.

Individual Placement and Support

Individual Placement Support (IPS) is an evidence-based employment support service that is integrated into substance use services and aims to help people find and retain employment.

IPS involves intensive, personalised support, a rapid job search and, for those who secure employment, continuing in-work support. After initially launching as a Government pilot project at Humankind’s service in Staffordshire, we have now been commissioned to deliver the programme in South Tyneside and Gateshead, Leeds and Cumbria.

The embedded service works alongside our drug and alcohol treatment services with IPS Employment Specialists providing individually tailored support to help people find and choose the right job for them and stay in the role. By using a personalised and strength-based approach to support people, IPS aims to help people find paid jobs within just weeks of being referred to the service. 

Visit the IPS webpage or watch this video to find out how our Individual Placement and Support scheme works and how we can help your business find skilled and committed staff members who can meet your recruitment needs.

Sefton and Bootle Restart

For people who are out of work, the Restart Scheme can help build their confidence, skills and find a job that is right for them.

We provide a programme of support for anyone who lives in Sefton, is unemployed and seeking work, and has been in receipt of Universal Credit for more than 12 months.

Sefton Restart offers support that is more focused and personalised than that available from the Job Centre. People are matched with an Employment Coach to create a tailored plan to helping them every step of the way, which includes:

• Focus on job search
• Provide 1:1 coaching
• Offer advice and guidance on applying and interviewing for appealing roles
• Provide support to enhance health and wellbeing
• Settle into new roles once work is found and assist with benefits, training, career progression, and more

Self-esteem and motivation

Our employment and training services look at the person’s wider situation. We help people with their self-esteem and motivation and we prepare them for employment, training and education. Flexible options for our service users include:

• Structured work placements with statutory and voluntary organisations
• Volunteer placements
• Vocational routes
• Access to training
• Opportunities to gain qualifications
• Job search
• Employability preparation courses
• In work support

Establishing career interests

Our Employer Engagement Advisor works with learners alongside their tutor to establish career interests and will then source a suitable work placement to meet career needs.

Humankind has built up excellent relationships with local employers who have successfully provided placements for our young people. We work with over 20 local employers including including NHS, EXCEL Centre, M&Co. Classy Pawz, MEARS, Palram, Autosafe, More Time, Wild Animal Adventures, Wetheriggs Zoo and Animal Sanctuary, Studio28, Endeavour Woodcrafts, Little Cubs, Independent Living, County Durham Housing Group, Hilton Road Garage.

A clear focus on transition

We work in collaboration with Local Authorities, building contractors, colleges and employers (including SMEs) to ensure that provision of our training and employment services are reflective of local labour market demands.

Humankind Education

Humankind Education has achieved the status of ‘Grade 1 Outstanding’ by Ofsted.

Humankind Education offers services for young people aged 16 to 18. We are an independent training provider, specialising in working with people who have significant barriers to learning and providing tailored support to improve their education and employment prospects.

The study programme

Humankind’s Study Programme, called Steps 4 Success, is funded via the EFA. It’s personalised and designed to challenge learners, and it improves their skills for employment and independent living. The programme covers:

• Development of vocationally-specific work skills linked to accreditation with an extensive work placement
• Accredited personal social development programme
• Development of English, maths and ICT Functional Skills
• Enrichment activities

We provide support and activities which are highly structured and which enable learners to overcome barriers to progress such as problems relating to housing, finance, leaving care and drug and alcohol misuse.

All programmes include a work experience element including placements in local cafes, administration, animal care, NHS IT support, game-keeping, childcare, adult day services and retail. A work placement provides valuable experience of the work environment and supports learners in deciding on future careers or study options.

Work & Skills

Move Forward Tees Valley – UKSPF Delivered by Tees Valley Employability Partnership led by Humankind

Intensive, ongoing 1:1 support to participants, regularly reviewing needs throughout their time on the programme (including once in work). Intensive support will be complemented by a range of specialist services (delivered by Humankind’s 10 delivery partners) as well as support to navigate the wider support system across the Tees Valley.

Individuals must be economically inactive, aged 16+, living in the Tees Valley and eligible to work in the UK

Tees Valley LEAP – Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, Delivered by Tees Valley Employability Partnership led by Humankind

Services delivered to individuals supporting them to improve health and well-being, become active in their communities, improve their financial situation and move into training, education or employment.

Open to 18+ with barriers to employment, living in the Tees Valley and eligible to work in the UK

Sunderland – Relational Mentoring in partnership with The Wise Group

Our Relational Mentoring service provides free-to-access, holistic support to help you deal with the issues you are experiencing and to make positive steps forward. By working with people across a diverse set of 15 needs, ranging from housing, wellbeing, health and heating, multiple barriers can be tackled at once to give you the foundation to move forward with your life.

Individuals must be economically inactive, aged 16+, living in Sunderland and eligible to work in the UK.

Sunderland: Referral Form

Also available in Newcastle & North Tyneside: Referral Form but not delivered by HKD

Durham is funded by Bernicia Housing

Place-based employability support for those furthest from the labour market in Sherburn Road and surrounding areas.