Support For Unemployed Job-seekers
The wide range of help for people in Edinburgh who are not working can be found through these pages and the websites of our partner agencies, especially Jobcentre Plus and Careers Scotland.
The information on this site and the Directory will help find the best organisation for each individual. If someone then needs additional support the organisation they start with can easily find that service and refer them on to it – there should be no wrong door.
Organisations which have signed the Joined-up Pledge have committed to playing their part in making this happen.
Does your client need initial advice about services for people seeking work?
Careers Scotland, Guidance Access Points and local area intermediaries provide initial advice about all the services which can help someone get work. They help people find the best service for their needs and will make onwards referral where appropriate. We call this signposting. The Directory shows which organisations offer this signposting service. Any organisation which supports our Joined-up Pledge can signpost to all the other services on our Directory.
Does your client need help developing employability
and getting the job they want?
There are many organisations which help unemployed people get the job they want. Most of these have eligibility criteria - they are available for particular groups or areas rather than for everyone - which are described on the Directory.
Before successfully applying for work many people need to develop their employability in order to get ready for their chosen job or for work in general. We call this Employability Development and it is a core service of most organisations on our Directory.
Anyone over 18 receiving benefit payments will get help from Jobcentre Plus; the advice and support available and the expectations of them will be made clear to them by JCP staff.
Careers Scotland provides an all-age careers guidance service through which, according to an individual’s need, its staff will give advice, assessment and an action plan for meeting career goals. Some other organisations also provide this for the groups they serve (see Directory).
What is Employability Development?
Employability Development helps job-seekers plan routes to work through a combination of Advice, Assessment and an Action Plan. This is agreed and implemented by the individual and the organisation. For more information about what you can expect and overview of the many activities which may be part of the Action Plan, click here.
Most Action Plans will include preparation for the actual jobs which the individual is looking for. This will usually involve learning the attitudes and skills needed by employers - work preparation or skills training for that occupation. Action Planning should also cover any circumstances and problems which need to be sorted out before starting work.
Being competent at applying for jobs is also important so Employability Development often requires help with jobsearch skills, c.v. preparation and interview techniques. In addition some organisations can work with the individual to search for and apply for specific jobs.
Help with overcoming additional barriers to work
Some people who are dealing with more significant barriers to work need more support along the pathway to work. For information about help for people out of work for some time or who have greater needs click here for the next page.
