Training for educators, internship mentors, vocational teachers and employers

*** No costs - double profit ***

Introduction

For people with an occupational disability, it's often hard to find a job on their own. Lack of working experience may contribute to this, or they might not be able to work (anymore). This group is often considered to be hopeless in this matter. When the correct training and sufficient coaching is offered this group of people, however, a number of people is able to go (back) to work. In other words: these people do have qualities. Especially for this group of people, who want to work (again), Operatie Pelios was developed. But we do more than training this target group. Occupationally disabled people can only access the labour market when this labour market has a positive impression of them and offers vacancies. Before entering a job, occupationally disabled people are vulnerable for dropping out of education, when too little knowledge and adequate coaching opportunities are available. The training for educators and employers is especially developed to coach and train educators, internship mentors, vocational teachers and employers in this subject.

Who can follow this training?

Everybody within an organisation who has to deal with sick and/or occupationally disabled employees can join in for this training: foremen, department heads, chiefs of staff, colleagues, etc.

What happens in this training?

• The total training takes seven sessions and is divided in four modules.
• There is a maximum of 20 participants for each group session.
• After the training sessions, every training participant is offered ten individual coaching appointments.

The training covers several aspects concerning occupationally disabled personnel, sick employees, law and subsidy possibilities:

Module 1: Knowledge of occupational disabilities

Most employees of a company and on the daily work floor are not used to deal with occupationally disabled colleagues. Especially when the handicap is clearly visible or when the behaviour is different from what people are used to, prejudice develops. By enlarging the knowledge about the target group the will to work with them is improved.

In the training, the following topics are discussed:

• the different kinds of disabilities( psychological, physical and/or a combination of the two);
• the specific features of the different kinds of handicaps;
• what do occupational disabilities mean in everyday life and what can be the consequences;
• advice for dealing with occupationally disabled people.

This module takes 2 sessions.

Module 2: Coaching on the work floor

To know what an occupational handicap is does not always mean that one knows how to deal wit hit in everyday practice. This second module further explores the subject of working with occupationally disabled employees. The following subjects will be covered in this module:

• a short introduction about the different kinds of occupational handicaps and the specific features thereof;
• the approach of and interaction with people with an occupational disability on the work floor, and the specific coaching of this target group;
• how to recognize possibilities and limitations;
• techniques of coaching, negotiation and motivation intervention.

This module takes one session.

Module 3: The Gatekeeper Law

In this training part, the consequences of the Gatekeeper Law are discussed and advice is given about the appliance of this law. Participants will learn:

• how to make a reintegration plan;
• how to change this plan if necessary;
• how to conduct coaching sessions;
• how to write an evaluation in case a disability allowance must be requested;
• how to take other steps concerning the Gatekeeper Law.

This module takes 3 sessions.

Module 4: Law & Legislation (Rea)

The Rea law (for the Reintegration of Occupationally disabled people) offers a number of possibilities for employers, such as:

• Premiums for employers - € 2042,00 maximum per year for one occupationally disabled employee;
• Article 29b of Absence law - the obligation to pay salary is covered by the allowance institution;
• Subsidy for extra reintegration costs - when the costs for reintegration are higher than the premium;
• 'No risk'-policy - the financial risk for the employer is restricted during the first five years that the occupationally disabled employee is contracted;
• Salary suppletion (dispensation of wages) - when the actual production of the occupationally disabled employee relates negatively with the salary
• Trial placement on the job - no salary, for 6 months maximum
• Arrangements for employees - like transport, arrangements necessary at the work floor, etc.

In this training the participants will learn to apply these possibilities to his/her company situation.

This module takes 1 session.

No costs, double profits?

Training for employers about the Gatekeeper Law, for instance, are usually very expensive. Because Operatie Pelios is funded by EQUAL and the European Social Fund, we can offer this training without any costs for the participants. This means double profit:

• no training costs
• participating employers will learn how to prevent or limit drop-out of sick or occupationally disabled employees.

Criteria for appliance

The success of "Operatie Pelios" depends partly on the intention and willingness of employers to actually participate. Therefore we ask them to sign an intention statement in which the employer states to offer an internship or paid job in his/her company.

If you want to know more about these training modules, please contact our project management (you can find the address and telephone number at the bottom of this page, or you can send us an ).