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Employment & Skills Guide

Vocational ServicesQEF Vocational Services specialise in training

people with disabilities, for sustainable employment.

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2 Vocational Services |Employment & Skills Guide

I hope that by picking up this guide you will discover how

we at QEF Vocational Services might help you to realise

your dreams. We hope to have the opportunity to workwith you to design and deliver a programme that meets

your individual needs - this is not conveyor belt learning.

You will be guided and supported throughout your

journey by friendly, caring and expert staff who are

the most fantastic people I have ever worked with.

Being supported by QEF does not mean you have

to commit to full-time residential attendance.

achieving goals for lifeWhy you should choose us

Welcome to QEF Vocational Services Employment & Skills Guide. This

guide will provide an outline of what we do here at Vocational Servicesand detail how we can help you to achieve your full potential. In reading

this guide you are taking the first step into long term employment.

Welcome notefrom Garry Billing

QEF Vocational Services has 75 years experience

of helping people into work or self-employment.

We strive to deliver excellent service and be

the best at what we do. Our aim is to provide

you with employment opportunities. We will

give you the skills and support needed to gain

employment, while at the same time provide

a safe community for your development.

Our team has a wealth of experience of

guiding trainees into employment, all of which

is conducted with your individual needs in

mind. Over the years we have had countless

success stories with many of our trainees

achieving success in long term employment.

Being here has enabled meto realise a dream. I now haveskills, knowledge, know how, andconfidence. My confidence levelsare up and I know I can do what ittakes to compete in the job market.This has helped change my life.Gary, Maintenance Operations Programme, Trade Skills

Our aim is to deliver a personalised programme

and we are very happy to discuss alternatives that

best fit with your personal circumstances.

I believe that this is an outstanding place, with very

talented people. I look forward to you visiting us soon.

Garry Billing

Director of QEF Vocational Services

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75 years of Success

The team offers a personalised service

starting from an initial skills assessment andprogramme design, through to employment

and further development in the workplace.

We will take pleasure in seeing you progressand develop during your time with us.

Some highlights of our provision include:

Flexibility in programme designWe can tailor programmes to meet your

specific developmental needs. When you

become a trainee at Vocational Services

you will be given access to professionaltrainers and advisers who will work with you

to design a plan for your individual needs.

Employer recognised unitsof creditWe have a wide range of programmes

including employability skills, business,

technology and trade skills so we

have something for everyone. All of

our training is accredited through

awarding bodies (City and Guilds,

OCR, Edexcel, NOCN and CISCO) and

reflects specific employer requirements

in line with industry and business.

Flexibility in deliveryWe consider ourselves a specialist provider

of training. We also recognise that you will

have different needs to the next trainee

and vice versa. We can offer you flexibility

not only in programme design but also in

delivery. We have a rolling intake and offer

a wide range of long and short programmes

to suit your requirements. We also offer

residential provision if the daily commute

is too far or difficult for you to make.

Distance learning may also be possible.

Wealth of adviceWe have a host of advisers to support you

during your time at Vocational Services.

We have a medical team who run an

open surgery as well as welfare officers

who can provide support and also advice

on financial matters as required.

Rural yet accessible surroundingsVocational Services are based in

Leatherhead in beautiful, rural Surrey.

We have superb facilities, both for

training and for social events. The best

way to discover our range of facilities is

to come along to one of our open days,

details of which can be found on page 4.

QEF Vocational Services has over 75 years

of experience in designing and delivering

nationally recognised training courses. Our goal

is to achieve long term employment for you.

ContentsOpen Days 4

Employer 5

engagement

Overview of 6programmes

Your working 7

environment

Employability skills 8

Business skills 9

Technology skills 10

Horticulture & 11Construction skills

Projects 12

Accommodation 13& Leisure activities

Steps to applying 14

& How to find us

For further information and

details of our continued success

please visit our website at

www.qef.org.ukor contact us by

ringing 01372 841100or emailing

[email protected]

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3www.qef.org.uk |achieving goals for life

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Begin your journeyVocational Services Open Days

TraineesThe next step in your pursuit of long term

employment is to attend one of Vocational

Services open days. We hold open days

for trainees on a regular basis and these

are a great way to meet our team, and

to discover how we can help you.

More specifically, attending an

open day will allow you to:

Talk to trainers about our programmes

and how they can be tailored to

meet your personal needs

Talk to key staff in our team about the

application process, job prospects,

welfare issues, medical queries, etc.

Meet with other trainees

Have a tour of the training facilities,

accommodation, and social areas

ProfessionalsIf you are a Disability Employment Adviser,

Incapacity Benefit Personal Adviser or any

other professional working with disabled

people then you will find attending one

of our open days hugely beneficial. We

hold open days for professionals on a

regular basis and these are a great way to

meet our Employment Services team and

other key staff at Vocational Services.More specifically, attending an

open day will allow you to:

Gain an understanding of the work we do

at Vocational Services and how we can

help your clients into employment

See the employment and skills

programmes in action

Meet with our current trainees and hear

how Vocational Services has benefited

them

Have a tour of the facilities so that you can

provide your clients with a fully informativeservice

I found the open dayvery useful. It meansI can visualise VocationalServices when I amdiscussing programmes

with clients.Liz, DEA, Sutt on Job Centre

The talk andaccompanyingpresentation was veryinformative and myexperience of the day

only enhanced mydecision to come to QEF.Gam, Book-keeping & Accounts

programme, Business Skills

For Open Day and Professional

Day dates please contact our

Sales and Marketing Manager

Shirley Clark on 01372 841152or

email [email protected]

For Employer Engagement

please contact our Employer

Engagement Manager, Ash

Khan, on 01372 849876or


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Employer engagementWho we work with

The Employment Services team will work with you to help you to secure

and achieve your ultimate goal of permanent employment. We treatevery trainee as an individual and therefore we will put together an

employment action plan to meet your specific needs. Work experience

is an integral part of all of our programmes and the very important step

in gaining valuable industry experience that employers demand.

Engaging with employers is a hugelyimportant aspect of the services weprovide. Building strong relationshipswith employers not only ensures wedeliver the relevant skills base to

our trainees but also allows us toremain current with the changingneeds of the core skills requiredwithin business and industry.

Over the years we have built upan extensive range of employerswho support us with workexperience placements, working

interviews, job vacancies andprogressive development schemessuch as ApprenticeshipsJennifer Fyson, Deputy Director, QEF Vocational Ser vices

KBR

Bristol Zoo

Leatherhead Theatre

Torquay Boys Grammar School

Mackenzie & Ebert

Pioneer Computers Ltd.

English Landscapes

Steyning Grammar School

Greenfields Community Housing

Brockham Computers

Kingston PCT

Epsom Hospital

Ramada Jarvis

Jurys Inn

Quadrant Housing Association

Esher College

The National TrustCounty Councils

Surrey University

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Explore your potentialNew flexible programmes that meet your needs

Here at Vocational Services we will help you to develop to your full

potential, gain independence, develop your employability skills,

and most importantly gain employment. All of our programmes

involve real work to support you to practice and gain the

confidence, skills, and knowledge of your subject or trade.


Matthews enthusiasm to become aneffective member of his team has provedto be infectious on those he works with. He

represents an excellent role-model to others.Richard, CTE Leatherhead Piping at KBR. Matthew, CAD programme,

Technology Skills, now employed as Design Technician at KBR

All of our programmes are

offered on both a residential

and non-residential provision.

If you need residential provision

please see page 12.

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Your working environmentReal work activities reflecting employers needs

At Vocational Services we are great believers that having the

right working environment is vital to personal development.

We make sure that our traineeswill be gaining skills in anenvironment which is as closeto the real world as possible.Tony, Trade Skills Team Leader

We are situated in a 35 acre site and therefore are in a

fantastic position to provide real hands on training for all

of our programmes. We have extensive facilities including:

Well equipped training facilities

Excellent ICT equipment

Workshops designed to reflect actual working environment

Live onsite work activities

Glasshouses, nurseries, and extensive grounds

Our facilities include the latest technologies,

some of which have been donated by leading

businesses. We are especially grateful to Benchmark

and Dulux for their donation of materials and

for their technical advice and support.

We also have a wide range of sponsors who play

a vital role in what we do. These include:

Winterfold; Rotary Club of Ashtead; Seymours Hardens

Ltd., Showgreen Management Services; D&E Roberts

Ltd.; Eurodata Systems Plc.; Complete Interiors; Inner

Wheel Club of Ashtead; SitSmart; Advanced Power

Developments Ltd.; C Brewer & Sons Ltd.; EnlivenTechnology Ltd.; Pfizer Ltd.; Hillbrow AV Services.

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Following an employment

assessment an individually tailored

programme will be designed

to meet your needs and plan a

route towards employment.

For further information on

Employability or Business Skills

please contact our Business and

Employability Skills Manager,

Jane Heady, on 01372 841133or


Further detailed information

may be found in the back

pocket of this Guide.

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Vocational Services |Employment & Skills Guide8

We can work it outFinding work is hard these days, but with

our team alongside you, you will discover

what you are capable of and have the

motivation to follow it through. Our training

will build your confidence, help you set new

goals and give practical advice to help you

search out and achieve a new role in life.

Our Employability Skillsprogrammes will offer you: Communication Skills

Personal Presentation

Time Management Teamwork Skills

Self Development

Researching Employment Opportunities

A life changing experience,new skills, found my selfesteem coupled withnew found confidence.I have never lookedback since QEF.Fiona, now employed as Instructor at MIT

Getting ready for workEmployability Skills

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Office lifeBusiness Skills

Would you like to work in a Business Skills Environment? Our expert

trainers can provide a range of suitable training to give you theconfidence and ability to work in an administrative role or, if

you are keen on figures, in a financial record keeping capacity,

both offering a wide variety of employment opportunities.

Daniel has been such an asset,fits in well, great member of theteam. I ask him to do somethingand he goes away and gets onwith it. He has slotted in so well.

Rachel Shared Services Manager Cit izens Advice Bureau

It has been a great adventureand I have learnt a great deal ofnew things. I am looking forwardto working at Westergate Schoolwhere I will be using my new skills.

Christian, Office Administration programme, Business Skills

Our Business Skills programmes include: Business Communication: using a range

of Microsoft Office applications

Supporting the organisation of events/meetings

Effective use of business resources

Business Accounting; manual and computerised

(Sage), including Stock Control and Payroll

Spreadsheet Processing using Microsoft Excel

Customer Service

Possible jobs include: Clerical Assistant

Receptionist

Office Administrator

Travel Clerk

Customer Service Advisor

Accounts Assistant

Payroll Assistant

Sales & Purchase Ledger Clerk

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Following an employment

assessment an individually

tailored programme will be

designed to meet your needs

and plan a route towards

employment.

For further information on

Technology or Trade (Horticulture

and Construction) Skills pleasecontact our Trades and

Technology Skills Manager,

Graeme Lisle, on 01372 841173or


Further detailed information

may be found in the back

pocket of this Guide.

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Right connectionsTechnology Skills

Technology is the future and at Vocational Services you can learn the skills

needed to enter this exciting sector. We provide assessment and guidance,tailored training and practical experience to ensure you are on the right

track to a new, fully connected career. Our trainees find employment

in education and local government, as well as the private sector.

This opportunity has beenone more step in the rightdirection, gaining a skilland more confidence, I feelready for the next step.Martin, IT Support Maintenance

programme, Technology Skills

Possible jobs include: IT Technician

First Line Support Technician

IT Maintenance Technician CAD Designer

CAD Operator

CAD Technician

Help Desk Operator

Our Technology Skillsprogrammes include: Computer Aided Design (CAD)

CISCO Essentials

BCS ECDL including Microsoft Word,

Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

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Growing togetherHorticultural Skills

Our Horticulture programme provides opportunities for employment

in many areas. At QEF Vocational Services we have all the facilitiesand opportunities to help you enter that world of work.

Building your futureConstruction Skills

As a trainee you will embark on a programme that is designed

to take you to a level of knowledge which will enable you to

gain the necessary skills and experience for employment.

Horticulture gave me a fantasticfoundation to get back to work.They helped to rebuild my selfesteem and confidence.John, Horticulture programme, Trade Skills, now

employed as Activity Co-ordinator a t Anchor Trust

Our Horticultural Skills programmes include: Soft and hard landscaping

Nursery work

Production work

Possible jobs include: Landscape Contractor

Local Authorities

Nurseries

Amenity Worker

Garden Centres and Glasshouse work

Self Employment

Our Construction Skills programmes include: Painting and decorating (to Dulux standards)

Carpentry

Plumbing

Basic brickwork

Plastering

Taping & jointing

Metal studs and ceilings to British Gypsum specifications

Possible jobs include: Trade Assistant

Maintenance Operative

Painter/Decorator

Plumbers Assistant Caretaker

Handyman

Joinery Workshop Assistant

As well as the care of 35 acres of landscaped grounds

and a two acre nursery with glasshouses, you will

be able to carry out real work landscaping and

carrying out maintenance jobs in the community.

Guided and trained by staff with extensive experience

and qualifications in the industry, you will be working

to current industry standards and provided with theopportunity to experience practical, live work on site.

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Investing in lifeJust a few of our projects

We have many one off and on-going projects at Vocational Services.

We feel it is important that everything you do has an end use and benefitsthe local community. Through your programme you will be involved in

working on genuine projects, just a few examples of these include:

HorticultureWe run an ongoing project at Headley Court which is a

local defence medical rehabilitation centre. We assist

injured servicemen with planting and landscapingwhich supports their rehabilitation. We also grow and

sell Christmas trees, manage a flower stall, provide

wedding flowers and plants for local schools. We have

even laid turf at a 3 million house in Richmond!

ConstructionWe renovate the Vocational Services buildings and engage

in a variety of real life painting and decorating projects.

We also make garden furniture for commercial sale.

BusinessWe provide a service for The Educational Consultants, the

Horticulture Society, and a local kick boxing club. This workincludes designing PowerPoint presentations, schemes of

work and handouts, as well as flyer and poster production.

We have completed a diversemixture of projects, ranging from

planting a sensory garden at AnchorHomes, to a shanty garden at theback of Hammersmith Apollo.Graeme, Trades & Technology Manager

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Too far to travel?Relax and reflect in our extensive and beautiful grounds

And after work, theresleisure timeDiscover our range of sports and social facilities

We are able to accommodate you if you require

residential services. Our accommodation includes:

Single study bedrooms (all with hand-basins)

TV/Common rooms with fridges, microwaves, Sky TV

Launderette facilities

On-site catering

Library

Doctors surgery

Wonderful room with a good view.

The duty officers were brilliant.Michael, Trainee

My room was very peaceful.James, Trainee

Our leisure team organise a wide variety of leisure

and sporting activities so theres always plenty to get

involved in. Whatever your ability there will be an

activity that you can take part in, that we guarantee.

Sporting facilities include: Cricket ground

Football pitch

Tennis/Basketball court

Snooker room

Gymnasium (with disabled facilities and full induction

with a qualified member of staff)

Dart board

Pool table and table football

Keep Fit and Pilates (provided by qualified trainers)

Do you like organising events?Would you like to develop your skills further?We have a wide range of social activities on

offer in the evenings and weekends for you toget involved in, including the following:

Quiz and karaoke nights

Live music and bands

Discos

Talent nights

Film nights

We also have a number of planned tripsthroughout the year including: Cinema and theatre excursions

Country walks

Swimming

Visits to London

Outings to local areas

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Making things happenhow to apply

Ready to start your future?How to find us

Four EASY steps to followIt is advised to apply in good time for our programmes

as they are popular and can fill up fast!

Step One Information Gathering Collect as much information as possible:

Use this guide

Visit our website www.qef.org.uk

Speak to your Disability Employment Adviser

(DEA) at your local Jobcentre Plus

Attend a Trainee Open Day

Step Two Apply for Your ProgrammeContact your DEA or personal advisor. They will complete

your application form with you and send it to us.

The application process was

uncomplicated and went verysmoothly. I was accepted ontomy first choice of course.Scott, Book-keeping & Accounts programme, Business Skills

The admissions process wasexcellent. I attended a twoday assessment interview andsubsequently was offered a place.Ian, IT Support Maintenance programme, Technology Skills

Waterlooto Leatherheador Cobham

(both have taxis available)

Victoriaor London BridgetoLeatherhead

Guildfordto Cobhamor LeatherheadOur address is:

Leatherhead Court

Woodlands Road

Leatherhead

Surrey

KT22 0BN

General enquiries:01372 841100

Email:[email protected]

Website:qef.org.uk

We look forward to seeing you soon,

from all at QEF Vocational Services

Step Three AssessmentYou will be invited to meet us where you will be given

an employability assessment. This will enable us to

provide you with the most appropriate programme of

work with the end goal of sustainable employment.

Step Four Your OfferFollowing the assessment we will write to you confirming

whether we can offer you a place at Vocational

Services and a suitable programme. All you need

to do is to accept your place in writing and we

can identify a start date. It is as easy as that!

M4 &Heathrow Airport

M23 &Gatwick Airport

Stoke Road

Oaklawn Road

Kingston Road

Randalls Road

WoodlandsRoad

Cobham &Stoke DAbernon

Leatherhead

Junction 9Westbound

Junction 9Eastbound

Kingston-upon-Thames&London

Esher & A3

N

Guildford &Southampton

M25

J 9

M25

J 10

For further information please

contact our Admissions Team

on 01371 841113or email

[email protected]

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Raising aspirations andtransforming livesQEF is a national charity that works with people living

with physical and learning disabilities or acquired braininjuries to gain new skills and increase independence.

Whether its learning everyday life skills, rebuilding a life

affected by brain injury, acquiring the skills to drive a

specially adapted car or training for future employment

QEF supports disabled people to achieve goals for life.

OYS3903/10_11

Queen Elizabeths Foundation for Disabled People

Registered Charity No. 251051 Registered in London No. 892013

Head Office

Leatherhead Court

Woodlands Road

Leatherhead

Surrey KT22 0BN

Tel:01372 841100

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.qef.org.uk

QEF Vocational Services

Leatherhead Court

Woodlands Road

Leatherhead

Surrey KT22 0BN

Tel:01372 841100

Email:[email protected]

qef vs 16pp a4_8.1.pdf

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