Adaptation of the European program Restart 3 to the Spanish situation:

Training for the employment of women heads of lone parent families

Susana Menéndez AmadoRaquel Muñoz Casado

Fernando Lezcano BarberoUniversity of Burgos

Introduction

• Lone parenthood - growing phenomenon78% increase in the number of lone-parent families since 2002

• Because of the economic crisis

Intensification of the social vulnerability of these families

Households headed by lone parents in Spain

Introduction

• Lone-parent families

1.754.000

• Headed by women

82%• Risk of

social exclusion

53,3%

National Statistics Institute, 2015

The Population and Housing census, 2011

Save the Children, 2015

Introduction

• The fundamental problems (Ayllón Gatnau, 2015):

– Economic insecurity – Lack of support in assisting – Childcare.

Women heads of lone-parent families particularly suffer from problems of economic deprivation

Introduction

• Lone-parent families headed by women

Importance of access to employment

• The main source of household income.• The contribution to self-esteem and

meaning in one’s life.

The training program Restart

• The Restart program was implemented for the first time in 2004, in the framework of the EQUAL COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

• Designed by "Gingerbread NI“ (Northern Ireland)

• It has been implemented in NI, Germany, Norway, Poland, Lithuania, Cyprus and Italy

The training program Restart 3

• The Restart 3 Project is aimed to fight against the multiple and complex barriers to employment

– People with disabilities– Young people– Inmigrants– Lone parents

The training program Restart 3

• The Restart programme is accredited by OCN/OCR at Level 2 and was designed by experienced professionals with clear certification methods and learning outcomes.

The training program Restart 3

Financing Transnational Network

Northern Ireland, Poland, Italy & Spain

The training program Restart 3

• The programme consists of a combination of:– Group based learning – Individual coaching and mentoring– Personalised advice and information sessions – A work experience placement with an

employer.

A comprehensive itinerary of dual insertion combining theoretical training (20 sessions) with a traineeship in companies (4-6 weeks).

Restart 3. The theoretical part

Session Content Timetabling Activities

1-13

Self-esteem, self-image, self-confidence, concept of one’s self, personal satisfaction

Skills and Personal responsibilities Identification of Work Preferences

Days 1 - 8 42

Basic skills (Communication skills, Teamwork, Planning and Conflict resolution)

Learning Methods

Days 9-13 29

14 to 15 ICT and Employment Seeking (Updated) 14 and 15 7

16-20

Tools to Seek Work (CV, Letter of presentation, Planning the Job Search, Interview, Job Search Skills)

Days 16 - 18 21

ROLE PLAYING Responding to an ad, Self Promotion,

Interviews from the role of the company and the candidate

19 and 20 12

Total 111

Intervention context

• In Spain, the project has been implemented– In the city of Leon – By the association "Aprende, Coopera y

Emprende" (ACE "Learn, Cooperate and Undertake")

Phase 1

• Identify differentiating elements in the international contexts involved

Phase 2

• Adapt methodology, tecniques and tools (implementation)

Phase 3

• Design of a method to validate the process of implementing the training programme

Adaptation of Restart 3 to the Spanish situation

Phase 1. Identify differentiating elements

– Regulations (state, regional and local) associated with the families involved in the project.

– Social and business sensitivity related to the collective.

– The socioeconomic profile of the target (conceptual definition, needs and specific problems, recognised rights, support and resources for the collective).

– INITIAL INTERVIEWDefinition of the educational and professional profile of the beneficiaries and assessment of their motivation. – DISCUSSION GROUPS Intermediate and final evaluation of the training program. – DIARY OF PARTICIPANTSContinuous assessment.– QUESTIONNAIRESWeekly monitoring of the work placements– FINAL INTERVIEWInterview aimed at women participants for the final assessment

Phase 2. Adapt methodology, tecniques and tools

• The original training program was updated mainly on issues related to information and communications technology, principally incorporating smartphones and social networks as tools of communication and support among the participants

• It aims to collect information on:1. Organisation / Local partners 2. Profile of beneficiaries 3. Recruitment of participants 4. Training delivery 5. Employment placements 6. Dissemination and sustainability

Phase 3. Design of a method to validate the process

Conclusions

• Mothers who face the care and maintenance of their children alone require adaptation and flexibility of working time in order to achieve a work life balance.

• Restart 3 promotes the development of self-esteem and personal security.

• It also facilitates networking among women in the same situation.

• Awareness of the need for flexibility and conciliation from the business community.

Thanks

• Restart 3. Reference: Cooperation and innovation. Good Practices. European Union. Erasmus + 2014.

• Evaluation of the impact of the development of core competencies on academic performance in secondary education: proposal for teacher training and innovation. Reference: EDU2015-64524 -   . Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. R & D projects. Round 2015

• Gingerbread NI and Possibilities NI.

… And thank you