Geographic/Sector Focus: The project will operate in the Midland Region i.e. Counties, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Longford.
Designate Partner: Westmeath Employment Pact Ltd.
Partners:
- Department of Social & Family Affairs;
- Westmeath Community Development Ltd;
- National Counselling Institute of Ireland Ltd.

Project End Date: December 2007

Project Aim: To design and implement an occupational guidance strategy with the Department of Social and Family Affairs, our target groups, and other agencies in the Midlands Region.

Project Objectives:

• To build the capacity of partner organisations to create a systems change in response to the European Employment Guidelines;
• To pilot an intervention with the DSFA; an occupational guidance strategy for clients beginning to make an unemployment payment application with a particular focus on younger people with little or no employment experience and or people parenting alone;
• To develop tools (including a psychometric test package) that will assist in the development of individual occupational progression plans, so as to integrate the unemployed into labour market measures;
• To develop and maintain a strong trans-national partnership based on knowledge and learning;
• To disseminate lessons learned and impact on policy making/makers.

Target Groups: The project will target people under 25 including Lone Parents.

Project Actions:

• Development of model of occupational guidance for DSFA;
• Development of an information system as part of the occupational guidance model;
• Case Conference Network at employment support level;
• Establishment of front-line referral systems;
• Development of a psychometric package as guidance tool.

Project Outputs [products]:

• An Occupational Guidance Strategy;
• Psychometric test package, which can be used as a model for DSFA nationally;
• Development of a standard protocol for case-conferencing;
• Development of a framework document for front-line referral systems;
• Development of a training programme in first line referral systems including;
• Development of a training model in Occupational Guidance & Counselling systems.

Policy Priorities [issues to be addressed by project]: Activation and progression elements of the National Employment Action Plan.

Mainstreaming Strategy: Given that this initiative will be delivered in the Midlands the rollout and the mainstreaming of it nationally will form part of the DSFAs role and contribution to this initiative. Initial discussions with employment support services nationally have resulted in a commitment to provide policy support to the project.

Government Depts Targeted:
- Department of Social & Family Affairs;
- Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment;
- Department of Health & Children;
- Department of Education & Science.

State and Other Agencies Targeted:
- FAS;
- Midlands Health Service Executive.

Name of TCA:
(1) Ireland Wales Estonia;
(2) The Acuarela Partnership.

TCA Number:
(1) Ireland Wales Estonia - Id code: 3864
(2) The Acuarela Partnership TCA TCA Id code: 4388

Aim of TCA:

• The aim of the Ireland Wales Estonia Partnership is to explore and develop models, methodologies and practices that address the exclusion of disadvantaged individuals and communities and validate approaches, systems and processes to lifelong learning, mentoring, progression and labour market integration;
• The aim of the Acuarela Partnership is to explore transnational methods and instruments related to individualised interventions.

Member State of Partners:
(1)Wales, Estonia.
(2) Spain, Italy, Greece.