Are you at risk of redundancy, newly redundant or unemployed? HSDC can support you through this difficult time.
Built around developing or learning new skills and increasing confidence, HSDC has programmes specifically designed in partnership with employers, local authorities and job centres. This means that we meet not only your needs but the employment opportunities within our local communities. We offer courses suitable for various industries including Business Administration, Customer Service, Retail, Digital Skills, Warehousing & Storage, IT Users, Prevention & Control of Infection, Hospitality & Catering. These courses can take place onsite or via online learning and are offered at various levels including levels 3 and 4.
Using dedicated staff with industry experience and delivering nationally-recognised qualifications, these programmes are fully funded if you are unemployed and in receipt of benefits such as UC, JSA and ESA.
For full information about these employment support programmes and how they could benefit you to find your next job or career, please contact us using the form on this page. Alternatively, we are able to offer distance learning qualifications.
Effects of COVID-19
We know that COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the community, with many experiencing redundancies and unexpected drops in income. We are here to support those that find themselves in unknown territory or those who need a boost to help find employment, whether that be through courses, with job applications or with CV writing.
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we have had to adapt to ensure that we can continue to support you, and as such we are currently adapting our programmes below to be delivered online via tutor-led workshops, which would have usually been delivered onsite at JobCentre Plus – although we hope to be back when it is safe to be! Online programmes will take approximately two weeks to complete. Take a look below at the courses that are available to you and contact our team using the form on this page to get the employment support you need.
Course/qualification
NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care
Aims and objectives of this qualification
This qualification provides an ideal taster for learners interested in, or who may be new to the Adult Social Care sector as well as those looking at a career change. It is accessible to learners of all ages who may want to understand more about working in health and social care. It aims to introduce some basic concepts of caring and preparation for employment in the sector.
Entry requirements
This qualification is open to candidates or customers who are 19+ and who are in receipt of one of the following benefits: JSA, Universal Credit, ESA WRAG, Income Support.
To find out more about entry requirements and what will be covered on the course, view the course information sheet.
Course/qualification
NCFE Level 1 Certificate in Employability Skills
Aims and objectives of this qualification
Boost is an exciting new employability programme that has been collaboratively designed by HSDC and Job Centre Plus (JCP), for those who are at risk of redundancy or newly redundant due to the dramatic changes in the labour market caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as current JCP customers.
The overall objective of Boost is to offer support to customers during times of uncertainty and changes in circumstances, to reassess their key skills, knowledge and abilities and to build self-confidence via a series of tutor-led workshops and peer support within their groups to enable customers to transition successfully back into employment. Boost is usually delivered as a classroom-based course but is currently offered to groups as an online tutor-led programme. Classroom delivery will resume once it is safe to do so.
Boost is a two-week programme that uses an Employability Skills qualification to underpin elements aimed at enhancing job searching activities, creating successful applications and achieving positive job outcomes. As well as this, the programme aims to boost customer soft skills such as communication, team working, problem solving and IT, to reinvigorate and have confidence in their abilities and to sell these to the labour market or consider self-employment opportunities.
Customers will cover the following units:
- Job Application Skills
- Interview Skills
- Writing a CV
- Understanding Mindset
- Understanding Motivation
- Business and Customer Awareness
- How to Keep Improving
- Developing Assertiveness
- Creative Thinking
- Coping with Change
- Health & Safety in the Workplace
Entry requirements
This programme is open to candidates or customers who are 19+ and who are in receipt of one of the following benefits: Universal Credit, JSA, ESA WRAG, Income Support or who is at Risk of Redundancy.
Candidates may be required to undertake a Literacy Assessment in order to ascertain their competency (usually Level 1 Literacy) with regards to completing a portfolio of work successfully.
To find out more about what will be covered on the courses, check out the course information sheet.
Course/qualification
NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Principles of Business & Administration
Aims and objectives of this qualification
This qualification is suitable for learners who are returning to work, preparing for the workplace, or upskilling in their current role. This versatile qualification aims to provide learners with the underpinning knowledge that is required by employees to work in a range of different environments in a business administration role carrying out a range of administrative tasks.
Entry requirements
This qualification is open to candidates or customers who are 19+ and who are in receipt of one of the following benefits: JSA, Universal Credit, ESA WRAG, Income Support.
To find out more about entry requirements and what will be covered on the course, check out the course information sheet.
Course/qualification
NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Cleaning Principles
Aims and objectives of this qualification
This qualification is useful for anyone either working in or wanting to work in, the cleaning and support industry including care homes, health and social care, schools and colleges, facilities, industrial and domestic cleaning as well as commercial cleaning such as retail, businesses and hospitality.
Entry requirements
This qualification is open to candidates or customers who are 19+ and who are in receipt of one of the following benefits: JSA, Universal Credit, ESA WRAG, Income Support.
To find out more about entry requirements and what will be covered on the course, check out the course information sheet.
Course/qualification
NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Principles of Customer Service
Aims and objectives of this qualification
This qualification is suitable for learners who are returning to work, preparing for the workplace or upskilling in their current role. This versatile qualification aims to provide learners with the underpinning knowledge that is required by employees to work in a wide range of sectors and different environments within a customer service role.
Entry requirements
This qualification is open to candidates or customers who are 19+ and who are in receipt of one of the following benefits: JSA, Universal Credit, ESA WRAG, Income Support.
To find out more about entry requirements and what will be covered on the course, check out the course information sheet.
Course/qualification
NCFE Level 1 Certificate in Digital Skills
Aims and objectives of this qualification
This qualification is aimed at individuals who would like to develop their understanding of, and competency in, digital literacy skills. It will provide opportunities to acquire the practical and navigational skills required to effectively use an online presence to search new job roles. This qualification will also help those learners wishing to progress to a work role where digital literacy skills are required.
Entry requirements
This qualification is open to candidates or customers who are 19+ and who are in receipt of one of the following benefits: JSA, Universal Credit, ESA WRAG, Income Support.
To find out more about entry requirements and what will be covered on the course, check out the course information sheet.
Course/qualification
NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Hospitality & Catering Principles
Aims and objectives of this qualification
This qualification is designed for those who already work in, wish to return to or wish to work in the hospitality sector.
Entry requirements
This qualification is open to candidates or customers who are 19+ and who are in receipt of one of the following benefits: JSA, Universal Credit, ESA WRAG, Income Support.
To find out more about entry requirements and what will be covered on the course, check out the course information sheet.
Course/qualification
NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Nutrition & Health
Aims and objectives of this qualification
This qualification is designed for a wide range of learners and is ideal for those who are interested in improving their understanding of nutrition and diet, their role in improving and maintaining health and wellbeing, and how attitudes toward food can influence and impact on wellbeing.
Entry requirements
This qualification is open to candidates or customers who are 19+ and who are in receipt of one of the following benefits: JSA, Universal Credit, ESA WRAG, Income Support.
To find out more about entry requirements and what will be covered on the course, check out the course information sheet.
Course/qualification
NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Retail Operations
Aims and objectives of this qualification
This qualification is designed for those new to, or seeking employment in, the retail industry.
Entry requirements
This qualification is open to candidates or customers who are 19+ and who are in receipt of one of the following benefits: JSA, Universal Credit, ESA WRAG, Income Support.
To find out more about entry requirements and what will be covered on the course, check out the course information sheet.
Course/qualification
NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Principles of Warehousing & Storage
Aims and objectives of this qualification
This qualification is designed for learners who want to enter and/or progress from entry roles in the Warehousing & Storage industries. Learners will develop the underpinning knowledge necessary to support them in their role in this sector. Completion of this qualification will support progression into employment or into higher-level roles in the industry.
Entry requirements
This qualification is open to candidates or customers who are 19+ and who are in receipt of one of the following benefits: JSA, Universal Credit, ESA WRAG, Income Support.
To find out more about entry requirements and what will be covered on the course, check out the course information sheet.
