A GROUP of students are celebrating successfully completing a course which will guarantee them an interview with a national care group.

BRAG Enterprises, based at the Crosshill Centre, run their ‘Introduction to Care’ course in order to provide people who are interested in becoming a carer to learn about the skills and experience they need to get a job in the industry.

All candidates are guaranteed an interview with Avondale Care, and within the last year more than half of the participants on the course have gained employment within the care sector in a variety of roles, from care and activities staff to escorts on care home mini buses.

The pilot programme first ran in 2013 and the course, which is delivered at Lochore’s Benore Care Home, covers a variety of topics, including fire safety, palliative care and manual handling. The training also incorporates employability sessions, including CVs, writing applications and interview techniques.

Students on the course said that they felt more confident after the course, and made them feel a lot better about getting into employment as well as giving them a better understanding of the care sector.

Kirsten Spence, youth and community development manager, at BRAG, thinks that the project has been extremely successful.

“This course makes a big difference to individuals who may be very nervous about getting back into employment and helps to build confidence and self-esteem as well as providing an informal learning environment and opportunities for socialising with others,” she explained.

“Being given the opportunity to take part in sessions within a care home setting is also very beneficial for the participants.

“Often we see a real change in a participant’s outlook for their future after having taken part in this course.

“Sometimes it just gives them the confidence to believe that they can achieve, and participants often choose to go onto college to develop their skills further rather than looking at going straight into employment.”