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A guide to Work Based Training and Social Enterprise in Mid Essex

Contents

Overview of Work Based Training............................................

Our Services Across Essex........................................................

The Role of Linked Employment................................................

Roundwood Garden Centre & Café.........................................

Greenacre..................................................................................

Strawberry Fields.......................................................................

A Glossary of Essex Cares Services..........................................

Pricing Information....................................................................

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Overview of Work Based Training

Essex Cares offers Work Based Training from 16 sites across the county, providing time limited work experience within a fully functioning business. Vocational Work Based Training enables adults with learning disabilities to gain skills and confidence enhancing their opportunities for employment in the future.

Our specialities include:

Catering

Conferencing

Hospitality

Horticulture

Printing

Recycling and packaging

The Work Based Training sites also offer high quality, excellent value products and services for sale to the general public. This allows our trainees to not only gain skills in that specific sector but also in customer services, gaining a valuable insight into working with the general public, a key factor for future employment. All income generated by the Work Based Training sites is reinvested into the businesses to improve the services on offer to trainees.

3Countywide

Mid Essex

Our services across Essex

South Essex

North EssexWest Essex

4 Countywide

5Countywide

South Essex

Barley TwistTel: 01268 271042Catering & hospitality

Copy Cats 2Tel: 01277 222135Design, print & reprographics

Book Rest Café BrentwoodTel: 07584 580480Hospitality

Book Rest Café BasildonTel: 07584 580479Hospitality

West Essex

Café GoodmanTel: 01279 404949Catering & hospitality

Copy CatsTel: 01799 522145Design, print & reprographics

Noah’s CaféTel: 07871 197041Catering & hospitality

North Essex

Book Rest Café ColchesterTel: 07794 769061Hospitality

Book Rest Café ClactonTel: 07901 848916Hospitality

Oakwood Plough CornerTel: 01255 860550Catering, hospitality & horticulture

Treetops CaféTel: 01206 871320Catering & hospitality

Oakwood PackagingTel: 01255 436967Contract packing

Red HouseTel: 01621 815219Catering, hospitality, horticulture & creative design

The role of Linked Employment

Essex Cares’ Linked Employment service specialises in placing working age adults with disabilities into a paid job of their choice. Essex Cares work with both the employee and the employer to find jobs that match skills, experience and individual aspirations. Essex Cares support initially with CV writing, job searches and interview techniques, and over the longer term coach individuals during the first few weeks of starting a new role.

Essex Cares continues to support employers with the primary aim of ensuring that employees continue to succeed and develop, completing their job to a high standard. Linked Employment has great benefits for everyone involved.

Linked Employment offers employers…

Highly-motivated employees who will take a pride in their work. People carefully matched to specific jobs. Jobs well done – with the professional support of the Essex Cares’ job coaches where necessary. An opportunity to help someone who will benefit from the stimulation of employment. An opportunity to show a true commitment to the Equal Opportunities legislation and the Disability Discrimination Act. Assistance for the employee in the new job, until they’re able to work independently. Support throughout the whole process and a commitment to provide ongoing information, advice and guidance. Consultancy services for employers relating to positive policies and practices in relation to employment of disadvantaged people.

6 Countywide

… and employees

The stimulation of real and purposeful employment.Employment opportunities where the work is paid at national minimum wage or above. Training offering specific skills that can assist with gaining employment. For example interview techniques and CV writing. Job opportunities from just one hour a week to full time.Opportunities to be recognised for their abilities rather than their disabilities. Increased self-confidence, leading to the possibility of more demanding tasks.The knowledge that they are a valued part of their community.Assistance for the employee in the new job, until they’re able to work independently. Support throughout the whole process and a commitment to provide ongoing information, advice and guidance.

William celebrated 20 years at The Wine Company in Colchester in 2012.

“I like it here because I get out and about and work with lots of nice people”

William’s Manager said, “He is a very valuable employee – he’s full of enthusiasm and is as diligent, hardworking and honest as any member of my team.”

7Countywide

North Essex8 Mid Essex8

Roundwood Garden Centre & CaféBraintree

Roundwood Garden Centre is based on the outskirts of Braintree serving the local communities’ gardening needs, as well as being an ideal place to grab a bite to eat and a great cup of coffee. With the guidance and support of the dedicated team there, trainees can achieve the vital skills needed to take that next step into employment.

The catering training at Roundwood covers all aspects of food preparation, cooking, baking, hygiene and serving of food. Training also involves the provision of tea and coffee facilities and buffet lunches for the centre’s conference room.

The café is open to the public seven days a week offering a wide range of customer service training opportunities. Trainees receive till training and are responsible for taking orders, preparing drinks, providing waiter service and clearing tables.

The centre’s horticultural training includes learning about plant care, product growing and landscaping.

“I do enjoy the work here at Roundwood. I work in the kitchen and café and have been here since it first opened.”

- Esther, trainee at Roundwood Cafe

9North Essex

Find us at:

Roundwood Garden CentreChurch StreetBockingBraintreeEssexCM7 5LJ

Tel: 01376 551728 Fax: 01376 551728

Email: roundwood@essexcares.org

Opening Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 8.30 am – 4.30 pm Friday: 8.30 am - 4.00 pm Saturday: 9.00 am - 4.30 pmSunday: 10.00am - 4.00 pm

Mid Essex 9

Mid Essex10

GreenacreChelmsford

Greenacre is a training co-operative for adults with learning disabilities offering bite-sized training in food preparation, hospitality and horticulture. Set in over three acres of beautifully maintained gardens, Greenacre is well placed with access from the A12 and only a short drive from Chelmsford city centre.

Catering and hospitality training at Greenacre is provided in a very busy conference centre, where visitors require working lunches and refreshments. The centre also regularly provides buffet catering for external events. Training is provided on all aspects of catering and customer service giving trainees a realistic experience in a supportive environment.

Greenacre is set in beautiful grounds that are perfect for horticulture training. The horticulture training provides an insight into a number of different activities including instruction in how to grow plants, how to look after plants and how to keep the grounds clean, tidy and maintained throughout all the seasons of the year.

Produce grown in the grounds are used in the kitchens at Greenacre.

“I like to work at Greenacre to learn

to make a meal and to help give meals to people

in the offices upstairs for their

lunch”

11Mid Essex

Find us at:

Newport HouseHollycroftMolrams LaneSandonChelmsfordEssexCM2 7TL

Tel: 01245 477280 Fax: 01245 475722

Email: greenacres.conferencing@essexcares.org

Opening Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 9.00 am – 4.30 pm Friday: 9.00 am - 4.00 pmWeekends: Open for specific events and conferences only

Mid Essex12

Strawberry FieldsBraintree

Strawberry Fields is a Work Based Training service for people seeking a career in catering and hospitality, offering skills and confidence in a safe, supportive and friendly environment.

Strawberry Fields is based in the Carousel Children’s Centre in Braintree. The team there provide meals and snacks for a busy Sure Start Children’s Centre, catering for more than 50 children, making snacks and meals that meet strict Government guidelines on nutrition. They also run a community café from the main hall, which is open five days a week offering a variety of snacks and drinks in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere for a number of community groups which use the facility on a weekly basis. In addition the centre caters for outside events and provide buffets that deliver quality and value, throughout the Braintree and Witham areas.

The centre offers the opportunity to gain experience within a fully working commercial kitchen, encouraging independence, increased confidence, work related skills and knowledge. They specialise in training based on good health and safety practice and food hygiene, so whether customers are looking to gain paid employment in catering or want to improve their domestic skills, Strawberry Fields can help.

13Mid Essex

Find us at:

Strawberry FieldsCarousel Children’s CentreChapel HillBraintreeEssexCM7 3QZ

Tel: 01376 556862 Fax: 01376 327263

Email: jon.bloomfield@essexcares.org

Opening Hours:

Monday - Friday: 9.30 am – 3.00 pm Closed weekends

A Glossary of Essex Cares Services

Reablement - helping individuals to regain the skills and confidence that they need to remain independent in their own home after a spell in hospital or a period of ill health.

Outreach - supporting individuals at home and within their local community.

Home Share - Host Carers offering day support at their home for a small group.

Sensory Service - providing training and advice in daily living skills to promote safety and independence and providing specialist equipment for hearing and/or visually impaired adults.

Telecare - fully trained staff on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 365 days a year to visit homes following emergency calls from bed sensors, door sensors, smoke alarms etc.

HomeSafe – a range of products and services offering everything you may need to support independence at home and in the local community. Aids and equipment can be delivered to your door and adaptations completed by trained assessors.

Wellbeing & Activity Centres – supporting older adults or those with learning disabilities to remain active in their communities.The centres offer a wide variety of activities on and off site all of which encourage and aid independence.

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Pricing Information

Day (6 hours)

AM or PM (3 hours)

Hourly Rate

Work Based Training One to One Support

£120 £60 £20

Work Based Training Group Support

£35 £20 £8

Linked Employment support will be charged on an hourly rate of £27.

VAT will be charged where applicable.

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For more information about any of these services please contact the centres directly.

For information regarding services within other areas of Essex Cares please call us on 0845 835 0150.

Bente WilsonHead of Service for Work Based Training & Social EnterpriseTel: 07775 757 004

Karen Canny - Operational Manager Mid EssexTel: 07585 983 407

0845 835 0150www.essexcares.orginfo@essexcares.org

Printed by Copy Cats Saffron Walden. For sales enquiries email copycats@essexcares.org

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