Work Coach Review

I am currently undergoing the Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme. I have been placed with the Department for Work and Pensions as a Work Coach. I intercat daily with the public, helping claimants get into work. I become responsible for a caseload of claimants who I will regularly interview.

With this apprenticeship scheme I will gain a Level 4 in Professional Business Administration which I undertake externally with other apprentices within the Civil Service. I also attend many workshops which are related to my job role, I attend these with other colleagues and I am made to feel like a proper member of stff. Interacting with a wide range of people has boosted my confidence and has given me the ability to handle situations in a more mature approach.

Initially I was nervous about joining a team and being the yougest member. This was soon proved not to be the case, as I was immediately welcomed in and felt as I belonged. It was more than I expected as to start with I had no idea what to expect. Everyone has a stigma about how apprenticeships are minimum pay and that you do not get as much responsibilities, but this is completely wrong!

You are able to build a rapport with your line manager so that if you have any quiries you have someone to talk to. I was also assigned a mentor who taught me evrything that I needed to know about the job role. This made me feel valued as I always felt that there was someone there to listen to me and appreciate my ideas.

I had a slow start to my programme as I was supposed to be placed in Septemer but this actually took until December as there seemed to be no communication between the resoucing centre and my department. In terms of support and training this has been very well organised, as from day one I had a structured training course.

Again, I had a slow start from my training advisor QA, I started in December 2016 and I did not have my first initial meet with my assessor until April 2017. However the support that they do offer is excellent. I will meet with my assessor every six weeks to see how my learning is going and I also have an online account where I can keep track of my progress.

Initially my employer was unaware of the process for apprentices, as I was the first in the office. After we had recieved more information regarding the apprenticeship, my manager was able to offer me more advice. My mentor has been especially helpful, if it was not for them I would not feel as confident in my job role.

The only implication of this apprenticeship for me was the fact I would have to travel over an hour to get to my office. Although the salary of this apprenticeship made it worth it!! For an 18 year old to get £23,000+ as an apprentice is extrodinary! This more than covers my daily costs, and it also means that I am now able to contribute to my parents.

You get many opportunities to do different projects alongside your daily role which makes the job more intresting. As an apprentice you also get the chance to attend events to talk to future apprentices about your experience. In the office as well, there are often events which are run socially which you get the chance to particiapte in, this has been from going to a night at the dogs to playing tennis.

Yes

It allows you to have endless opportunities not only whilst on the apprenticeship scheme but after too. After your apprenticeship you are eligable to apply for the Fast Sream Apprenticeship without a degree! You then also have the ability to build your way up in any government department that intrests you.

With the application process you just need to answer the tests to the best of your ability, I did not manage to complete my tests so I automatically assumed I would not get the job, but I was wrong! My main tip for the assessment day is to make sure that you are confident. During the group exercise you should make sure that you relay your thoughts but also encourage others to share theirs. If you are lucky enough to be successfull, then once you start, I strongly recommend that you take every opportunity that you are given.