Description
Formal protocols for the referral of young people to specialist support services saves time for the VET provider, and facilitate a quicker response to the learners’ needs.
Countries
Why is this approach useful?
VET providers may not have the capacity to provide all the support a learner needs to continue in education and training. Some young people may need more intensive support related to their education and training, or other challenges they are facing in their lives, such as health or social issues.
The following questions should be answered for VET providers:
- Which organisations or services can offer additional support to our students?
- How can we be sure that the learner is referred to the most adequate support service?
- How can we ensure that the referral is successful, i.e. that they receive support from the service they are referred to and do not ‘fall through the net’?
Why is it a quick win?
Establishing a procedure to determine who a VET-provider should contact to address different support needs of their students does not necessarily involve high costs. The use of formal protocols for the referral of young people saves time for the VET provider, and facilitates a quicker response to the learners’ needs.
How to make this approach successful?
It is important for staff within a VET institution to have a good understanding of the types of issues young people may be facing outside of school (e.g. mental health issues, bullying in various forms, problems at a work-based placement, etc.) and how to spot these. It is also essential for staff working in VET providers to be aware of the services available to young people in their local area (and, if necessary, beyond) and how to refer them to these. It is also crucial to ensure the commitment of VET providers to using the referral systems. They will be responsible for encouraging learners to participate in other support measures as needed. To ensure VET providers’ commitment, it is important to ensure that the referral protocols are easy to use and do not result in an additional administrative burden for VET providers.