First job. guidance for schools
Worktree believes it is important for young people to experience paid work as soon as is practically possible, because it helps them to develop employability skills and confidence – even their motivation to study. No paid employment for a young person under 16 can be approved by the Council unless it meets Council requirements. A Work Permit can only be issued if it is agreed by the parent and school, as well as the employer.
FAQs
- Who administers the process? Worktree will administer the application process, apart from the interview, which the employer will lead. Once employed, the young worker’s employment will be administered by the employer.
- Who is responsible for Health & safety and safeguarding? Employment law requires the employer to provide all employees, whatever their age, with a suitable Health & safety risk assessment and induction, and suitable safeguarding.
- What is the school’s role? As well as signing the Child Work Permit when a student is appointed to a job, we want the school to support this initiative by distributing information to Year 10 students and parents about the opportunity, particularly the webpage where the jobs and all related information can be found.
- How will it be evaluated?
Worktree will conduct a simple evaluation process aimed at answering these four questions:
- How did employers rate the overall performance of part-time workers from beginning to end of the job?
- What impact did the experience have on the workers’ self-esteem and mental health?
- What impact did the experience have on the workers’ motivation for school study?
- What impact did the experience have on finance literacy/ability?
We encourage you to support your student’s application when you are satisfied that the employment opportunity is:
- accessible – it is possible for the student to reach the employer on time by foot, cycle, scooter or by being driven
- safe – the employer has carried out a risk assessment and shared it with your student
- engaging – the work can be carried out enthusiastically by your student.
If you have any questions, please contact info@worktree.org or tel 07962 838685.