Work Experience
Health and Safety

Connexions staff undertake Health and Safety checks by visiting employers offering work experience. All new employers are visited before the placement. Employers already offering work experience are visited annually, two yearly or three yearly depending on the type of opportunity they offer. With out these checks placements cannot take place. It is important that new employer forms are returned to school in time so that  the checks can be undertaken.

Interviews

Many employers like to interview you before the placement. This allows you to find out where  the placement is and ask any questions you may have and will give you practice for interviews in the future and is  important part of the learning process.

Agreements

Schools send out agreements to the employer and parents/carers prior to the placement. These agreements outline the opportunity description and risk assessment. These are signed by the employer and the parent and both are returned to school, this should happen BEFORE the placement starts.

How can you get the best out of work experience?

• Ensure new employer forms are completed and returned to school promptly
• Talk to  your parents/carer about the choice of placements you are considering
• Be realistic about transport arrangements and start times
• Make arrangements for an interview
• Prepare for the placement by checking that you know where it is, how to get there and who to see.
• If there are any problems let the school and the employer know e.g. in the event of an illness
• Take an active part in briefing and discuss what you learnt on work experience.