Pathways Model
Pathways work with a young person between the ages of 15 and 20 years who have left school early. The young people can come from urban, town land and agricultural rural communities. Pathway’s also works with parents who have a role to play in supporting their son or daughter.
Pathways, based in the youth service, makes a real and practical contribution to the diversity of services working with early school leavers. Pathways are a need-based response that builds on the following suite of services.
Tracking is a proactive identification process of all early school leavers. It uses a modified FAS ‘Client Data Base’ Tracking initiative. Each site of operation will enter all early school leavers into a data base which will be maintained by Pathways. The information will consist of base line information, personal action plans, where they exist, and progress relating to these plans. FAS, Schools, Youthreach and Youth Services will update information.
Young people who have lost contact will be followed up to determine their status and to make an offer of assistance. Other elements of tracking include referrals from agencies working with young people and most importantly, ‘knocking on doors’ and ‘walking the street’. Each of these methods helps us to find those who have disappeared from official view.
Mentoring provides a system of support, guidance and a creative approach to enable young people to move on to the next stage of their lives e.g. return to education, and/or identify appropriate training/employment progression routes.
Facilitating choices enables the young person explore the options, which are available in a given area. The options include returning to education, training and employment. It involves a process of progression linked to a personal action plan developed by the young person.
Supporting schools with those at risk of early school leaving is core to the work of Pathways. This can involve connecting with schools and services – particularly the Home School Community Liaison Officer – to work in a developmental manner with those ‘at risk of leaving’.
Brokering and liaisoning independently with agencies is vital once options have been identified. The focus here for the co-ordinator is to link-up with the most appropriative option identified by the young person. This approach has in some cases seen the establishment of a multi-agency forum that has the capacity to cross-traditional boundaries.
• Identification of needs and realistic options
• Ensuring on-going support and mentoring
Stage 3
• Choosing the future
• Career guidance and planning
• Assessment for work and learning
• Involvement in process by other providers
• Networking – formal and informal
Working Culture
Pathway’s is dedicated to early school leavers including those at risk
of leaving school early. Its aim is best described as a two-pronged approach
focusing on the young person and the services.
Young Person
To secure the inclusion of early school leavers in full-time, mainstream education,
training and work because the best place for a young person is to be included
in society. The Pathways co-ordinator – experienced in mentoring –
will work with the early school leavers and
- Focus on a journey of personal growth and development in an atmosphere that
is non-judgemental and non-discriminatory
- Establish a process of support, guidance and empowerment through exploring
and making meaningful choices from a full range of the option available to them
- Remain independent yet connected to all services.
Multi Agency Approach
To contribute to the building and maintaining of a multi-professional agency
and community-oriented approach. The Pathways co-ordinator will:
- Build trust and confidence that forms the basis of an integrated service offering
real and lasting opportunities
- Facilitate the voluntary and statutory networks to exchange information and
skills.
