14 professionals from Romanian work integration social enterprises (WISEs) have successfully completed the first European pilot training program for the socio-professional insertion of disadvantaged workers.

Designed according to a European methodology, within the B-WISE project, the programme brought to the attention of specialists supporting disadvantaged workers topics such as: organizational transformation, digitalization and innovative strategies in supporting work integration and supported employment.

The course was a valuable opportunity to exchange best practices, to learn about job coaching, social innovation, digital transformation and change management in social insertion enterprises (ISI).

Participants appreciated the multitude of practical examples and learning about digital tools that will simplify and enrich their work.

An added value element of the course was the visit to the social enterprises UtilDeco and JobDirect (whose mission is the socio-professional integration of people from vulnerable groups).

?Câteva lecții valoroase după derularea acestui curs pilot:

At UtilDeco the participants had the opportunity to see a variety of activities and workshops in which disadvantaged people work, and at JobDirect they saw how the CASPER assessment system works – a complex tool for assessing people with disabilities in Romania aged 12-60 years.

Here are some valuable lessons from this pilot course

Supporters have a complex and often overwhelming role

A supporter has a huge responsibility and an extremely complex function. Perhaps the most complex function out of the 3 categories identified in the B-WISE report on occupational profiles in the ISI (leaders, supporters, disadvantaged workers).

Supporters have responsibilities towards the organization and towards the employees they guide in the insertion process. They also communicate with other stakeholders of the organization (public authorities, community, other ISIs or partner organizations). As has been highlighted in the document on Competences needed, the insertion support specialist requires multidisciplinary and transversal competences.

Continuous learning is a success factor

• Continuous training is essential to increase employee performance and employee satisfaction (for support specialists as well as for disadvantaged or beneficiary employees).
  
• Training in physical format is always most appreciated.
  
• Access to courses and resources are a necessity and a way to motivate and support them.

Supporters need coaching and coaching training

Sometimes I feel alone with all the problems…

The testimonial of a participant with many years of experience in working with vulnerable people

Coaching courses for Supporters would be extremely useful for their personal and professional development.

On the one hand, coaching techniques would help them to be better equipped to manage the complex role they play, to rediscover their inner resources for development. On the other hand they would be better equipped to guide, mentor and help disadvantaged workers to succeed.

By tailoring coaching techniques to the particularities of vulnerable workers, employees in a support role would be able to help insertion employees or beneficiaries reach their full potential on the job. This would bring real transformation in the organization and be a source of added value.

Sharing good practice with other organizations is essential

• Sharing good practice with other organizations is perhaps the best learning resource. Study visits or training programs combined with study visits are useful.
  

Integrating digital tools can simplify and streamline work, leaving more room for impact activities

• The course helped participants to see digital tools in a different perspective. If at the beginning there was a reluctance to use digital tools in the social field, as we tested different digital tools, participants realized that they can simplify work, streamline work processes, leaving room for more interactive, social impact activities.
  
• Digital tools can improve communication with the team and beneficiaries, they can streamline work, but they cannot replace direct contact, personal feedback and face-to-face discussions.
  
• Digital tools are mostly relevant for support staff and less for disadvantaged workers (who lack basic knowledge or even access to technology).
  
• The use of digital tools involves costs and it is necessary to allocate financial resources and sufficient time for learning (most often for social insertion enterprises these costs are too high).
  

☆ The course was organized by ADV Romania and Rise Romania – Romanian Network of Social Insertion Enterprises, within the Blueprint for Sector Cooperation on Skills in Work Integration Social Enterprises – B-Wise Project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.
The training program had a duration of 44 hours – 20 hours in online format (20 – 22 November) and 24 hours in physical format Iași, at the headquarters of the Foundation “Alături de Voi” Romania (ADV Romania), between 24 – 26 November 2023.

14 employees from 9 Romanian WISEs attended the course

We were delighted to have wonderful people from social insertion social enterprises from all over the country:

• OilRight – Timisoara
  
• Touched Romania Association– Bucharest
  
• CONCORDIA – Bucharest
  
• Ateliere Fara Frontiere – Bucharest
  
• UtilDeco – Iași
  
• Emmaus – Satu Mare
  
• Caritas – Câmpulung
  
• People2People Foundation – Oradea
  
• Inima de Copil Foundation – Galați
  

Visit their pages! They are organizations that do a lot of good in the community and deserve our support.

Buy products and services made in these social enterprises or support their social programs.

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About the B-WISE project

B-WISE (Blueprint for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills in Social Enterprises for Social Inclusion) is an Erasmus+ project that aims to develop a European strategy (the Blueprint) to address skills needs, in particular digital skills, in the social enterprises for social inclusion (SEIs) sector.

The project brings together 30 partners from 13 countries. B-WISE partner countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania and Slovenia.

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