Merthyr Tydfil Institute for the Blind (MTIB) – COVID 19
Merthyr Tydfil Institute for the Blind (MTIB) delivering Specialist Employment Support for visually impaired customers as part of 3SC’s national supply chain. MTIB’s Employment and Training Officer Sheila Ebling has shared some of their thoughts on contract delivery during COVID-19 and the enduring lockdown.
“Effectively supporting clients during the Coronavirus pandemic has meant thinking outside the box and we have had to reassess what it is the client needs and wants from us at this time. This has given us the opportunity to build a stronger relationship with our clients, chatting about the things they are worried about or interested in at this time whilst also setting tasks to help them develop their skills or just effectively fill their time.
We’ve been encouraging clients to get involved in current positive media challenges such as exercise ideas, VE day celebrations or sending cards to a World 2 veteran for his 100th Birthday. It’s also been important to discourage clients from watching the news more than once per day because of the negative effects that could have on their mental health.
Setting appropriate homework tasks to help the client in their journey to employment has also been a key way to engage effectively. We have been setting simple IT tasks to help clients brush up on skills. This will provide long term benefits for the client when the restrictions are lifted with benefits such as confidence building and the required skills for a work placement in the future. It also gives clients something else to aim for and focus on.”
To find out more about our Employment Programmes please go here; https://www.3sc.org/employment/
Paul Johnson, Contract Performance Manager, 3SC