PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT TEAM

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Outplacement

Major organisational change?

In today’s fast-changing and increasingly competitive environment, many organisations considering change or restructuring may have to include the possibility of reducing headcount.

Initiating a redundancy programme is a challenging time for all concerned. One of the ways of making the process as effective as possible from both the employees' and employer's perspectives is to support redundancy through Outplacement.

The People Development Team (PDT) are a world-class Outplacement support provider, with a 95% success rate in achieving aspirations and a unique and highly successful formula for delivering extremely high aspiration achievement percentages, working within a wide range of industries and company types. Our key to success is our rapid assimilation and insight into our clients’ culture, areas of work and values, delivering a tailored service where we are visible and approachable.

If redundancy is scheduled, support for employees should commence as early as possible in the notice period, or even, if possible, during the consultation period. We can work with the organisation, liaising at group, individual and executive levels, to help manage the career transition period for those who are leaving, individuals who may relocate or change jobs, and those who may remain. By managing all potential aspects of the redundancy, PDT ensure that the process has a positive outcome for all involved.

Why choose PDT Outplacement?

Our key benefits as your outplacement supplier include:

  • Experience in a range of industries with differing cultures and values
  • Integration into the organisation to deliver a bespoke and approcahable service
  • A unique, highly tailorable broad range support package
  • Track record for delivering tangible results - supporting the company in maintaining target achievement and employee motivation whilst wupporting individuals in achieving their aspirations
  • We Care!
  • Flexibility, commitment to your values and a dedicated service
  • Confidential and professional service

Learn More:

Overview
Consultants
How does it work?
>> Initial Presentation

>> Outplacement Centres
>> One to one Counselling
>> Career Appraisal
>> Personal Marketing
>> Career Transition Workshops

Support Options

>> Individual & Executive Programmes

>> Group Programmes
>> Linked Individual and Group Programmes

Contact details and pricing

1. OVERVIEW

Career Transition programmes with PDT work on positive, proactive strategies:

  • 1:1 or group discussions to demystify the options open to employees and encourage acceptance of displacement as the path to enhanced work/life fulfillment
  • Career counseling gives individuals a clear understanding of their direct and transferable skills and therefore their marketability outside of the organisation.
  • PDT also offers Support to the board and management with structuring the redundancy process and effective communications throughout the company
  • Through increased self-knowledge, employees may identify another area of the business where their talents could be effectively deployed and achieve this through CV development and interview skills
  • Through increased self-knowledge, employees may identify another area of the business where their talents could be effectively deployed and achieve this through CV development and interview skills coaching
  • A career management programme run prior to redundancy announcements will enable employees to focus on their own identified potential, not just for the next job but throughout their career
  • PDT's programmes engender a positive culture and motivating experience of change for those staff who remain
  • PDT focuses on the needs of the individual and provides tailored solutions, whilst being aware that employers need to find professional and quality support for their people, which is both cost- and time-effective. PDT design packages to suit client culture for maximum benefit to all parties.

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    2. OUR CONSULTANTS

Our outplacement consultants are experienced, knowledgeable, trained counsellors who understand the impact of redundancy on the individual and the organisation. Outplacement is the most effective method of supporting employees in their transfer out of the organisation and minimises the negative impact on morale both with those leaving and those remaining within an organisation.

PDT’s consultants use a supportive method which encourages the individuals to take control of the change that is about to occur in their lives. Through effective coaching and mentoring, the individuals are prompted to identify their goals and with the support and guidance of the consultants, they are taking an active part in achieving their goals.

Programmes are tailored according to the needs and nature of the organisation as well as the individuals going through the outplacement process, offering a range of practical skills development tools and an impartial resource for the individuals. PDT's teams also provides support to all levels of mangement, to ensure open communication channels and assist in maintaining morale and targeted output levels during the redundancy or consultation periods.

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3. HOW DOES IT WORK?

Initial Presentations

To deliver the initial overview about outplacement support, a presentation and Q&A session could be offered to all parties involved. This introductory presentation gives both management and employees, including unions if appropriate, an opportunity to meet the consultants and encourages an atmosphere of confidence and reassurance.

The important issues of change, the levels of support available and the methods of delivery are explained clearly and the participants are invited to ask questions about the outplacement process.

These presentations are also a chance to develop the relationship between the line managers and the consultants, understanding the nature of work, the targets that need to be met as well as the work culture and the mood across the organisation.

Outplacement Centres

Once the outplacement process is set into motion, PDT will open a dedicated outplacement centre: such centre can be set up either on-site or off-site to support both those leaving and those staying. This is particularly helpful to employees who work shifts. The centre can be staffed by our consultants according to need/budget and provides an impartial environment where people can get immediate and confidential support and counselling. For shifts covering unsocial hours, the centre can be open late, and 24 hour telephone and email support can be provided.

Typical outplacement centre services include:

  • Ongoing support (drop in or by appointment)
  • National and local newspapers and trade/professional publications
  • Vacancy boards
  • Training and up-skilling support
  • CV coaching and writing
  • Basic computer skills (email, internet and word processing - to assist in job searches and applications)
  • Financial advice
  • Retirement advice
  • Local employers and support contacts (local companies looking to recruit, Business Links, Chamber of Commerce, Regeneration Agencies etc)
  • Co-ordination with outside agencies such as Benefit offices, employment agencies, training agencies etc

One-to-one counselling

Individual meetings are held in a relaxed and confidential environment. During those meetings the aim is to:

  • Uncover fears about the future
  • Act as a sounding board for ideas and aspirations
  • Discuss the possibilities for realising those aspirations and the part the individual must play
  • Target an existing CV or develop a new one
  • Decide on a training plan if required
  • Initiate an action plan for the job search
  • support and revise the action plan if and when needed

Career appraisal

As part of the ongoing individual counselling process, a more in-depth analysis of skills and abilities can be made. This may include:

  • Industry-specific skills audit to identify an individual's career strengths, specialities and areas for development
  • Identifying any skills gap and formulating a training proposal where appropriate
  • Assessing career aspirations against psychometric test results
  • Evaluating the job market in relation to skills
  • Creating a starting point in searching and applying for jobs

Personal Marketing

Personal Marketing is a crucial stage in achieving a desired position. The development of a personal marketing plan may include the following:

  • Direction planning
  • CV development
  • Accessing the unadvertised jobs market (speculative)
  • Networking
  • Covering letters/responding to advertisements
  • Application forms
  • Managing recruitment agencies
  • Using the Internet effectively
  • Newspapers/magazines
  • Research
  • Receiving feedback

Career Transition Workshops

The workshops are focussed on jump-starting jobsearch, setting goals, gaining self- confidence and thus increasing the individual's competitive edge. These group sessions may include:

  • Marketing yourself
  • Networking skills
  • CV writing
  • Career Review
  • Effective Job Searching
  • Winning the Interviews - internal and external
  • Business start-up
  • Business awareness
  • Planning Retirement
  • The psychology of change and how to cope with it
  • The impact on employees who remain
  • Linked group and individual support

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4. SUPPORT OPTIONS

Individual and Executive Programmes

Individual programmes can be delivered on or off-site. Programmes are designed around specific needs, following in-depth discussion and objective setting with the individual. Programmes can include:

  • Direction planning
  • Thomas DISC analysis and feedback (an analysis tool that is used to create a work-based behavioural profile)
  • Building networks
  • Emotional counselling and support
  • CV development
  • Designing a personal marketing strategy
  • Interview preparation - intense interview skills assessments
  • Ongoing management - either for an agreed term or until an appropriate post is secured
  • Financial planning and advice

Executive Support

  • Pre-decision consultation
  • An initial consultation with a career consultant to establish your needs and aspirations
  • Defining a career strategy and plan through psychometric assessment and careers audit
  • Understanding change, identifying personal change management and overcoming any barriers to change
  • Developing a personal marketing plan incorporating industry and market sector targeting
  • Identifying a personal career portfolio including CV, biography, personal presentation and voice coaching
  • Screened Executive Search, identifying your network map and networking planning
  • Company/market research for targeted career searches
  • Email and telephone support throughout
  • Retirement Planning/Business Start Up (where applicable)
  • Ongoing coaching at new workplace to support the transition

Group Programmes

Group programmes typically accommodate up to ten participants and over one or two days, depending on the content. They are usually geared to cover such issues as:

  • CV preparation to reflect achievements and transferable skills
  • Covering letters
  • Responding to advertisements
  • Speculative letter writing
  • Application forms
  • Interview techniques
  • Understanding psychometric tests
  • Research, using the web and other resources
  • Accessing unadvertised job markets
  • Self-employment
  • Mid-life and pre-retirement planning

Linked Individual and Group Programmes

Mixing the individual and group approach often proves to be beneficial, especially in larger organisations. The individuals learn more about networking from others who are not in their immediate working vicinity and increase the sense of involvement when they interact with different people who are going through a similar process.

The linked programme would include a mixture of individual support as well as group sessions and workshops.

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5. CONTACT DETAILS AND PRICING

Programmes can be developed that will offer maximum benefit to the employees within a specified budget. We can offer broad based, low cost per individual programmes up to specific executive/board level programmes.

For more information, please contact our Outplacement Team:
T: +44 (0)1920 485569
E: outplacement@people-development-team.com

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© People Development Team 2007