Pre-Employment Support

We are currently working closely with our local community to provide achievable pathways into NHS careers.

We have access to NHS specific training programmes which can help prepare you for applying for NHS jobs.

This training aims to provide you with understanding NHS expectations and values, whilst working on your personal skills such as resilience, communication and managing stress.

If you are currently thinking about a career within the NHS or working with someone and feel support is needed in getting work ready, please see our below courses:

Into Employment (Dudley Council Economic Growth and Skills)

A 4 week programme with guaranteed interviews for available entry level vacancies.

Programme covers: Digital skills, sector based functional skills, application support, expectations of working in care, communication, resilience, managing stress, care governance, customer service, safeguarding, equality and diversity, values and behaviours, self care and travel support.

This course will run for four weeks, Monday to Friday, from 10am till 2.30pm. The venue is Brierley Hill Neighbourhood Learning Centre, Hill Street, Brierley Hill, West Midlands, DY5 2UE

On completion of the course, a guaranteed job interview will be available for those who meet the requirements of the available vacancies. For more information contact ACL at acl@dudley.gov.uk or phone 01384 818143.

NHS SWAP (Skills Shop – Dudley College)

Care Academy – Includes City & Guilds Level 1 Certificate for Skills for Working in the Health, Adult & Child Care Sectors, City & Guilds Entry 3 Certificate in Customer Service and Employability Programme.

NHS (Non-clinical Roles & Apprenticeships) – Includes BIIAB Level 1 in Business Administration (Non-Clinical), City & Guilds Level 1 Certificate for Skills for Working in the Health, Adult & Child Care Sectors (Clinical), City & Guilds Entry Level 3 in Customer Service and Employability Programme.

We offer interviews for available Clinical Support Worker vacancies alongside careers advice for those who still not sure on the pathway for them.

Contact us on 01384 363790 or via Free Courses for Unemployed – Dudley College of Technology

Functional Skills Levels

Don’t have GCSE’s? Did you know that we accept Functional Skills?

Functional Skills Level	School Equivalent
Level 2	New GCSE 9-4/ Old GCSE A*- C
Level 1	New GCSE 3-1/ Old GCSE D-G
Entry Level 3	Below GCSE

Functional Skills FAQs

What do we mean by Functional Skills?

Every day, there are skills that we use to navigate through our personal and working lives. Functional Skills were introduced to help individuals develop these skills, and they focus on Maths, English, and ICT. These are three categories that we use in everyday life, so it is important that we have a strong grasp of each one.

Functional skills are a recognised qualifications in Maths, English and Digital Skills that people require to improve employment chances, and gain access into higher education institutions such as universities.

Why do we recognise functional skills?

Functional skills qualifications are widely accepted as an alternative to GCSE’s. Here at The Dudley Group we accept a particular level of Functional skills when shortlisting for all of our roles requiring a minimum GCSE level qualification.