Cheshire West and Chester Council accredited to the Matrix Standard

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Skills and Employment service has been awarded the international quality Matrix Standard for providing high-quality information, advice and guidance to support residents into employment and skills training.

The accreditation involved a two-and-a-half-day assessment that encompassed interviews with managers, staff, partners, and customers. The Skills and Employment team was praised for a passion for providing a high-quality service to support individuals towards and into employment and creating a learner-centred culture. Assessors noted a strong emphasis on networking and collaboration with referral partners, subcontractors and local area partnerships.

The Skills and Employment team offers services across the Borough at four Work Zones, enabling classroom-based learning and the opportunity for residents looking for jobs to talk to staff to discuss their learning and skills needs. Some of the Work Zones, such as in Ellesmere Port, are located in the same building as Jobcentre Plus allowing for close working and referrals to help residents in their search for work. There are also Learning and Skills Hubs based in schools and an army barracks. Some staff are based at clinical settings providing support to patients who are referred by NHS staff.

The Council’s experienced Skills and Employment team members can help residents to access free and impartial information, advice and guidance to:

• support people into employment by helping them to apply for jobs, write CVs and cover letters, and prepare for interviews.
• enable residents to identify relevant training/learning opportunities such as in English, maths and IT, or sector specific courses such as childcare, forklift truck operation, beauty, customer service and more.
• assist people in overcoming any barriers accessing learning and work opportunities (for example, childcare, travel, and finance), including signposting to organisations that may specialise in specific support.

Cllr Nathan Pardoe, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Regeneration and Digital Transformation, said:

“I would like to congratulate the Skills and Employment team for achieving the international quality Matrix Standard. This is testament to the expertise, passion and dedication that staff have in helping our residents to develop their skills and help them to get into good quality jobs.

“Through various courses, programmes, sessions, and in providing advice and guidance, we are proud that the team help people to overcome barriers they face and help them into good quality jobs and stay in work. It is part of the Council’s vision for an Inclusive Economy, helping everyone to contribute and benefit from their local economy and ensure that no-one is left behind.”

Roger Chapman, Head of the Matrix Service for The Growth Company, said:

“This is a fantastic achievement for Cheshire West and Chester Council, and I would like to congratulate the team on their success. We believe that at the heart of high-quality advice and support services are strong leadership, excellent service and a focus on continuous improvement, all underpinned by effective use of the resources available. The Matrix Standard is designed to benchmark organisations against best practice in these areas. With their accreditation success, Cheshire West and Chester Council is working to provide the best possible support to their clients.”

For more information on the Council’s Skills and Employment service and to access support, email: 

skillsandemployment@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk 

...or visit the Council website:

Skills and employment | Cheshire West and Chester Council

For more information about the Matrix Standard please visit: 

www.matrixStandard.com

The Matrix Standard is the international quality standard for organisations that deliver information, advice and/or guidance (IAG). Either as their sole purpose or as part of their service offering. Any organisation which manages, administers and delivers an information, advice and/or guidance service to support individuals in their choice of career, learning, work or life goals can become accredited to the Matrix Standard. It does not matter whether the service or services are delivered face-to-face, through training, learning, remotely, or through a website.

Organisations that have benefited from working with the Standard include Training Providers, Universities, Further/ Higher Education Colleges, Schools and Academies, Sole Traders, Next Step Providers, Voluntary and Community Organisations and Private Businesses.

The Matrix Standard is owned by the Department for Education and is managed by The Growth Company on their behalf.