The customer - Hoeksche Waard
Three hundred people on their way to work or education. That is the goal of the municipality of Hoeksche Waard. To create the best opportunities for this, she started assessments last winter with the NOA program Op weg! These provide insight into people's possibilities and any obstacles.
"On the road! is a great tool that I wanted to use," says Joyce Hemelop, Customer Manager Work at the municipality of Hoeksche Waard. "And we wanted to do it right the first time, which is why we used it with our entire target group with a migration background, actually as a kind of baseline measurement." So last winter, Hoeksche Waard did 300 surveys, 250 status holders and 50 with people from the municipality's existing database with a migration background. "We invited just under 400 people, of which 300 eventually remained, with whom we did all the assessments in two months. Followed by personal conversations with the participants, of which I took care of 250 myself. These were mainly the former status holders, the other 50 conversations with people from the existing file were conducted by my colleague. We were both enthusiastic about the enormous amount of information that Op weg! in a very short time."
On the road! is a modular assessment that can be set up by the customers at their own choice. For example, the municipality of Hoeksche Waard decided to cancel a number of parts so that the test takes less time. In addition, most candidates can take the assessment in their own language because Op Weg! available in seven languages. "But even then, people sometimes find it difficult," says Joyce Hemelop. "Not every culture is familiar with filling in questionnaires or giving personal information, so sometimes the intention of a question is not well understood. We therefore chose not to have the assessment completed at home, but on location at our premises. At a time we invited ten customers and I was present to answer questions and give explanations. For example, about the question, some participants found it strange that sometimes the same question is asked in different ways. This is done to filter out any socially desirable answers, but can lead to confusion. Choosing professions and the associated industry is also sometimes difficult because they are called differently in the country of origin. Then it is nice if there is someone who can help fill in the test."
For Joyce, the great added value of Op weg! that you then enter into the conversation with the customer in a very targeted way. "Previously, as supervisors, we had the necessary assumptions about what was going on with a customer, but now we have a better understanding of this thanks to the assessment in advance. For example, we know whether there are social or psychological problems, people can be traumatized by their experiences and that affects the conversation and the information you get in it. We can then offer them better and tailor-made support and literally help them on their way."
The municipality of Hoeksche Waard sees this first decrease in Op Weg! as a baseline measurement. "We now know from our customers where they stand and which follow-up steps towards education or work are promising. And we also know where more language education is needed before you can go to work or education. And in a few cases, we refrain from follow-up processes and limit ourselves to stimulating self-reliance and digital skills."
For young people up to the age of 27, there is the possibility to follow an MBO course after integration. Beforehand, they first receive motivation training and training that prepares them for Dutch education. This discusses, among other things, how you interact with each other, what is expected of you when working in groups and how you can give your own opinion. "The latter is sometimes difficult for them," says Joyce, "especially with underlying problems, it can be difficult to open up to others. With the assessment, we have a better understanding of this in advance."
Cultural differences can also play a role. "In our society, it is easy to ask someone if help is needed and to make an appointment with someone else who can help, but that can be different for the customer and lead to a feeling of shame. With the knowledge from the assessment, we know better what is needed to help someone on their way and we can offer support in an accessible way. And with fewer conversations than before. You go from the impossibilities they encounter to possibilities. Where people themselves also see better what is already going well and where new opportunities lie. During the conversations I saw them grow. Very beautiful."
