Specialist practitioner training: future opportunities for young talents on the Lower Rhine

Specialist practitioner training: future opportunities for young talents on the Lower Rhine

Today, the issue of skilled workers and inclusive education is the focus, especially in our region around the Lower Rhine. While many companies in housekeeping, cleaning and kitchen assistance are looking for motivated employees, there are promising approaches to solving this bottleneck. The Lower Rhine IHK has developed innovative new training models that are tailored to the special needs of young people with disabilities.

An exemplary example of this is Philipp Koenen, the deputy kitchen manager at the Carpediem seniors' park in Voerde. He has proven himself as a specialist practitioner and has had a remarkable career: he has been part of the team for three years and has successfully completed training as a specialist practitioner. In this role he was able to develop further through good performance and is now an integral part of the institution.

Practical training for young talents

The training to become a specialist practitioner is aimed specifically at young people who have difficulties completing regular training. This practice-oriented training is offered in collaboration with educational providers such as SBH West and AWO. An important point: Before the training begins, the young people are tested by the employment agency to ensure that the training is tailored to them. Internships or longer internships are also part of the application process.

What makes specialist practitioner training so special? Less theoretical knowledge is imparted; Instead, practice comes into play in the company and working in the real world. This is of great importance because many of the young people who choose this form of training have learning difficulties or have socially disadvantaged backgrounds that slow them down in traditional training formats.

The specialist practitioner training even has its own charm. It can be started without a secondary school diploma and offers the opportunity to switch to regular training if your personal situation allows it. This makes this training particularly attractive for many young people.

Prospects after training

Angelina Olschewski from the Lower Rhine IHK reports that the graduates have a good chance of continued employment. Companies can access motivated employees who can be employed in a wide variety of areas, particularly in housekeeping, kitchen assistance and cleaning. There are also funding opportunities for training companies from the employment agency or the integration office, which makes the decision to train as a specialist practitioner even easier.

In addition to practical training, we see further progress with the publication of the model training regulations “Specialist practitioner in housekeeping and person-oriented services” at the beginning of February 2024. These regulations are based on the Vocational Training Act and take into account the special needs of people with learning disabilities. Content such as preparing food, caring for textiles and hygiene are just as much a part of the training as teamwork with nursing assistants.

Overall, these developments in the area of ​​specialist practitioner training show that where there is a need, solutions can be found. A bridge is built that enables people with disabilities to successfully enter the job market and develop prospects there. And so the IHK not only contributes to alleviating the shortage of skilled workers, but also sets an example for inclusive education and equal opportunities for all young people.

Information about the training paths and the funding offered can be found on the websites of the Lower Rhine Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Rehadat Education, and the Federal Institute for Vocational Training: Rundschau Duisburg, Rehabilitation education and BIBB.