The aim of the master thesis is to investigate the role of the PUM-O programme in the integration of young school leavers into education and employment, as well as the treatment process in secondary schools and the Employment Service. In the theoretical part I define the youth and school dropout, the problem of youth unemployment, I present the measures of active employment policy and the functioning of the PUM-O programme. I conclude the theoretical introduction with a chapter on the application of social work concepts to work with young school leavers. In the empirical part, based on a non-randomised sample of ten persons, represented by school counsellors, counsellors at the Employment Service, the PUM-O programme manager and young school leavers enrolled in the PUM-O programme, I investigate the ways in which school counsellors address the problem of school dropout, the treatment of young school leavers by professionals at the Employment Service and the treatment in the PUM-O programme. I was interested in the impact of the PUM-O programme on the acquisition of competences for entering the labour market or returning to school, the cooperation between institutions and with the PUM-O programme, the impact and consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic on the treatment of young school leavers, possible obstacles and shortcomings in the treatment and possible improvements.
The results showed that the treatment of young adults who want to drop out of school first involves working with them and their parents at school, with the aim of keeping them in the system. If they do drop out of school, they register with the Employment Service, where most of them go on their own to look for a job or to obtain social assistance. When registering with the Employment Service, an individual employment plan is first drawn up, setting out the agreed employment goals, which are then the basis for a varied and personalised treatment. The aim is to leave the Employment Service as soon as possible, to get a job and to avoid long-term unemployment. Young adults are mainly referred to the PUM-O programme by the counsellors at the Employment Service, followed by school counsellors, their family or by themselves. After a career plan has been drawn up, the young adults take part in creative workshops to develop perseverance, precision and organisation. The Employment Service and secondary schools cooperate well with the PUM-O programme, while cooperation between the Job Centre and secondary schools is limited. Young adults have acquired new skills in the PUM-O programme and have successfully entered the labour market or returned to school after the programme. During the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, treatment was very limited in all areas, and the consequences are reflected in the increased number of distressed young adults today. Barriers and shortcomings in the treatment of young school leavers are the incompetence of staff in dealing with young people in distress, inadequate information to young adults about the PUM-O programme, an inflexible education system, a lack of staff to deal with young adults in crisis situations, and the inclusion in the PUM-O programme based on voluntary enrolment. The employees suggest additional programmes for the long-term unemployed and additional help from professionals, strengthening of the school counselling service, more cooperation between secondary schools and the Employment Service and changes in the education system. Younger adults would like to see a more personal approach and earlier information about the PUM-O programme at the Employment Service.
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