Children with learning difficulties-work experience needed
 

Morning folks, I am looking for your advice... And hope you can help.

My daughter graduates in May with an honours degree in Psychology from Glasgow university, she wants to be a clinical psychologist working with children and plans to apply for a masters course that starts early next year.
In the meantime she is looking for experience working with children with learning difficulties and, as my husband and I now live here, she thought about seeing if this is possible here, from mid August.
She has five years (after school/holidays) nursery assistant experience, is expecting a high 2:1 degree and has a protecting vulnerable groups certificate.
She did have something lined up but this fell through, so her current plan is to contact all the centres that provide services for children with learning needs to ask if they have vacancies for an assistant or could support work experience. Is this a good plan? Or does anyone have some pointers for her?
She is currently in Dubai (studying for her finals) until mid April. This is more about gaining experience so while getting paid would be nice it's not essential.. She's worked hard so we are happy to support her - for the next wee while, anyway!

Thanks in advance for any info/advice you can give:)

Greenways

Re: Children with learning difficulties-work experience needed
 

It's a good plan, but she's highly unlikely to find paid employment for such a short time. It's a real pain to get employment visas for expats, and being only able to commit for less than a year is not a great incentive for them to go through that.

Re: Children with learning difficulties-work experience needed
 

Thanks OS, we thought that might be the case! Hence why it would be a bonus not an essential :)

Re: Children with learning difficulties-work experience needed
 

Most places would love an experienced volunteer - but.... she has to lay down terms & conditions about what she will & will not do - it has to be give on both sides, and unfortunately a lot of places bite the hands that feed / volunteer / pay them..... they should also provide a written reference at the end of her period; and she should also be prepared to walk out if they take the piss, or have unsafe working practices.

Alternatively, she may want to consider private assistance, where she could get paid on the black market (cash) but lives in Dubai on your visa. Then she would need to discretely ask around, and the best way to do that would be through volunteering - however, again, most parents would want someone longer term, due to the stability needs that special children have.

Re: Children with learning difficulties-work experience needed
 

you will find that unless you get a proper visa/contract etc it probbaly wont be necessary, if you want experience, you should try and contact the schools and ask them on a volunteering basis etc.

Re: Children with learning difficulties-work experience needed
 

Thanks, I will let her know.

Re: Children with learning difficulties-work experience needed
 

She wouldn't need a full employment visa, if she is on your sponsorship she only needs a labour card to keep things legal. This costs only a few hundred dirhams and there is no reason why companies will not be willing to pay this (she can even offer to pay it herself).

It would be good idea to contact all the special needs centres in Dubai and just apply for a job as a TA, under father's sponsorship there should be no reason why she wouldn't be hired. Good luck!

Re: Children with learning difficulties-work experience needed
 

Thanks ditzy :)

Re: Children with learning difficulties-work experience needed
 

My mum posted this for me. Just wanted to give a quick update. Instead of volunteering I decided to look for a permanent job in Dubai. I was offered a position in a Special Needs school starting with the new term and arrived here yesterday. Thank you for all the advice it was very helpful.

Re: Children with learning difficulties-work experience needed
 

Good for you & thanks for the update

Re: Children with learning difficulties-work experience needed
 

am looking for a similar field as well