Getting online and getting a job with St Mungo’s

Client X was an experienced taxi driver operating across Oxfordshire, before the pandemic hit in March 2020. He then left the UK to visit West Africa and was taken ill during his time there.

When Client X returned to the UK, he was unemployed; he’d lost his tenancy and he became a St. Mungo’s client; accessing temporary accommodation and being supported by a St. Mungo’s Outreach Worker. Client X had decided that he wanted to use his driving experience to become a PCV (Passenger Carrying Vehicle) bus driver, but due to a hold up at the DVLA regarding his health concerns, Client X was unable to apply successfully for a role where he could obtain his PCV licence.

The St. Mungo’s Outreach Worker decided to refer Client X to Grace Tracoshas. Grace is a Senior Employment Specialist and works for St. Mungo’s’ Employment Support programme.

In the first instance, Grace supported Client X to contact the DVLA to expedite the health referral so that Client X could obtain confirmation that he was fit to drive. Whilst this was in process, Client X had applied to become a Trainee PCV Driver at a local bus company, but the company could not progress his application any further, until the issues with the DVLA were resolved. Grace worked with Client X to update his CV and complete some temporary job searching in Warehousing and Logistics (hoping this would enable Client X to begin earning some money, whilst he was waiting for his licence to come through).

In February 2023, Client X was offered council housing through his work with the St. Mungo’s Outreach Worker, and Client X finally received his driving licence back from the DVLA.

Grace contacted Getting Oxfordshire Online (GOO) on behalf of Client X around this time, as prior to engaging with Grace in the Employment Support team, Client X was reliant on using the computer facilities at the library for all job searching activity. Although a brilliant resource, the computers at the library have a time limit for access and the library itself is difficult for some clients to get to, given its location. Grace therefore decided to reach out to GOO. Grace had previously obtained another laptop through GOO and had experienced a really good service from her interactions with GOO members at both Aspire and SOFEA.

Within a week, of reaching out to GOO, Grace attended the Aspire offices and picked up the laptop and the charging cable, in order to provide these to Client X. The GOO laptops come with device information for the laptops, along with instructions pertaining to clients setting up their own passwords, and information on the anti-virus software used on all GOO project laptops. There is also advice on additional free anti-virus packages, contained in the information, which is incredibly useful to our clients where money can be a significant barrier to them moving forward.

In March 2023, Client X was offered the position of PCV (Passenger Carrying Vehicle) Trainee at the local bus company. Client X was required to complete extensive theory preparation and complete a Bus Theory test and a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence Module 4 certificate as part of his new role. Client X was able to use his GOO laptop for the duration of his theory and certificates, in his own accommodation and at a time frame that suited him around his new working hours. Having his own laptop was essential for Client X, as it enabled him to complete the theory elements of his new role independently, without needing to use the library or work from St. Mungo’s offices.

Client X didn’t end up securing his PCV licence through the local bus company, but due to having completed all of the theory elements, along with having access to all the necessary documentation for another application, Client X secured a full-time, permanent Bus Driver position at a nationwide bus company and has been working there since May 2023.