Gutersloh BTZ has practiced vocational training for the mentally handicapped since August 1995. The main goal is to place the clients into employment in the regular workforce. This is done by intensive vocational training yet without having workshops attached to the institution itself. Gutersloh BTZ is comparable to other training centres in Germany like those in Hamburg, Duisburg, Koln, Dortmund, Paderborn, Straubing, Wiesloch and Schleusingen. They are similar in terms of personnel key, financial support for participants and standards of quality. The main difference between Gutersloh BTZ and other training centres is the absence of attached workshops. In Gutersloh training takes place on the job in the regular labour market like industrial firms, craftsmen establishments and service agencies. The 'heart' of Gutersloh BTZ's concept is the reference group. It consists of not more than 8 participants. Two social workers are assigned to each group and provide intensive attention from the participant's first day in BTZ to aftercare on the regular job. The individual rehabilitation aim can only be achieved by establishing a tailor-made concept of support. This calls for a broad range of media, flexible methods and individual aims. In addition to the individual orientated concept, pedagogical groupwork with three to five participants plays an important role in the work. Here the emphasis is on close relationship. Incentive, start, duration and contents of internships in agencies and firms are to a high degree individually structured. A flexible graduated plan helps the participants to progress from a trial practicum to a long-term practicum and finally to a regular (and subsidized) job in an agency. The Gutersloh BTZ's quota of successful placement into the regular labour market as well as into subsidized jobs is similar to those in other BTZs in Germany. Participants who can't be placed in a job have to achieve a defined perspective of life and an alternative to regular work. This standard of quality is established in the written concept of BTZ. Gutersloh BTZ compares its work and success with other BTZs through uniform social- scientific BTZ evaluation.
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