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UCD HR
 
 

JobBridge

04th September 2012: Important notice regarding JobBridge

We received confirmation at the end of last week that the JobBridge scheme will end as planned in July 2013. It is intended that all internships will be finished by this time.

JobBridge have confirmed that the following deadlines will now apply:

  1. Candidates for a 9 month internship placements must be submitted by close of business on Friday the 14th September 2012. 
  2. Candidates for a 6 month internship placements must be submitted by close of business on Friday the 7th December 2012 
Candidates received after these dates will not be accepted for processing. If you are currently advertising for or interviewing candidates for a 9 month JobBridge Internship, you must identify you selected candidate and return all paperwork to HR by the 13th September 2012 to enable HR to submit the application to JobBridge by the deadline above.

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Overview

JobBridge is a new National Internship Scheme that will provide work experience placements for interns for a 6 or 9 month period. The aim of the National Internship Scheme is to give people a real opportunity to gain valuable experience to bridge the gap between study and the beginning of their working lives. Interns may not replace an established post recently vacated. Interns will receive an allowance of €50 per week on top of their existing social welfare entitlement. This will be payable for the period of the internship. No financial contribution is required from UCD.

Here you will find information on eligibility criteria for Interns, details on the allocation of placements and a guide to advertising, recruiting and mentoring as well as FAQ's on the JobBridge scheme.

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Who is eligible?

  • Interns must be unemployed and actively seeking work
  • Interns must be on the Live Register and in receipt of one of the following for a minimum of 3 months (78 days):
    • Jobseekers Allowance
    • Jobseekers Benefit
    • Signing for social insurance contribution credits
  • Periods spent on Back to Education Allowance, VTOS, FÁS/Fáilte Ireland Training course, Youthreach, FIT, Community Employment Schemes, TUS, the Rural Social Scheme, Back to Work Scheme, Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, FÁS Job Initiative or Job Assist will count towards meeting the eligibility of JobBridge.
  • Individuals in receipt of One Parent Family Payment or Widows Pension are ineligible to participate in JobBridge.
  • Casual claimants on the Live Register may participate in JobBridge provided that their employer is not the provider of the internship,
  • Eligibility for individuals who have been selected by UCD must be confirmed by the Department of Social Protection before the internship can commence.
  • Commencement on the internship is dependent on the Department of Social Protection confirming the individual's eligibility and UCD is bound by any decisions made by the Department.

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Allocation of placements in UCD

College Principals and Heads of Unit have provided UCD HR with details of the number of placements required for their College or Unit and this has been approved by UMT. Please refer to your College Principal / Head of Unit for details.

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Advertising an Internship

  1. Complete an Internship Job Description
  2. Submit the Job Description to UCD HR at ucdjobbridge@ucd.ie
  3. Job Descriptions will be uploaded to the JobBridge Website by UCD HR within 48 hours of receipt from the school or unit.
  4. Once validated by JobBridge, the post will be advertised on JobBridge, the Jobs Ireland website and local Employment Services offices.*

Note: The post will not appear on the UCD HR website and will not be available through ESS.

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Selection process

  1. Applicants will apply directly to the School / Unit.
  2. The School / Unit will arrange interviews directly with applicants and make a selection decision. Standard Interview Templates are available. Unsuccessful candidates can be notified using the unsuccessful applicant template below.
  3. Following selection, units should submit a JobBridge Intern Placement Form and CV of the successful applicant to UCD HR at ucdjobbridge@ucd.ie.
  4. UCD HR will then update the national JobBridge database with details of the applicant who has been selected (Appointment is subject to approval of Department of Social Protection).
  5. UCD HR, in conjunction with Head of School/Unit and applicant, complete and sign the Standard Internship Agreement1 and Eligibility form and provide copies to the applicant.
  6. The applicant must take the Eligibility Form to their local Social Welfare office for completion.
    • If applicant is eligible, Social Welfare Office returns all completed forms to JobBridge for processing
    • If applicant is ineligible2, Social Welfare returns form and applicant must notify UCD.
  7. Employment Services (Dept. Social Protection) updates the applicant’s record on their system and UCD HR will be notified by email that the internship can commence. UCD HR will issue notice to the School/Unit that the internship can commence and confirm start date. No Intern can commence without this notification.
  8. UCD HR will confirm the start date with the Intern and update the national JobBridge database with the actual start date. This will notify the Department of Social Protection to process the additional €50 per week internship allowance for the Intern3.

Note 1: A copy of the Standard Internship Agreement must be made available to Employment Services (Dept. of Social Protection) at any time during the internship, if requested.

Note 2: Commencement on the internship is dependent on the Department of Social Protection confirming the individual’s eligibility.

Note 3: The internship allowance will be paid in arrears

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Post selection - Mentoring

In order to participate on the scheme the host organisation and intern must sign a standard Internship Agreement before commencing on the scheme. The Host Organisation (at School/Unit level) must assign a mentor to the intern for the duration of the internship, to provide the following:
  • Ongoing support
  • Be a point of contact for the intern throughout the internship
  • Provide an induction
  • Ensure the opportunity to learn/apply skills in the workplace

Guidelines are available from the JobBridge website.

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Post selection - Compliance

There is a requirement to complete a compliance check every month throughout the Internship which will be managed by UCD HR on receipt of the relevant information from the School/Unit. UCD HR will issue monthly compliance documentation to participating units.

The purpose of this process is to:

  • Confirm the attendance of the Intern in accordance with the Standard Agreement.
  • Confirm that the internship, as described in the Standard Agreement, is being delivered.
  • Actual Finish date (if different from the due finish date)

The intern will be notified by email or SMS when the monthly return is made.

Failure to return the monthly compliance check may affect the intern's internship allowance payment and may result in a compliance visit to UCD. It would also impact UCD’s continued eligibility for the JobBridge scheme.  

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Finish an Internship

End-date reminders will be issued by UCD HR.

If finishing on schedule:

1. Unit notifies UCD HR that internship is finishing by completing the following templates:

  • A completed compliance check to confirm the actual finish date
  • A Completion/Reference for the intern that will detail the professional development/learning outcomes the intern has acquired over the course of the placement.
  • An Evaluation Form

 2. The Intern will be required to:

  • Complete an Evaluation Form
  • Notify the Department of Social Protection that the Internship has finished

Note: Failure to comply with the above will mean that UCD will not be entitled to offer further placements under the scheme.

If finishing earlier than agreed date:

  1. Unit manager must notify UCD HR
  2. One week’s notice must be given by either party
  3. The Host organisation (UCD HR) must immediately logon to their JobBridge account and enter the early completion (finish date).
  4. The intern must notify the Department of Social Protection immediately.

Host organisations, who subsequently employ their own interns, may qualify for the Employers PRSI Exemption Scheme operated by the Department of Social Protection. Further information is available on the Revenue website.

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Forms

 

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Ask HR

  • Can any College/School/Unit apply for a JobBridge Internship?
  • Can the Work Placement candidate take over the duties carried out by a vacated post?
  • What are the hours of work?
  • Are Interns entitled to annual leave?
  • Can the Work Placement Intern be paid whilst on the Work Placement Programme?
  • Is the Work Placement Intern entitled to career development opportunities?
  • Can the Intern apply for paid employment within the University whilst participating in the JobBridge Internship Scheme?
  • Can the Intern apply for paid employment outside of the University whilst participating in the JobBridge Internship Scheme?
  • I am a casual worker in UCD, am I eligible to participate?
  • Can I replace an Intern when they leave?

If you cannot find the information you are looking for please 'Ask HR' by completing this form below.
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