Team Domenica is a three-tier operation. Our holistic employment programmes not only help to prepare candidates for the workplace, but also develop their capacity to lead happy fulfilled lives.

We achieve this through the set up of our Training Centre, Training Café and Employment Centre.

Training
Centre

Our training centre provides new and innovative employment programmes to young people with learning disabilites, referred to as our ‘candidates’ to more accurately reflect and emphasise their role as people ready for employment.

Our holistic approach is personalised to each candidate, with the aim to develop their independence, confidence, communication, and work skills ready for paid employment.

Our three core employment programmes provide an extended transition between the education environment and world of work:

SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME (SEP)
A one-year structured study and training programme, four days per week, where all candidates complete a registered qualification and discover their career potential. On this programme, candidates get to experience essential high levels of social interaction with customers, employers and also their peers.

SUPPORTED INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME (SIP)
A one-year programme based mostly in the workplace of a partnered employer. Through our accredited Centre with Open Awards (a national Awarding Body), candidates receive a Level 1 certificate in ‘Skills in further learning and employment’. This includes developing positive behaviour in the workplace, learning how to be assertive and managing stress at work. This enables our candidates to better cope in a busy and often unfamiliar work environment.
84% of candidates are offered paid employment positions through this programme.

If you’re a business looking to support Team Domenica by offering work experience or employment opportunities to our candidates, download our Work With Us leaflet or email supported-employment@teamdomenica.com.

Specialist Further Education College
We are now on the 41 Secretary of State approved list of institutions as a special post-16 institution (SPI). Following an inspection visit from the Department for Education, Team Domenica has successfully completed the final stage of the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) HNS Special Post 16 Institutions Due Diligence process. From September 2023, Team Domenica is operating as an independent Specialist Further Education College. Team Domenica’s education provision (SEP and SIP) will be inspected by Ofsted under the Education and Inspection Framework, using the FE and Skills Inspection Handbook.

WRAP AROUND PROGRAMME (WAP)
Our WAP is designed to support and sustain candidates who transition into paid work. A high level of continued support from a Training Mentor is provided to candidates in functional literacy, communication and social skills, money handling and independent travel training.

Through all our programmes our candidates benefit from:

• Classroom based pre-employment training through a registered qualification
• Workplace knowledge through external work experience
• Mental health and wellbeing support
• Developing communication and social skills
• Life skills and independence

Café
Domenica

Our Training Cafés are open to the public and enable our candidates to practice their professional and social skills. There are four in Brighton & Hove.

Opening Hours:

Did you know that at Café Domenica we offer a 10% discount for students with valid ID card and Compass card holders?

Café Domenica Preston Road
5-7 Preston Road, Brighton, BN1 4QE
Mon-Fri: 8.30am-4.30pm (with some outside seating)

Café Domenica Plus X Brighton 
Plus X Innovation Hub, Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 4GL
Mon-Fri: 7.30am-3.30pm

Café Domenica Jubilee Library
Jubilee Street, Brighton, BN1 1GE
Mon-Sat: 10am-4pm

Café Domenica Hove Library
182-186 Church Rd, Hove, BN3 2EG
Mon-Fri: 10am-4pm (excluding Wednesdays)

Contact the Café

+44 (0)1273 681111

Our candidates are centrally involved in the running of Café Domenica (our Training Cafés). These in-house work placements provide a perfect opportunity for candidates to learn new skills in a real work environment. They also allow candidates to build their confidence in a safe work environment, where making mistakes is seen as a valuable part of the learning process.

Café Domenica is open to the public and we have strong support from our local community. Café Domenica serves the purpose of not only helping our candidates develop skills and build confidence, but it also brings people together, educating them on the real value gained by interacting with people with learning disabilities and strengthening their relationships within the community.

Employment
Centre

Team Domenica’s Employment Centre aims to establish relationships with local companies to procure suitable employment opportunities for young adults with learning disabilities.

We provide companies with guidance and advice on employing young people with learning disabilities. We engage with CEOs, heads of CSR and heads of HR departments to facilitate the provision of appropriate working conditions for young adults with learning disabilities.

We have an excellent reputation with partnered employers and local businesses in Brighton and Hove. We work with employers across all industries including (but not limited to): The Co-op, Theatre Royal, Holiday Inn, The Grand Brighton, Bill’s, Morrisons, Brighton i360 and Leonardo Royal Hotel Brighton Waterfront.

Partnered employers support our employment programmes and generate more job opportunities through:

• Work experience placements
• Supported internship placements
• Paid employment positions

Our reach within the business community continues to grow, by placing more young people into work, we have built up good relationships with well-known local employers who have then recommended us to other businesses.

We are currently supporting over 40 partnered employers.