Angela Minniti, Specialist in day care organisations for children

My story

“For me, recognition means being able to perform my role in full and taking on responsibility.” 

Good things come those who wait. This also applies to Angela Minniti and finding a way to achieve professional recognition. The Italian waited for three years to be able to work as specialist in day care facilities for children. Angela Minniti arrived in Germany in 2016 in order to move in with a partner. She already had a degree in educational science and several years’ professional experience as a nursery school teacher.

“It was really difficult to start with,” remembers the 30-year-old. “All I could say was hello and goodbye.” To improve her German-language skills, she attended a B1 German course at Groß-Gerau adult education centre in 2016. Just a few metres away, a children's day care facility was looking for a placement student. Angela Minniti seized the opportunity and applied successfully: Over 18 months, she gained practical experience and achieved language level B2.

The placement turned into a position as an assistant at the start of 2019. Angela Minniti felt very much at home from the start. However, without recognition of her qualification, she was unable to take on any tasks in the nursery involving responsibility. “I would have been able to have a part-time contract as a specialist in August 2019, but didn't yet have the recognition. But I wanted to do my job here in Germany.”

In April 2019 she came across the mobile recognition guidance service (MoAB) from INBAS in Network IQ Hesse. She had already submitted an application for recognition here as a state-recognised social worker. When being advised, it became clear that Angela's goals and career aspirations meant she was better suited to becoming a specialist in day care facilities for children. MoAB helped her to withdraw the old application and submit a new application for recognition as a specialist to the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. Angela Minniti: “My advisor was my link with the competent authority. She helped me a lot.”

IQ recognition guidance supported the Italian during the rest of the recognition process. They helped her to evaluate the recognition notice and supported her in reducing the length of the adaptation period. This was successful: Eight months became 15 weeks. Her experience as a placement student and assistant were taken into account. The adaptation period took the form of a placement and for this, among other things, she had to provide evidence of working in groups and of writing education plans. “I was able to do all of that i where I worked,” explains Angela with delight.

In March 2020 the time had finally arrived. “I received my recognition during the coronavirus pandemic. It was something really wonderful for me at such a stressful time. Our preschool was closed and we were at home. I saw this letter in my mailbox and I was so happy. I screamed out loud!” Angela has been working ever since as an educational specialist in the same children's day care facility. Recognition meant that her work situation also changed. “I am now able to lead a group, have conversations with parents, and take responsibility. And I'm also paid more. For me, recognition means finally being able to perform my role in full.” 

Looking back, Angela can see that access to good quality guidance and the right information about recognition was particularly important. Her advice for others seeking recognition is to always keep going to achieve your goal. And, more than anything, never give up hope.

Angela has already set herself new targets. She would like to further improve her German, complete continuing education and training and at some point run a children's day care facility herself: “I hope that I'm able to continue working in my preschool. This is somewhere I simply feel at home and am able to continue developing. I found a way through for myself.”

The text is an edited version of the original text by Nadine Ebling (Network IQ Hesse coordination office, INBAS GmbH) The conversation with Angela Minniti took place in November 2020. In the recognition procedure she was supported by the Mobile Recognition Guidance Service (MoAB) from INBAS. MoAB advises and supports those seeking recognition throughout Hesse on their path to recognition. Guidance is provided in job centre premises at various locations.

Education specialists include nursery school teachers, special needs care workers and state-recognised social workers. In some federal states additional professional qualifications as an education specialist can also be recognised. In Hesse, this is based on Section 25b of the Hesse Child and Youth Welfare Code (Hessisches Kinder- und Jugendhilfegesetzbuch, HKJGB). This addresses the procedures for the recognition of a corresponding university-level education from the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences.
 

My procedure in brief