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Guidance
The Adult Careers Service: what it means for adult learners
| Date | Location | Ref | Apply Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Nov 07 | The Megacentre, Bernard Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S2 5BQ | C16-25/11/07 | |
| 22 Nov 07 | Abbey Community Centre, 34 Great Street, London SW1P 3BU | C16-26/11/07 | |
| Fee:
£125 (includes lunch, tea/coffee). Participants will
receive a draft position paper and NIACE briefing on the ACS in advance of
the event NB: NIACE does not charge VAT on conference and course fees |
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[Background] [Audience] [Programme]
Background
The Adult Careers Service: what it means for adult learners
An exploration of the role of the Adult Careers Service (ACS) and what it could mean for adult learners and adult skills development in England.
Context
The 2003 and 2005 Skills Strategies clearly articulated the major challenge
the UK faces in ensuring the workforce is equipped with the skills needed to
compete in the global economy.
Government documents have recognised the problems that people have piecing together the parts of the work and learning jigsaw. It set out a vision for information and advice as part of a much wider goal to help people make the most of their lives and achieve their ambition for themselves, their families and their communities.
‘Better skills and qualification will often be at the heart of (that) self-advancement. But for many people they will not be enough by themselves. Consistent with the theme of the whole Skills Strategy, they need to be part of a package which helps people fit together the pieces of the jigsaw: how skills and qualifications link to career options; how help with childcare and care of other dependents can support part-time and full-time employment choices; and planning for retirement and old age. So this is our long-term ambition: that everyone should be able to get help if and when they want it to take stock of where they are in their lives and their careers; to review where they would like to get to; and assess what steps they can take to get there.’
2005 Skills Strategy paragraphs 164 and 165, Chapter 4, p.41
This paper concluded that the current infrastructure for guidance ‘is not achieving anything like its full potential in providing high quality, individual information, advice and guidance for adults who want it. Too few people are aware of the service or do not think it would be relevant to their needs.
A cross-government review of information, advice and guidance provision for adults was subsequently commissioned in 2005. The review identified the need for an integrated Adult Careers Service providing access face-to-face, by phone or online, working through a standardised menu of services and under one brand. This finding was taken forward and is one of two key reforms identified in the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) Leitch Implementation Plan published in July 2007:
DIUS and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will work together to create a joined-up employment and skills system. We will merge the information and advice services of learndirect and nextstep providers into a new universal adult careers service in England, working in partnership with Jobcentre Plus. The new careers service will ensure that everyone is able to access the help they need to take stock of where they are in achieving their goals and ambitions, and to get the support they need to advance themselves and achieve their full potential.
World Class Skills (2007), paragraphs 2.27, p.28
NIACE welcomes the development of a universal Adult Careers Service. However there are some concerns about how it will:
 | work in practice |
| affect all adult learners (as well as those seeking standalone guidance) |
| build on current best practice in guidance and learning providers. |
The purpose of this event is to stimulate debate about the role of the Adult Careers Service in the development of adult learning and skills; how the commitment made to universal access can be ensured and how the ‘no wrong door’ and commitments to equality and social justice are to be achieved. We are also keen to explore further related policy initiatives such as Skills Accounts.
Aims of the event:
| To update and inform colleagues on the development of the Adult Careers Service |
| To examine the role of the Adult Careers Service in the development of adult learning and skills. |
| To inform further development work on the Adult Careers Service. |
Participants will receive a draft position paper and NIACE briefing on the ACS in advance of the event.
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Audience
This conference will be of interest to:
| Policy-makers |
| Contract managers (Learning and Skills Council etc.) |
| Managers of adult guidance services |
| Train to Gain brokers |
| Managers of adult learning provision (college/LA/community based) |
| Careers Scotland/Careers Wales |
| Careers England partners/careers company leads |
| Regional Development Agencies, Regional Strategic Partnerships |
| Lifelong Learning UK |
| ENTO |
| Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services |
| National Association for Managers of Students Services in Colleges (NAMSS) |
| The Federation of Professional Associations in Guidance |
| The National Institute for Careers Education and Counselling |
| National Association for Educational Guidance for Adults |
| Centre for Guidance Studies |
| Trade Union Congress |
| Directgov |
| Confederation of British Industry |
| Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform |
| Business Links (or equivalent) |
| Department for Work and Pensions |
| Job Centre plus (regional) |
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Programme
| 09:30 | Arrival and registration (tea/coffee available) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10:00 | Welcome and introduction to the
day Chair: Mark Ravenhall, Associate Director (Regions) |
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| 10:15 | Keynote speech: On current
position with regard to development of the Adult Careers Service Sheffield: Speaker from DIUS (tbc) London: Chris Barnham, Deputy Director, Employment and Skills Unit, DIUS |
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| 10:45 | Keynote address 2: A response
from the field Professor Stephen McNair, Director Centre for Research into the Older Workforce, NIACE and President of National Association for Educational Guidance for Adults |
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| 11:15 | Round tables to generate questions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11:30 | Questions & Answers to the Panel to include speakers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11:45 | Workshops The purpose of the workshop sessions is to:
Workshop 1: Adult Careers Service: defining and assessing adult skills
Workshop 2: The Adult Careers Service: IAG workforce quality and
competency for the ACS
Workshop 3: Service user and leaner involvement in the ACS:
principles, approaches and methodologies
Workshop 4: Reaching the most marginalised learners: lessons for the
ACS
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| 13:00 | Lunch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14:00 | Workshops (repeated) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15:15 | Return to main hall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15:20 | Final keynote: Looking ahead London: Siobhan Neary-Booth, Deputy Director (CPD) Centre for Guidance Studies Sheffield: Deirdre Hughes, Director, Centre for Guidance Studies (CeGS) |
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| 15:50 | Final remarks from chair Mark Ravenhall |
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| 16:00 | Close of Conference |
This programme is correct at the time of going to press. The organisers reserve the right to make changes to the published programme in the event of one or more of the advertised speakers being unable to attend. Delegates will have no claim against NIACE in respect of such changes.
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Also in November 2007...
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