Guidance for Practitioners

What is CEIAG?

Careers Education helps young people to develop the knowledge, confidence and skills that they need to make well-informed, thought through choices and plans that enable them to progress smoothly into further learning and work.

Information, Advice and Guidance refers to personalised support on learning and work pathways and on other key issues that impact on young people’s ability to develop and progress.

Benefits of Careers Education and IAG
Effective Careers Education supplemented by personalised Information, Advice and Guidance helps to:

• Raise ambition
• Increase participation
• Raise attainment
• Support progression

It will support the new “pupil guarantee” that all pupils will have access to high quality IAG.

CEIAG Consultancy offer

Links to National Resources for practitioners can be found in our Useful links section.

DCSF published two key documents October 2009: -
• Statutory Guidance: Impartial Careers Education
• Quality, Choice and Aspiration – A strategy for young people’s information, advice and guidance

Investor in Careers

Investor in Careers is a quality standard used for the management of careers education within secondary schools, FE colleges and training providers.
It can help:

OFSTED inspection
Achieve requirements for a quality CEG programme
Link careers education and guidance with other areas of the curriculum
Promote inclusiveness

The Diploma in Career Education - DICE
Professional Development

A key challenge for schools, colleges and work based learning providers is to ensure there are trained and knowledgeable staff to deliver effective programmes of impartial careers education and IAG.

Connexions Cheshire and Warrington in partnership with Nottingham Trent University offer an accredited programme - the Diploma in Career Education that may be of interest. It is aimed at teachers (or non-teaching staff) who are involved in the design, coordination and delivery of Careers Education/ PSHEE – Economic Well-Being or have responsibility for ensuring Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) provision within your institution meets standards for OFSTED inspection.

The Diploma in Career Education is offered annually as a modular course.

Should you wish to register your interest in attending or if you require further information regarding this course please contact me on 01606-305200 or by e-mail: sally.sutherland@connexions-cw.co.uk

Local Resources

For all practitioners working with young people in Cheshire and Warrington, Connexions has produced a range of resources. Click here for more information.

Training Courses and Events

Further details on training courses and events that are coordinated by Connexions Cheshire and Warrington and open to all partners are available by following this link.

Common Assessment Framework

The CAF is a key part of delivering frontline services that are integrated, and are focused around the needs of children and young people. The CAF is a standardised approach to conducting assessments of children's additional needs and deciding how these should be met. It can be used by practitioners across children's services in England.

The CAF promotes more effective, earlier identification of additional needs, particularly in universal services. It aims to provide a simple process for a holistic assessment of children's needs and strengths; taking account of the roles of parents, carers and environmental factors on their development. Practitioners are then better placed to agree with children and families about appropriate modes of support. The CAF also aims to improve integrated working by promoting coordinated service provisions.

All local authorities manage their own CAF process which Connexions supports. For further information on training and support available please visit the relevant website below: -
Cheshire East Council
Cheshire West and Chester Council
Warrington Borough Council

Labour Market Information (LMI)

High quality and up to date Labour Market Information is essential for effective career planning and decision making.

Labour Market Information future trends can be found on the National Guidance Research Forum

Other Useful Links

Mental Toughness Development Programme

This year, Connexions has been developing projects and services using the AQR Ltd Mental Toughness programme,

This programme has been developed by occupational and sports psychologists and is designed to help learners understand better the stressors, pressures and challenges that face them every day, holding them back from achieving their full potential. Click here for further details.