The following summary has been produced in conjunction with the National Library Resource for Guidance.
KEY QUOTES:
76 "The Review proposes a new integrated employment and skills service, drawing together existing services such as Jobcentre Plus and the new adult careers service" P.28 .
It will offer universal access to work-focused careers advice, basic skills screening, job placement and links to in-work training. Common objectives and aligned incentives will drive delivery which will be monitored by the Commission and Employment and Skills Boards. This will ensure individuals receive effective support to get into work, stay in employment and progress.
6.22 "The Review recommends that this service operate under the already successful and well-known learndirect brand." P.114
The Review has developed fresh recommendations to raise awareness and aspiration among adults across society. At the heart of these is a new universal careers service for England to give people the advice they need to progress in the modern labour market and adapt to change. This will bring together current separate sources of advice and draw them out of their silos. "The Review recommends that this service operate under the already successful and well-known learndirect brand.
8.24 The Review has developed fresh recommendations to raise awareness and aspiration among adults across society. At the heart of these is a new universal careers service for England, bringing together current separate sources of advice. The Review recommends that this service operate under the already successful and well-known learndirect brand." P145
Problems with Current system (p114)
6.19 "The current system in England is fragmented and fails to integrate advice on learning with careers advice" . P.114
In a recent evaluation, over one third of people who sought skills advice or guidance wanted to find out about career opportunities.11 The current system, particularly in England, provides advice on different aspects of building a career in silos, with Jobcentre Plus providing help in getting a job and providers of skills advice able to help with finding a particular course. Nowhere is this brought together so that people are advised how to effectively build their job and pay prospects. Skills development is not set in the context of people's aspirations.
6.20 Even advice focused purely on skills is fragmented. In England, learndirect and nextstep provide similar services aimed at similar groups, but under different brands and organisations. The Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) review of learndirect advice in 2005 identified this as a principal area for development and improvement. They noted that competition between learndirect advice and nextstep is hindering the development of an integrated Information Advice and Guidance (IAG) service for adults.
THE REVIEW'S RECOMMENDATIONS: A NEW UNIVERSAL ADULT CAREERS SERVICE
7.54 " To meet the challenge of helping people in the modern labour market, Chapter 6 set out the Review's recommendation of a new universal adult careers service. This will provide labour market focused careers advice for all adults, in and out of work, in the UK" (P.135 ). It will do this in a range of locations, including in the community, online and over the phone. This new careers service is at the heart of the Review's strategy for ensuring that people have the advice and support they need to succeed in the modern labour market.
7.55 "The Review recommends that the new adult careers service also be co-located with Jobcentre Plus and other providers of employment support, while also operating from other locations such as colleges" p136. This will establish a nationwide network of one stop shops for employment and skills advice , building on best practice already seen across the UK and other countries. It will ensure that there is a high profile location that everyone seeking advice on improving their career or getting into work can go to. People who are out of work will have much greater and easier access to skills and careers advice than they do currently. As Chapter 6 set out, this should not be the only place people can get help, flexibility of delivery is key.
7.56 " This network of one stop shops will, in England, involve the co-location of the new national careers service with employment services (both Jobcentre Plus and, where services are contracted out, private and third sector providers)" p136. The careers service will become the source of skills expertise for Jobcentre Plus. The Review recommends that the careers service provide skills diagnosis for workless people who need it in England, including those making repeat claims, with Jobcentre Plus referring claimants to it.
7.57 These one stop shops should not be the only source of skills and employment advice. As Chapter 6 set out, "the new national careers service will be required to operate flexibly, reaching out to people in communities, shopping centres and other places, rather than having just one location". In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Devolved Administrations should consider how best to integrate their careers services with employment services so that this approach can work across the UK.
INTEGRATING EMPLOYMENT AND SKILLS
8.29 The Review recommends a new integrated employment and skills service to help people meet the challenges of the modern labour market.
To ensure people can access an integrated employment and skills service, the Review recommends:
- a new programme to help benefit claimants with basic skills problems. Including a new programme to screen all benefit claimants, and more help to improve their basic skills;
- a new universal adult careers service, providing labour market focused careers advice for all adults. The new careers service will deliver advice in a range of locations, including co-location with Jobcentre Plus, drawing on jobcentre Plus information and services, creating a national network of one stop shops for careers and employment advice;
- a new integrated objective for employment and skills services of sustainable employment and progression. Meeting this will require all involved in such services, from Departments, the LSC and Jobcentre Plus, to front line staff and colleges, to focus on people's long-term, as well as short-term, prospects; and
- a network of employer-led Employment and Skills Boards to give employers a central role in recommending improvements to local services, mirroring the national role of the Commission for Employment and Skills. The Boards will work to ensure that local services meet employer needs and the workless are equipped to access work.
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