Several ICG members have noticed an article in a recent edition of Children and Young People Now headed "Youth Access to create advice and guidance qualification" which the ICG brought to the attention of colleagues at DCSF.
The DCSF has discussed this with Youth Access who have confirmed that they are not planning to create a new qualification: that they are simply interested in exploring (at some time in the future, not immediately) the benefits of accrediting the achievement of the rights based advice occupational standards developed by Skills for Justice that are not currently linked to an award.
Should they conclude that an award based on these standards would be helpful; discussions about the accreditation of the standards would take place in the context of the Department's wider workforce development plans. The ICG is closely involved in this work and will be engaged in plans for the development of new qualifications that impact on careers guidance.
ICG members may be interested to know that Youth Access' 208 members deal with over 1 million enquiries from young people per year. Of these only around 6% of enquiries relate to education, employment or training. The most common area of enquiry is Sexual Health, closely followed by:
- Mental/emotional health
- Relationships
- Money and benefits
- Housing and homelessness
78% of YA members provide information and advice on rights-based issues, including 70% on housing & homelessness, 66% on welfare benefits and debt, 65% on crime/problems with the police, 52% on education rights and 50% on employment rights. Youth Access wants young people to get the best quality advice on these matters, which means having access to appropriately trained staff who themselves have access where possible, to nationally recognised qualifications. | 
