Can Connexions be saved from the savage cuts imposed by Local Authorities? Throughout England, the jury is out on this mainly because the adjudicator (central government) cannot yet articulate its vision for an all-age careers service. Hapless victims of the 'powers that be' i.e. careers advisers, managers and leaders, find themselves adrift from policy desperately clinging onto their fundamental values of client-centred professional services delivered to local people in local settings.
Whilst the careers profession had fully braced itself for significant reductions in budgets it had not envisaged, nor had central government, a 'knee jerk' reaction by Local Authorities to use the accounting mechanism of Area Based Grants to decimate a 'front-line' service for young people, parents, teachers and employers. The expectation was that this year a 3.6% efficiency savings across the board was expected (confirmed by the Department for Education); instead cuts ranging from 11% - 45% have been announced by Local Authorities. Formal notification of Careers Adviser posts being 'at risk' have been served in the name of 'efficiency savings'. From Cornwall to Northumberland the trial of destruction is well underway and the critical question is who is in a position to stop this?
The Institute of Career Guidance (ICG) is working day and night to gather and share intelligence between organisations such as Careers England, the National Connexions Partnership Network, UNISON, and other interested parties, to feed into local and central government decisions so that the unintended consequences of their actions can be fully understood. Let us not forget, there are statutory obligations that must be met. UNISON is currently exploring the option of a legal challenge to Local Authorities in this regard. Sadly, the Local Authority Government Association have not met with, or exchanged ideas with, the Careers Profession despite our efforts to talk with them.
Of course, we know for sure that come August and September there will be a flurry of increased activity when many young people do not get onto higher education courses (even with straight A grades); there will be fewer apprenticeships available in public sector organisations; and job opportunities for school and college leavers will generally be in decline. Who will be there to offer impartial advice, to motivate and inspire individuals to maximise their talents in more creative ways? What will be available in a Local Authority context?
In the absence of communication, we could ask ourselves if there is some form of burden shifting taking place with an agenda by Local Authorities for schools and academies to add 'impartial careers guidance' to their long list of new responsibilities? Findings from the OECD (Challenges and Policy Options for More Effective Career Guidance Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development EDU/EDPC(2010)13 290310) indicate that across the UK and further afield: "Academically trained teachers have often spent most of their lives in education. Their experience of the wider work environment can be limited and their formal or informal advice to students may be biased towards general education and university pathways. They may be reluctant to recommend vocational courses, particularly to bright students." (p.5). Most school leaders, teachers and careers professionals want a partnership model. This approach plays to each others' strengths and offers all round benefits whereby impartiality and links to the labour market can be assured. What's now needed are strategies to help reassure young people (and adults) that major changes in public, private and voluntary/community sectors will not restrict access to front line services that offer impartial and professional career development services.
Dr Deirdre Hughes
President
Institute of Career Guidance
