Remit of the PD Committee

One of the main aims of the Professional Development Committee is to maintain an overview of the full range of initial training routes and CPD opportunities in the career guidance sector. Recent activities have included :

• Updating the ICG CPD Framework
• Contributing to consultations on a Sector Qualification Strategy
• Working with employer organisations to ensure appropriate location of career guidance specialist organisations within the Skills for Business Network
• Contributing to the establishment of a Register for Practitioners and advising on register applications
• Setting up a HE Advice Community of Interest

Council Committee minutes are available on the ICG website here

This web page is designed to allow Committee members to highlight key issues/outcomes of meetings, update members on relevant developments relating to training and professional development and give you an opportunity to raise issues of concern or interest.

Qualification Reform Support Programme (QRSP)

Shona Samuels of the Learning & Skills Network gave a presentation at the Committee meeting on 14^th May 2008 on the QRSP. This is designed to provide post - 16 providers with support to help them prepare for sector qualification reform and the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). The QCF will comprise 8 levels (based on the National Qualifications Framework) each with an award, a certificate and a diploma and will replace existing NVQ qualifications. New learners will be registered for the new qualifications in the QCF if these exist. If this is not the case, the learner would register for an existing qualification.

Implementation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will begin in August 2008 and by August 2010 all qualifications will be accredited to the QCF. Although badged as a UK development, it appears that this will not apply in Scotland where the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework is well established.

The target groups for the support programme are:

• Providers involved in the QCF tests and trials
• Senior managers
• Curriculum managers and teaching staff
• IAG, Quality, Staff Development and Learning managers

To date, awareness has been raised through senior managers' events and the next phase will include small catalyst focus groups. These groups will

• Explore the implications of the implementation phase for learners, teachers and organisations
• Explore emerging information on the QCF and investigate how this impacts on the delivery of IAG
• Share emerging practice and encourage peer support

ICG members interested in taking part in a virtual focus group or requiring further information should contact Shona by email

Lifelong Learning UK Sector Skills Council (LLUK SSC)

Work is continuing to progress the agreement in principle by the Board of LLUK to adopt career guidance specialist organisations into the footprint of LLUK - apart from under 19 provision in England which is currently covered by the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC).

A submission has been made to the UK Skills Commission by LLUK for funding to carry out stages 1 -3 of a Sector Skills Agreement for the career guidance sector in advance of SSC relicensing of all Sector Skills Councils. It is hoped that at that stage career guidance organisations will be fully adopted into LLUK. Discussions continue on collaboration/ joint planning and working with CWDC. The outcome of the LLUK submission is expected in June.

ICG Register

A small sub group including Duncan Bolam of PD Committee has carried out work to finalise definitions for the criteria required for membership of the ICG Register of Practitioners. The launch of the Register is expected soon.

HE Advice Community of Interest

Andy Gardner, moderator of the COI, reported on the range and success of activities carried out. The HE Advice COI has 3 roles - to provide training for HE advice, campaigning and sharing of good practice.

Main activities are production of a newsletter forming the only source of HE visits at national level, a "buddy" network where new practitioners are paired with experienced ones and a planned Conference. More information available from Andy Gardner at

Professional Development Period - Coventry and Warwickshire Connexions

Sue Holden, ICG Head of Professional Development has been working with Coventry and Warwickshire Connexions to scope out the above for staff who hold either the QCG or NVQ in Advice & Guidance. Each member of staff negotiates an individual learning plan comprising a range of assessed activities that build on their initial training and develop their practice.

This is currently being evaluated and will become available for other organisations to use.

And finally............

We would like this web page to be owned by the membership and welcome your views/ concerns on professional development issues. Please do send your comments to Paul Hebron at ICG for inclusion on the web page.

We would be particularly interested in hearing your views on whether we should set up a Professional Development Community of Interest (and whether you would contribute to it!) and if there is any potential demand for a conference for staff involved in training and professional development. Again comments to Paul or to myself at