Information, Advice and Guidance Policy
Contents
PageOverview
1 Summary
2 Further Information
3 History
4 Approval
5 Review
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Key Information
1 College Mission
2 Information, Advice and Guidance - Aims
3 Information, Advice and Guidance - Objectives
4 Client Outcomes
5 Service Users
6 Service Offer
7 What service users can expect from us
8 What we expect from service users
9 Code of Ethics
10 How we measure success of our IAG service
11 Confidentiality
12 Equal Opportunities
13 Feedback: Compliments, Comments and Complaints
Appendices
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This document is available in large print or in an alternative format that meets your needs.
Please contact the HR Department ¾
November 2016 / Ref:POL0111
Information, Advice and Guidance Policy
Overview
1 Summary
This policy and associated guidelines and procedures, outlines the information, advice and guidance available to students, potential students and parent/carers.
2 Further Information
· Business Development Director
3 History
This policy was created in October 2016.
4 Approval
This policy was originally approved by the Senior Management Team and the Corporation Board in November 2016.
5 Review
This document will be reviewed annually by the Business Development Director and other relevant staff and groups. ¾
November 2016 / Page - 7 - / Ref:POL0111Information, Advice and Guidance Policy
Key Information
1 College Mission
To deliver high quality education and training which enables and inspires individuals, employers and communities to develop their skills, unlock potential and realise their ambitions
2 Information, Advice and Guidance – Aims
As a College it is critical that individuals receive impartial and objective information, advice and guidance (IAG) to enable them to make decisions which will facilitate them to develop their skills, unlock their potential and realise their ambitions. We recognise that individuals face a future in a fast developing environment where the career opportunities today will vary from those potentially available in even five years time; plus young people, in particular, change their minds about their career direction and options and so need sound IAG support to enable them to make informed choices and changes.
Our IAG services support the delivery of the Colleges overall objectives through helping ensure individuals are on the right programme of study which in turn ensures:
- A positive impact on fulfilling an individual’s potential and achieving their goals
- A positive impact on retention and achievement
- A positive impact on progression and destinations
Information is provided by Careers Guidance staff, Customer Services, Student Revenue, Marketing, and Admissions teams. Where the college does not have the information, staff will seek the information on behalf of the individual, or signpost the individual to the relevant organisation. Advice provided is impartial and confidential, to enable students and potential students to make informed choices as to the most appropriate route for their personal and career development. The College promotes and supports equality of opportunity and wherever possible the College will seek to provide information in a format which suits the needs of the individual.
This Policy should be read in conjunction with other College policies and procedures including: the Admissions Procedure, Complaints Procedure, Data Protection and Freedom of Information Policy, Dignity at Work, Disability Equality Policy, Financial Assistance Policy and Procedures, H&S Policy, Learner Equality and Diversity Policy, Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy.
3 Information, Advice and Guidance – Objectives
North Lindsey College’s IAG objectives are to:
- Inspire and inform individuals about the full range of education, training and employment opportunities available
- Provide our service in an impartial manner;
- Promote the best interests of the individual to whom it is given.
- Ensure that individuals understand the range of career routes open to them and how to access information necessary to underpin informed choices
- Ensure individuals are aware of the service, the support available and how to access the service
- Make available face-to-face guidance to pupils from Year 8 onwards where requested and where appropriate
- Have access to high-quality and up-to-date labour market intelligence (LMI) and information about education and vocational education training routes pre- and post-16. ►
- Work, as required, with parent/carers to raise awareness about career routes and to challenge stereotypes
- Have access to quality-assured careers providers and professionally qualified career development professionals to provide face-to-face guidance
- Support curriculum areas to ensure that all leavers have a planned progression route
- Provide a range of resources accessible to individuals including online resources
- Access to specialist local help for vulnerable young people and those with additional needs.
- Monitor student destinations and use this information to inform College provision and information available for the IAG service
4 Client Outcomes
Working with individuals we aim to achieve measurable outcomes. Dependent on the IAG provided the client group and the reason for the IAG conversation these outcomes will vary and be dependent on the individual’s objectives within each interaction. We will monitor and measure:
- Achievement of an individual’s objectives in an IAG conversation
- Increased confidence
- Increased motivation
- Improved understanding of career options
- Improved understanding of College programmes
- Decision making
- Action planning
- Ensuring an individual is on the right programme
- Ensuring an individual’s progression path is understood
- Ensuring we respond within 2 working days when requests for support are made
- Successful transfer of students to alternative provision
5 Service Users
North Lindsey College IAG services are available to:
- School pupils
- Individuals not in employment, education or training
- Adults in employment
- College students
- College staff
- Local careers service staff
- Schools and employers
Others may access the service in agreement with the Business Development Director. ►
6 Service Offer
North Lindsey College IAG services cover:
- Careers
- College provision – full time, part time, apprenticeships, higher education, progression
- Other providers provision
- Admissions process
- Student financial support
- General College information
7 What service users can expect from us
- We will be welcoming and friendly
- We will be professional and knowledgeable
- We are happy to answer your enquiry by telephone or e-mail or to offer you an individual appointment
- We will treat you fairly and equally
- We will tailor our services to your needs
- We will respond to your written and verbal requests within 2 working days
- We will offer the option of drop-in and/or guidance interviews each day the College is open
8 What we expect from service users
- As much relevant information as you can give us to help us to respond to your enquiry fully and to hold meaningful and realistic conversations
- To attend all interviews, or to let us know if you need to cancel or re-schedule an appointment
- To be honest and open with us, and work towards meeting your agreed aims.
9 Code of Ethics
North Lindsey College abides by the Career Development Institutes Code of Ethics:
1 Accessibility Staff must promote access to career development activities and services in a range of ways that are appropriate and ensure inclusion.
2 Accountability Staff are accountable for their career development activities and services and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their role, including the CDI Discipline and Complaints Procedure. Staff must act in the interest of society and at all times exercise integrity, honesty and diligence. Staff must in all circumstances endeavour to enhance the standing and good name of the career development profession and the Career Development Institute.
3 Autonomy Staff must encourage individual autonomy in making decisions and always act in the individual’s best interests. ►
4 Competence Staff must monitor and maintain their fitness to practice at a level that enables them to provide an effective service. Staff must represent their professional competencies, training and experience accurately and function within the boundaries of their training and experience.
5 Confidentiality Staff must respect the privacy of individuals, disclosing confidential information only with informed consent, except where there is clear evidence of serious risk to the client or welfare of others. Staff must inform clients of the limits of confidentiality and data sharing at the outset.
6 Continuous Professional Development Staff must maintain their professional competence, knowledge and skills through participation in continuous professional development informed by reflective practice and the National Occupational Standards: Career Development.
7 Duty of Care – to Clients, Colleagues, Organisations and Self. Staff have a duty of care and are expected always to act in the best interests of their clients. Staff must develop and maintain professional and supportive working relationships with colleagues both inside and external to their own organisation and respect the contributions of other career development professionals to the activities and services on offer. Staff must fulfil their obligations and duties to their employer (where applicable), except where to do so would compromise the best interests of clients. Staff have a duty of care to themselves, both in terms of their personal integrity, personal safety and their capacity to practice in order to provide an effective service to clients.
8 Equality Staff must actively promote equality and diversity and work towards the removal of barriers to personal achievement resulting from prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination. Staff must treat clients equally regardless of their gender, age, race, ethnicity, disability, religious beliefs or sexual orientation.
9 Impartiality Staff must ensure that professional judgement is objective and takes precedence over any external pressures or factors that may compromise the impartiality of career development activities and services. In doing so, Staff must ensure that advice is based solely on the best interests of and potential benefits to the client. Where impartiality is not possible this must be declared to the client at the outset.
10 Justice Staff must be just and fair to all clients, respect their human rights and dignity and adhere to any legal requirements and obligations.
11 Transparency Staff must provide career development services and activities in an open and transparent manner.
12 Trustworthiness Staff must act in accordance with the trust placed in them, ensure that the clients’ expectations are ones that have reasonable expectations of being met and honour agreements and promises.
10 How we measure success of our IAG service
We will monitor and measure client satisfaction against the client outcomes targeted.
We use feedback gathered formally and informally to measure impact of our service. This feedback is reviewed monthly to ensure client satisfaction and to gather tangible and intangible success feedback.
11 Confidentiality
In order to provide the best possible service, we keep a record of client details and a summary of discussions with our staff. This record can only be accessed by authorised staff who may need to see this information as part of their work. North Lindsey College complies with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998. ►
12 Equal Opportunities
North Lindsey College welcomes enquiries from all people regardless of their age, race, colour, gender, and sexual orientation, religious or political beliefs, disability, marital status, or background. We are committed to the aim that everybody is given equal opportunity to access our IAG support and services.
13 Feedback: Compliments, Comments and Complaints
To help us continuously improve our service and address your needs we want to hear from you; if you wish, you may do this anonymously.
If you would like to comment on or compliment the service, or make a complaint, relevant forms are available at reception. You may also do this by contacting or calling 01724 281111. Our complaints procedure explains clearly how complaints should be made and how these and any unresolved issues are dealt with. All complaints are dealt with in the strictest confidence. ¾
November 2016 / Page - 7 - / Ref:POL0111Appendix 1
For use in marketing materials:
Statement of Service
This statement describes the information, advice and guidance available at North Lindsey College.
Information, Advice and Guidance:
- To be eligible for this free service you must either be considering attending a programme of study at North Lindsey College or be a current student of North Lindsey College.
Information, Advice and Guidance to support you to:
- Make realistic decisions about your next steps.
- Explore and assess comprehensive information about available opportunities.
- Access independent careers advice and guidance.
- Access initial assessment and guidance on support for learning through referral to internal or external departments or agencies
- Achieve your career objectives
- Improve your understanding of career options
- Improve your understanding of College programmes
- Select the right programme for your career aims
- Understand your progression path
Information, Advice, Guidance and Support which is:
- Offered in a confidential setting where necessary.
- Impartial, objective and unbiased.
Information, Advice, Guidance and Support from staff who:
- Ensuring we respond within 2 working days when requests for support are made
- Treat you with respect.
- Are trained and qualified through continuous professional development.
- Are aware of developments in education, training and employment and can advise you appropriately.
- Are part of local networks of experts who work together to ensure that you receive the best possible help.
- Will feedback information about your needs to relevant North Lindsey college staff and other providers of opportunities.
- We will refer you to alternative providers and/or sources of help where appropriate.
- Will provide you, where appropriate, with a copy of the Guidance Referral/Intervention form.
- Offer you the chance to comment on the quality of the service that you have received and welcomes your suggestions for improvement.