Connexions (agency)

Last updated
Connexions Logo.jpg

Connexions was a UK governmental information, advice, guidance and support service for young people aged 13 to 19 (up to 25 for young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities), created in 2000 following the Learning and Skills Act. [1]

Contents

There were Connexions Centres around the country – usually several in each county – which offered support and advice on topics including education, housing, health, relationships, drugs and finance.

Since 2012, Connexions has not been a coherent national service, following changes to the delivery of careers in England and the establishment of the National Careers Service by the Coalition government. Some local authorities have retained its branding, however.

History

Connexions was formerly The Careers Service, which had its organisation altered throughout the Conservative government's privatisation process in the mid-1990s.

During the period of Labour Government the Connexions service became increasingly focused on the delivery of targeted services to those who were often described as most in need of help.

One interesting initiative was the introduction of the Connexions Card.

Following the 2010 election of the Conservative/Lib Dem Coalition the future of Connexions was called into question. Where Connexions was retained as a branding, it was a local decision, and there was considerable local divergence around branding and delivery. Government guidance from 2011 stated that "There will be no expectation that local authorities should provide universal careers services once the new careers service is established." [2] The new career service referred to is the National Careers Service, which was established on 1 April 2012.

Perceptions of the service

A 2010 research report by the National Youth Agency and the Local Government Association [3] noted that some young people were unclear about the role and function of Connexions, although those who had interacted with the service were generally positive about it.

Structure

Through this process, funding that was originally given directly to local councils for the delivery of the service, was henceforth allocated directly by central government (via regional offices) to private careers companies. This meant the Labour government was more easily able to use funds previously allocated for careers services, for the creation of the Connexions service. The service was originally intended to be constituted by professionals from a range of backgrounds (careers advisers, youth workers, counsellors, health workers, teachers etc.). However, as the funding for these other professions lay within the control of local councils it was not as accessible. The result was that the careers service in England was abolished and replaced by Connexions, but it was made up predominantly of career guidance professionals and was not really the multi-disciplinary organisation originally envisaged. However, Connexions services typically worked closely with many other services, particularly those within local government, such as the Young Offenders Team (YOT), Teenage Pregnancy Workers, Children's Services, but also Housing Associations, Job Centres, and others.

From 1 April 2008 responsibility for providing Connexions Services was transferred to local authorities in each area ( rather than the Connexions Partnerships). Some chose to take services in-house, others to commission services from other providers. The brand however, remained. [4] As a result, there was very little in terms of uniformity. Berkshire Connexions, for example, was run differently, and structured differently, to Surrey or Oxfordshire Connexions.

There were 47 Connexions Partnerships throughout the country. These partnership offices managed the Connexions service on a local level, bringing together all the key youth support services in their area. The partnership offices managed the Connexions Centres in their locality. [4]

Following early public spending cuts under the Coalition Government Connexions services were badly hit. In many areas the service vanished altogether, whilst in others the service remained. Typically support for the NEET group has continued to be funded through the local authority, but the careers element of the Connexions service was eventually devolved to schools.

Delivery

Principally, Connexions offered an impartial, client-centred, careers, information and guidance service. The staff were known as Connexions Personal Advisers, and were trained to offer confidential advice and practical help relating to a wide range of issues. The concern was that the result was a professional that was a 'jack of all trades, master of none', with many ex-career guidance professionals in particular concerned that the increased remit of their role has been detrimental to their expertise and knowledge in matters of career guidance. [5]

A web site, Connexions Direct, offered information on various topics of potential interest to young people in England. Connexions also offered one-to-one support by telephone, SMS, and instant messaging. [5]

Information sharing policy

Consent was nominally sought prior to sharing information, such as school attendance records, unless there was a statutory or common law duty to do so. [6] Such consent was not necessarily limited in scope, or length of time in effect. Consequently, confidentiality may not be guaranteed.

Information sharing powers were granted under sections 114 to 121 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000, section 115 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and section 12 of the Children Act 2004.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estyn</span> Education and training inspectorate for Wales

Estyn is the education and training inspectorate for Wales. Its name comes from the Welsh language verb estyn meaning "to reach (out), stretch or extend". Its function is to provide an independent inspection and advice service on quality and standards in education and training provided in Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Citizens Advice</span> British charitable organisation

Citizens Advice is an independent organisation specialising in confidential information and advice to assist people with legal, debt, consumer, housing and other problems in the United Kingdom.

The National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) is a British charity dedicated to providing support, information and advice for deaf children and young people, their families and professionals working with them.

Personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) is a primary and secondry school curriculum subject in England that teaches young people, through all key stages, knowledge and skills for life during and after education. PSHE consists of education on personal and health related matters, such as Relationship and Sex Education, as well as preparation for post-education life, such as economic sustainability and careers advice.

In England, a Connexions Centre was a location, as part of the government-funded Connexions service, where young people aged thirteen to nineteen in England could go for confidential support and advice on a number of topics. The staff were known as Connexions Personal Advisers and were "trained to offer confidential advice and practical help".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convention of Scottish Local Authorities</span> National association of Scottish councils

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) is the national association of Scottish councils and acts as an employers' association for its 32 member authorities.

Spurgeons is a large national children's charity in the United Kingdom, working with vulnerable families, children and young people. It is based in Rushden, with several offices in the UK, and is a registered charity.

Overview and Scrutiny is a function of local authorities in England and Wales. It was introduced by the Local Government Act 2000 which created separate Executive and Overview and Scrutiny functions within councils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Liverpool College</span> British college, established 1992

The City of Liverpool College is a further education and higher education college in Liverpool, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homelessness in England</span> Overview of homelessness in England

In England, local authorities have duties to homeless people under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002. There are five hurdles which a homeless person must overcome in order to qualify as statutory homeless. If an applicant only meets the first three of these tests Councils still have a duty to provide interim accommodation. However an applicant must satisfy all five for a Council to have to give an applicant "reasonable preference" on the social housing register. Even if a person passes these five tests councils have the ability to use the private rented sector to end their duty to a homeless person.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Learning and Skills Act 2000</span> United Kingdom legislation

The Learning and Skills Act 2000 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, introduced under the first Tony Blair government. It made changes in the funding and administration of further education, and of work-based learning for young people, within England and Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Community education</span>

Community Education, also known as Community-Based Education or Community Learning & Development, or Development Education is an organization's programs to promote learning and social development work with individuals and groups in their communities using a range of formal and informal methods. A common defining feature is that programmes and activities are developed in dialogue with communities and participants. The purpose of community learning and development is to develop the capacity of individuals and groups of all ages through their actions, the capacity of communities, to improve their quality of life. Central to this is their ability to participate in democratic processes.

A community legal centre (CLC) is the Australian term for an independent not-for-profit organisation providing legal aid services, that is, provision of assistance to people who are unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. They provide legal advice and traditional casework for free, primarily funded by federal, state and local government. Working with clients who are mostly the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in Australian society, they also work with other agencies to address related problems, including financial, social and health issues. Their functions may include campaigning for law reform and developing community education programs.

Education Business Partnerships (EBPs) were, until 2011, UK-government-sponsored bodies. In 2011, the Department for Education (DfE) abolished funding for Education Business Links. EBPs now directly contract with schools to provide Work Experience, Work Related Learning, Enterprise Education and Careers Education, and Information and Guidance (CEIAG) by linking the worlds of business and education to offer young people a rewarding and realistic introduction to work. Around two-thirds of secondary schools nationally have decided to maintain a work experience offer.

Careers advisory services in the UK are typically organisations that offer advice, guidance and counselling on careers. People may use these services for a number of purposes, such as jobhunting, changing careers, getting a promotion, building career skills, returning to work after a career break and professional development. Career challenges such as these occur for many reasons, including redundancy, motherhood, leaving full-time education, relocation, or simply coming to the end of a work contract.

Kent Association for the Blind is a registered charity providing rehabilitation services for children and adults with visual impairment to support them and help them live independent lives. Services are provided by six, specialist rehabilitation teams based in offices in Kent, Medway and Bromley. Additional specialist support is provided in Bexley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Council for Voluntary Youth Services</span>

The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS) was a membership network of over 200 voluntary and community organisations, as well as local and regional networks, that work with and for young people across England. The organisation closed in 2016. For 80 years, NCVYS acted as an independent voice of the voluntary and community youth sector, working to inform and influence public policy, supporting members to improve the quality of their work, and also raising the profile of the voluntary and community sector's work with young people.

The National Careers Service is the publicly funded careers service for adults and young people in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scottish Council of Independent Schools</span>

The Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS) is a registered Scottish charity which represents the independent school sector in Scotland. Its membership includes mainstream fee-paying independent schools and a range of schools for young people with complex additional support needs.

The Career Development Institute is the British professional association for career development.

References

  1. ↑ Whittaker, Martin (2001-03-23). "Confidants with connexions". TES Magazine. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  2. ↑ Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities on Targeted Support Services for Young People (April 2011) http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/l/la%20guidance%20april%202011.pdf
  3. ↑ Hibbert, T. (2010). Face-to-face What young people think about information, advice and guidance . National Youth Agency.
  4. 1 2 Bawden, Anna (2007-05-15). "Connexions faces disconnection". Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  5. 1 2 Brennan, John (2004-07-01). "Why is the Connexions service not working?". The Independent. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  6. ↑ "Case Study 3: The Connexions Service". Department of Constitutional Affairs. Archived from the original on 2007-03-21. Retrieved 2006-11-16.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.