UK Employment Tour

ConnexionsBy Denny YEUNG Sik-ho

January 2005

Imagine……

Join training and get a CD? Clients’ learning and training history at fi

ngertip? Across different CMs? Trained and accredited before running

YPTP? Both social work and non-social work b

ackground do career counseling?

Connexions

Connexions Card Connexions Direct Connexions Partnership

Connexions Card

Free smartcard for 16-19 Encourage learning, training, voluntary

service: exchange for reward points

Impact

1.7M youths, 0.6M members, 0.47M active members

Few NEETs: 20,000 only 2/3 schools not join: too much administr

ative work Most popular: I-auction, CDs, adventure

tickets, etc.

Observations

Not effective for those NEETs Good to attract business sponsorship

– Critical mass: 500,000 membership School barrier to break through

Implications to HK

Good way to get commercial participation

Goal displacement and deadweight Too commercial? Too reward-oriented?

Connexions Direct

Free service for 13-19 Information, advice, assistance about ca

reer and training -10% NEETs by 2004

By Whom?

Personal advisers (PA), from different connexions partnership (CXPs)

By face-to-face, by phone, by internet, by activities

Computer system CCIS: share career info. and client info.

7-day call centre in Newcastle

PAs

12,800 accredited PAs From education, health, youth work, wel

fare, justice settings PAs with disabilities or from ethnic mino

rities S/NVQ Level 4 + training + assessment

is a must

The Training

Level 4 qualification in career guidance, youth work, or social work, &

Completion of the Diploma for PA

The Diploma for PA

For PAs working with young people with multiple difficulties – Module 2:  Engagement and Effective Prac

tice– Module 3: Working for change with young

people– Module 4: Working with other agencies and

the community– Module 5: The Reflective Practitioner

Impact

1.5M interventions per year, 30% for NEETs

Positive interim review PAs friendly, knowledgeable, helpful

Observations

Wise use of information technology Personal data privacy PAs from various backgrounds, not just

social work Employ those with similar backgrounds Compulsory training and accreditation

Implications to HK

Urgency for quality training and accreditation system, linked to QF

Join hands with professionals from various backgrounds

Computer system as an important backup to career counseling across different CMs

The Link

http://www.connexions.gov.uk/

End

Thank you!