Advice about LEarning and Work FOR DISADVANTAGED
ADULTS
Project Date: September 2008 - July 2009
Background
The proposed development of
an adult advancement and careers service has occupied an
increasingly prominent place in learning, skills and employment
policy following the publication of World Class Skills:
implementing the Leitch Review of Skills in July 2007. Supporting
adults whose learning and skills development needs are greatest and
who face significant, practical, cognitive and social barriers to
engaging with education, training and employment, will be central
to the purpose of the new adult careers service.
The Project
In January 2008 the City & Guilds Centre
for Skills Development and the CfBT Education Trust joined forces
to undertake a joint research project which explores effective
and innovative careers guidance provision in England in
relation to adults disadvantaged in the labour market. The types of
disadvantage considered in the project included:
- Learning difficulties
- Disability
- Lack of basic skills
- Having English as a Second or
Other Language
- Low skills
- Low wage
- Older people
- Labour market returners
- Mental illness
- Offenders
- Social deprivation
- Living in an area of high
unemployment
- Living in a rural area
- Gender discrimination
- Refugees
- Asylum seekers
Using qualitative approaches we
conducted interviews with both practitioners and managers in
providers/agencies and with clients about their experiences. These
experiences have formed the basis of a series of case studies which provide
interesting insights into effective practice. In February 2009 we
tested our findings during an ‘interpretation workshop’. The
outcomes of this event were used to help shape the final report. A
copy of the report can be accessed here.
Project
approach
The project was divided into a series of
stages:
Background research
We undertook an extensive literature review to
help us understand where the gaps in knowledge were.
Stakeholder consultation
We consulted with a range of stakeholders
(including policy makers, providers, agencies) with an interest in
this area regarding the actual scope of the project and to help us
identify where effective practice was taking place within
England.
Engaging with policy makers
We wanted to ensure that the
findings were of direct relevance to policy makers. To this end we
consulted agencies such as DIUS on the scope of the project, to
gain an understanding of their needs and to understand how this
project might make a direct contribution to the shaping of the
Adult Advancement and Careers Service. We also commissioned
Professor Tony Watts to undertake a policy review to enhance our
understanding of the policy landscape. A copy of
this framework can be found here.
Field Review
We undertook a review of
practice across 12 organisations. Participating organisations were
identified through consultation with a range of stakeholders and a
shortlist of 12 was chosen, covering a wide range of clients and
contexts. Semi structured interviews with practitioners, managers
and clients were conducted between August and September
2008.
For further information about the project please contact:
Heidi Agbenyo
City & Guilds Centre for Skills Development
Email: heidi.agbenyo@skillsdevelopment.org
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7294 3230
