Development of new qualifications for the career guidance sector

In 2007, Lifelong Learning UK with the support of the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA), commissioned the Centre for Guidance Studies (CeGS) to undertake a scoping study to help Lifelong Learning UK consider practical options for the future inclusion of career guidance specialist employers within our footprint.

The outcome of the study resulted in LLUK incorporating career guidance into the LLUK footprint and a project funded by UK Commission for Employment and Skills to provide workforce development for the career guidance sector.

Initial research has revealed gaps in the current qualifications available to the sector and therefore, LLUK is proposing a new qualification framework that will provide a structure for the development and accreditation of staff and encourage progression in the sector.

The framework proposes four new qualifications made up of units that can also be used for continuous professional development (CPD) purposes. Research identified that employers believe that CPD is a critically important means of up-skilling practitioners and that the sector would benefit from more recognition of and support for structured CPD.

There is also a need to accredit the work of staff in the wider network of referral agencies in a way that allows them to access the full qualifications if required. Units on understanding the career information, advice and guidance sector, diagnosing and agreeing client need and effective referral are likely to be critical for such staff.

Proposed Qualifications

The proposed qualifications are:

• Level 3 Award in Career Information, Advice and Employability Support
• Level 3 Certificate in Career Information, Advice and Employability Support
• Level 4 Diploma in Career Information, Advice and Employability Support
• Level 5 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development