Centre4, 17a Wootton Road, Grimsby,
North East Lincolnshire,
DN33 1HE
Tel: 01472 236680

Information Advice and Guidance Policy

Introduction

We offer our Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) services on an impartial and free basis to support and help everyone develop as lifelong learners and achieve their potential in their career of choice.

When approached for IAG on other areas including, for example: finance, health and relationships we signpost learners to other local or national organisations who provide specialist services on those issues.

To implement the policy we will:

• Provide accurate and impartial information, advice and guidance to existing and potential learners and employers about the courses, qualifications and support services we offer.

• Provide accurate and impartial information, advice and guidance to our own staff about their rights, entitlements and responsibilities as employees, about staff development procedures and opportunities, about performance management and grievance procedures, and about opportunities to contribute to the organisations strategic planning.

• Provide a service which is free and confidential to the individual, and which meets the highest standards of equality of opportunity.

Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG)

Definitions:

Information - refers to the provision of factual information relating to learning and careers, but without exploring the relative merits of different options. Information can be imparted verbally by an advisor or by printed material, and the internet.

Advice - requires more in-depth interaction with the learner. It includes the explanation of information and how to access and use the information.

Guidance - involves an in-depth session or series of sessions between the learner and advisor, in which the advisor helps the learner through the process of making decisions about learning and careers.

We can offer information on potential careers in various occupational sectors as well as signposts to other IAG service providers.

Referrals are made when an advisor recognises that the services of another organisation or agency would more effectively meet the needs of the learner. A referral can be made either internally within the organisation or externally to outside organisations. These can be within consortia or non-consortia partners. All referrals are in line with the Data Protection Act and other relevant policies.

IAG Service

This statement sets out the details of our IAG service as it applies to learners and employers. The purpose of this statement is to clarify what is on offer, and what someone can expect when using our service.

Who can use our services?

• Current learners who are enrolled on a qualification at CPO and are interested in doing another course.

• Enquirers and prospective learners who do not yet registered with us but are considering us as an option.

• Employers who want information about our programmes, courses, or about any bespoke training we may offer.

What can you expect from us?

Accurate and impartial information, advice and guidance on the full range of services we offer. We offer information and advice on courses and qualifications available at CPO. If study elsewhere is more appropriate then we will, where possible, suggest alternatives.

A service that conforms to national standards: This means that our service will be:

• Accessible and Visible

• Professional and Knowledgeable

• Impartial

• Responsive to your needs

• Friendly and welcoming

This will be achieved by internal quality-monitoring processes including regular observation by senior management of staff undertaking IAG interviews with our clients.

Equality of treatment: We aim to treat all our learners solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential; regardless of gender, colour, ethnicity, age, socio-economic background, disability, and religious or political beliefs, family circumstance, sexual orientation or any other irrelevant distinction.

We recognise the rights of all learners to be able to have equal access to learning opportunities. Learners should discuss any individual issues with their Assessor who will know who to contact and how to help them. These individual issues may relate to a disability including Dyslexia.

Confidentiality: In order to provide the best possible service to you we keep a record of your details, your academic record and your contact with us. This record can only be accessed by authorised personnel at CPO who need to see this information as part of their work.

We take all appropriate physical, technical and contractual measures to ensure that your information cannot be used by anyone outside of our organisation.

What do we expect from you?

As much relevant information as you can give us so that we can answer your enquiry fully; for example, disclosing a disability or additional requirement to enable us to provide extra support if applicable.

If you have any questions or concerns about your application, your enquiry, your course, or your progress, we expect you to contact us as soon as possible to resolve the issue.

We ask you to be open with us – for example, please tell us if you do not want to go to another organisation or agency.

If you do accept a referral, you will be expected to attend the interview as arranged. If you are unable to attend, please inform the organisation as soon as you can rearrange your appointment.

Feedback, Comments and Complaints

We are committed to developing the quality of our services and we regularly seek the views of our learners to find out how far they are satisfied with the courses and support provided.

We welcome any comments you have which may help us to improve our services. If you are a learner with us, you can pass your comments directly to your Assessor or to any senior manager or member of staff.

If you are not yet a learner, you can contact us via email: fiona@mycpo.co.uk or on our website ‘contact us’ option

We hope that you are happy with the service you receive but if you are not then we will investigate and deal with any difficulties you experience. If you have a complaint, then we will treat it in confidence and will do our best to resolve it fairly and quickly in accordance with our complaints procedure.

The Services we Offer

Help with choosing the right course of study or qualification

Printed information in our course leaflet and on the web about our courses and qualifications and the services provided to learners. This information is regularly updated and comprehensive.

Access to our business development team, who can provide you with more information about the study options open to you.

Help with starting your qualification

We will provide you with information about the enrolment process, about transport arrangements, and about any specific workplace information.

We will provide you with a comprehensive induction programme. This induction process is carried out by your Advisor/Assessor, and is important because it informs learners about resources, facilities, and procedures.

During induction we will ensure that you are fully advised and/ or provided with the following:

• the name of your tutor and assessor

• fire regulations and the evacuation/invacuation procedures

• health and safety information and an overview of ‘Prevent’ Awareness

• procedure for notifying absence

• appeals and disciplinary procedures

• summary of the qualification you are undertaking and for which you will have had, in most cases, an initial assessment

• Your specific course, and how it will be assessed

• Learning support available to you

• Welfare and Counselling services available to you

Learning Support

Learners at all levels can be helped in a variety of ways for example: study skills, IT, assignment, or project writing. Whatever the need we can help, or we know someone who you can contact.

Initial Assessments

All learners are offered an initial needs assessment. Learners are assessed in Maths and English to identify whether those skills are at the standard required for their chosen course and, where appropriate, are offered additional support.

All learners are assessed to ensure that we can respond appropriately to individual needs. Learners who are concerned about their current level of Maths or English skills can ask for help.

Support during your Studies

We will provide on-going advice and guidance throughout your time with us to assist your learning and your personal development. This will include:

• Course-based support from your assessor/tutor.

• Guidance on arrangements for assessment.

• Information, advice, and guidance to enable you to plan your personal, educational and career development.

• Reasonable adjustment and study support to facilitate your studies if you have a disability or additional requirements.

On broader issues including:

Personal relationships, wellbeing and drug or alcohol support we will signpost clients to specialist agencies with relevant expertise.

Career Advice Help with Moving On

CPO helps inspire learners towards further study or work and enables them to make informed decisions whenever choices are open it helps learners to understand enough about the world of work to know what skills and qualifications they need to succeed. It is critical for social mobility because it helps open students’ eyes to careers they may not have considered.

CPO’s follows the Gatsby Benchmarks for good career guidance as we want to ensure all learners are offered a robust career guidance programme.

1 A STABLE CAREERS PROGRAMME
Each learner can access a structured careers programme which is regularly evaluated. CPO offer learners a ‘meaningful encounter’; this is one in which the learner has an opportunity to learn about what work is like or what it takes to be successful in the workplace.

2 LEARNING FROM CAREER AND LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION
Every learner has access to good quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will have the support of an informed adviser to make best use of available information. During their study, all learners have access to information about career paths and the labour market to inform their own decisions on study options. Learners have an opportunity to explore what it is like to learn in that environment.

3 ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF EACH STUDENT

Learners have different career guidance needs at various stages. Opportunities for advice and support are tailored to the needs of each learner. All CPO programs have embedded equality and diversity considerations throughout.

CPO’s careers programme actively seeks to raise aspirations. We keep systematic records of the individual advice given to each learner, and subsequent agreed decisions. CPO collects and maintains accurate data for each learner on their education, training, or employment destinations.

All Study courses reflect the importance of maths and English as a key expectation from employers.

Throughout their study (and by the end of their course) every learner will have had the opportunity to experience how their subjects help people gain entry to (and be more effective workers within) a wide range of occupations.

4 LINKING CURRICULUM LEARNING TO CAREERS

All subject staff link curriculum learning with careers, even on courses which are not specifically occupation led. Study programmes reflect the importance of maths and English as a key expectation from employers.

5 ENCOUNTERS WITH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES

Every learner has multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities, including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes, and should include learners’ own part-time employment where it exists.

6 ENCOUNTERS WITH FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION

All learners are given information on a full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes, and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace. By the end of their course of study, every learner should have had a meaningful encounter with a range of providers of learning and training that may form the next stage of their career. This includes as appropriate, further education colleges, higher education and apprenticeship and training providers. This includes the opportunity to meet both staff and learners.

7 PERSONAL GUIDANCE

Every learner will have opportunities for guidance interviews with a careers adviser, who could be internal (a member of CPO staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. This is available for all learners whenever significant study or career choices are being made.

Every learner will have at least one such interview offered by the end of their course.

We will provide help and support to enable you to choose what you will do next. This may include:

Support from staff that can provide you with more information about options beyond your present study, whether it is progression to another course of study, progression to employment or higher education (university).

Information, advice, and guidance about the job seeking process including CVs and completing application forms, preparing for interviews, and looking for job vacancies.

Internal IAG Service

This statement sets out the details of CPO’s IAG service as it applies to both existing and potential employees. The purpose of this statement is to clarify what is on offer, and what the expectations are.

What can you expect from us?

Accurate and impartial information, advice and guidance on the full range of internal services we offer. If we are unable to give you the information, advice and guidance you need we will, wherever possible, refer you to an alternative source of information.

A service that conforms to national standards:

This means that our service will be:

• Accessible and Visible

• Professional and Knowledgeable

• Impartial

• Responsive to your needs

• Friendly and welcoming

Equality of Treatment: We aim to treat all our employees solely based on their merits, abilities and potential, regardless of gender, colour, ethnicity, age, socio-economic background, disability, religious or political beliefs, family circumstance, sexual orientation, or any other irrelevant distinction.

Confidentiality: As a responsible employer we keep detailed personnel records on our staff. These records can only be accessed by authorised staff who need to see this information as part of their work. We take all appropriate physical, technical, and contractual measures to ensure that your information cannot be used by anyone outside the organisation and that we are compliant with the Data Protection act.

What do we expect from staff?

• We expect all our staff to abide by our core values. This means that we expect all our staff:

• to treat others with respect

• to behave with honesty and integrity

• to take responsibility for their own actions and for their personal development

• to strive for the highest standards of achievement and behaviour by adopting a supportive self-critical approach in our pursuit of excellence

Feedback, Comments and Complaints

We are committed to developing the quality of the services we offer, and we welcome any comments you have which may help us to improve. You may contact any member of team with feedback, comments, or complaints. Alternatively, if you are an existing member of staff you may wish to go through your line manager.

The Services we Offer

Help with recruitment, selection and induction

We will produce clear and accurate job descriptions and person specifications for each job vacancy that clearly spell out the expectations of the job.

We will disseminate information about job vacancies, produce application packs and provide advice and guidance to potential applicants in a clear and transparent way.

We will provide information about the interview process to applicants.

We will provide post-interview advice and guidance to successful and unsuccessful applicants if required.

We will provide IAG to new recruits about joining procedures, documents required and the induction programme etc.

We will provide IAG to new recruits about terms and conditions of employment.

We will provide IAG to line managers about new staff appointments, induction and probationary procedures etc.

We will provide information to new recruits about key HR policies and contacts.

Help with on-going support, progress reviews and staff development

We will provide on-going IAG to all staff on current policies and procedures, including advice and guidance on the implications to them of changes to employment law.

We will provide IAG to line managers and staff about the performance management process and their respective roles in that process.

We will provide IAG to individual members of staff about their own job performance and related issues.

We will provide information about learning and development opportunities both internally and externally, and we will provide information, advice and guidance to line managers and staff about the process for identifying and agreeing staff development needs.

We will provide information to staff that they need to do their jobs, e.g., departmental performance data, information on quality systems and standards, individual, team or group targets.

We will provide information about the strategic planning process and how staff contributes to it, and we will provide information about procedures for consulting and involving staff on operational matters, including participation in section reviews and improvement planning.

We will provide IAG to line managers and staff about any of the Human Resources related policies.

Career Advice Help with Moving On

We will provide information, advice and guidance on job and career opportunities within the organisation.

We will provide information to staff about any relevant pensions and retirement entitlements.

CPO’s IAG Objectives

• Establish effective communication with clients.

• Identify information requested by clients.

• Supply information materials to clients

• Assist clients to clarify their requirements.

• Provide access to curriculum specialist information and advice both pre-course, on-course and at exit.

• Identify a range of options for achieving client requirements.

• Maintain and improve information materials.

• Refer clients to other providers if they need IAG that is outside the limitations of the service available from CPO.