High demand for Jobcentre Plus advisers in schools, study finds
Joe Lepper
Friday, December 9, 2016
Jobcentre Plus advisers in schools are in high demand ahead of a national roll-out in three months time, according to a study.
The Department for Work and Pensions analysis of six pilot areas of the Jobcentre Plus Support for Schools programme, which involves deploying advisers into schools, showed it was popular and well used by school careers leads.
The research team concluded that "once school careers leads became aware of the programme, demand for the Jobcentre Plus Support for Schools programme was high".
Among reasons for the demand was the programme's ability to address a lack of guidance on non-academic career paths, with schools too often focused on higher education options.
Jobcentre Plus's local labour market expertise, employer networks and experience in tailoring careers support to individual needs also helped it flourish in the six areas analysed.
Another strong motivator for school interest was the fact that the support - which will be rolled out across England from March 2017 on a demand-led basis - was free.
The flexible approach of support tailored to each school was also welcomed.
One school careers lead told researchers they were particularly impressed with the way Jobcentre Plus advisers target "vulnerable groups that might not have the aspiration from family or might not have the desire and the drive to think about their futures in the sense of a career or a job".
Other work the advisers were involved in within schools were setting up work experience placements, employer visits, careers fairs and pupils visiting local employers. They also offered pupils guidance on financial management.
School career leads told researchers the programme "added value to their careers curriculum and filled gaps in schools' provision".
The study recommends that ahead of a national roll-out, good practice should be shared across areas and the programme should continue to be tailored to support each school's specific local needs.
Further research will be carried out involving a wider range of schools following next year's national roll-out.
In March this year, members of the House of Commons education, skills and the economy sub-committee criticised a lack of scrutiny by Ofsted of poor quality careers guidance in schools.
Plans for Jobcentre Plus advisers to be placed in schools were first announced by former Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith during the Conservative Party Conference in 2014.
