Michael Bracey finds it a challenge to keep workers up to speed on the changes happening in Connexions. He just hopes it won't change too much.

Last week, one of our new youth workers asked me if Connexions was an Essex thing. Now Essex may be the home of many things; white stilettos, Alison Moyet and England's top performing girl's state school to name just three. But as far as I know it can't lay claim to being the home of Connexions.

The question did get me thinking about how keeping a constantly changing workforce informed of constantly changing initiatives is a little like painting the Forth Bridge. Just when you get everyone up to speed, someone or something seems to change and you have to start all over again.

A couple of years ago we decided to build the "Introducing Connexions" course into our initial training for youth workers.

It's a useful course for people new to youth work. Although it's supposed to take two days, if you strip out a few of the activities and avoid any difficult questions, you can get through it in less than three hours.

Delivering it is simple enough. It's a bit like painting by numbers.

The course comes with a trainer's handbook and a set of slides that cover just about anything anyone would want to know about Connexions, from the role of the personal adviser to an overview of the referral and assessment process.

And considering that the course was designed more than three years ago, it's still got a fair bit of currency. In fact, about the only thing that's really missing is a slide headed up "What Next for Connexions".

Back in 2001, the future was bright. And it was purple and orange. But just four years on and things look much less certain. It's no secret that big changes are likely for this particular government initiative, but apparently we'll have to wait a little longer for them.

In the meantime, we're left with a paintbrush and a half-finished bridge.

Whatever the youth green paper has in store for Connexions, let's hope someone, somewhere thinks about how far we've come. Because to me it looks a long way back.

- Michael Bracey is principal youth officer for Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, michael.bracey@haynet.com.