Careers: Careers guidance practitioner

How is the role of careers guidance practitioner affected by current policy?

It is a turbulent time in England for careers guidance practitioners – also known as careers officers or careers advisers. Careers guidance for young people was formerly the responsibility of the local authority and was delivered largely via Connexions. But under the Education Act 2011, from this September schools will have the duty to secure careers guidance for their pupils. This could be partly through the new all-age National Careers Service, which launches this April and will include web- and telephone-based advice services; through contracting other organisations; or through their own careers adviser.

A report published on 20 January by further education organisation the 157 Group found that: "The transfer of statutory responsibility for careers guidance from local authorities to schools has not been accompanied by a transfer of the professionally qualified staff who deliver the service. While local authorities have lost overall funding, schools do not have an identified budget with which to meet their new obligations. The result has been a large-scale loss of expertise."

"These changes make for an uncertain time for careers professionals," says Sarah Finnegan-Dehn, president of the Institute for Careers Guidance (ICG). "However, the ICG is working with the other professional associations in the careers sector under the banner of the Careers Profession Alliance (CPA) to strengthen the profession. There is a review of qualifications under way and a new framework will provide new pathways into what will be known as the career development profession."

Has the profession been affected by cuts?

Many careers advisers have lost their jobs as local authorities have closed down Connexions services – a survey of 144 local authorities by Unison and the University of Derby found that only 15 will maintain a "substantial" universal careers service.

Who employs careers advisers?

The ICG’s Finnegan-Dehn says: "Most jobs for careers advisers have been in the public sector. However, in the future we see more opportunities in the third sector and private sector." She adds that the changes in government policy have led to a significant number of careers advisers becoming self-employed, and more schools and colleges will be employing careers advisers themselves.

Is it a bad time to go into careers guidance?

On the one hand, during an economic recession there is more need for careers advice than ever. Schools will be looking for organisations to help them deliver their statutory duty. On the other hand, there are a lot of experienced careers advisers looking for jobs, due to the closure of Connexions, so there will be a lot of competition. "There may well be a dip in opportunities at the moment but we are working towards strengthening the sector in the future and every profession needs new blood," says Finnegan-Dehn.

What qualifications do you need to become a careers guidance professional?

The professional qualification for careers advisers in England is the qualification in careers guidance, available from 11 UK universities as a one-year full-time or two-year part-time course, which combines academic study with work-based learning. Distance learning options are available in some cases.