NCGE Resources
The Physical Environment
In designing the physical environment of the Information Centre of the Guidance Service consideration should be given to: Clearly displayed information in relation to resources such as: A user-friendly library or resource area which has up to date information relevant to target groups and the general public Space / spaces should be attractive and well equipped All materials and notice boards on display are in accessible units so that clients can freely browse. A well-equipped information technology area with workstations, PCs, web access, photocopying and video viewing facilities. A positive environment which may be achieved through the use of: Group guidance sessions: To provide a professional guidance service and confidential space for clients to engage with the guidance counsellor, the guidance environment is key. Group guidance involves individual clients working together with a qualified guidance counsellor facilitating the session. Often, in a group context, people share quite a lot about their individual experiences, their career aspirations, together with their challenges and achievements. Therefore, it is very important that the space/environment is conducive to the aims and objectives of the group work Information and communications technology (ICT) Guidance Services require access to broadband and appropriate Wifi to ensure provision of onine information to clients. Guidance services can consider provision of information using E-Guidance, telephone access and social media. In this context guidance services should develop a Social media policy. Outreach When guidance counsellors meet with their clients for ‘one to one’ sessions in an Outreach Centre, the space they work in should:
Delivering the Guidance Service
To date the Adult Educational Guidance Services based within the former VECs operated based on the guidelines laid out in the DES Operational Guidelines 2012. https://www.ncge.ie/sites/default/files/ncge/uploads/AEGI_Operational_Gu... These guidelines stated that the overall aim of the AEGI is: To offer a guidance service to adults which includes impartial adult education information, one-to-one guidance and group guidance, which will help people to make informed educational, career and life choices. The AEGI is based on an integrated model of adult educational guidance counselling which is: Guidance is a key aspect of further education programmes and should be available at all stages including pre-entry and pre-exit on an integrated basis. Under the AEGI, individual AEG Services (AEGS) provide personal, educational and vocational guidance which supports learners to make informed decisions (for example, about course choice and certification if required, progression plans, recognition of prior learning, etc). AEGS provide ongoing guidance which also supports the learner’s motivation to continue with a programme, especially where previous educational experiences may have been negative. All AEGS should be offered free-of-charge to any person who is in one of the target groups identified. Guidance provision in an FET Guidance Service is based on the needs of the clients / adult learners. This provision can take place in the offices / information centre of the Guidance service itself or via outreach to adult education / community education / training centres . We all recognise how important first impressions are and how much we are influenced by the environments we find ourselves in. A guidance environment, which is pleasant and welcoming, will create a positive climate in which to build our relationships with clients. Bright and well organised public spaces, comfortable meeting rooms and well-presented facilities will enhance the image of the Service and demonstrate respect for our clients. Being conscious of safety in our working practices will help ensure protection for our clients and ourselves Service delivery can include Provision of information to clients / groups or wider information seminars / exhibitions.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
NCGE designs and organises continuing professional development (CPD) programmes for guidance staff working in the FET sector.These include guidance co-ordinators, guidance counsellors and guidance information officers and other guidance staff based in FET NCGE CPD programmes for FET guidance staff aims to:- Provision of CPD NCGE provides CPD using a blended learning approach with online communication, pre-workshop activities and attendance at workshops . NCGE provides webinars with national and international experts in guidance providing, which can be attended by FET Guidance practitioners Guidance Counselling Supervision Supervision can be viewed as an integral part of continuing professional development. It provides a mechanism of support for guidance counsellors and can play a key role in 'self-care'. Supervision may take place on a 'one to one' level or in a group context. There are several reasons why it is important for guidance counsellors to have regular supervision:- Ethical requirement – Professional bodies , such as the Institute of Guidance Counsellors and AEGAI strongly recommend supervision as an integral part of the professional practice of members; The Department of Education and Skills recognises the role of supervision in ensuring good practive and thus requires guidance counsellors working in the AEGI service to attend either individual or group supervision for at least two hours per month; PLC guidance counsellors can access supervision through the DES funded guidance counselling supervision programme for post primary schools. Supervision helps ensure accountability in relation to guidance counsellor's one to one work with clients; Self care - It provides support to practitioners in relation to the management of client issues. Quality assurance - Supervision is a way of monitoring and evaluating our practice so as to maintain the quality and standards of the service we provide; Supervision can be provided on a one to one or group basis. Supervision must be provided by a supervisor accredited by a suitable organisation. For example IACP: http://www.irish-counselling.ie/infosheet12.htm gives a list of IACP accredited supervisors by geographical location
Record keeping and data gathering
The Adult Guidance Management System is managed by NCGE on behalf of DES and SOLAS. The SOLAS / NCGE AGMS database acts as a key tool in providing a quality service to adult guidance clients. This AGMS has developed since 2004 with review and consultation with the Adult Educational Guidance Initiative staff and management. The AGMS provides a confidential online database to assist client information management and to support review of and ensure planning for the guidance service delivery Due to the confidential nature of the guidance service to clients, it is only the guidance staff of the former Adult Education Guidance Services that have access to the AGMS for their ETB. Management have access to the overall statistics and reports available from the data. Professional practice is supported by the records kept . Records should reflect interactions with clients and groups and every session, phone call, meeting and drop-in is important. Both the client’s plan and progression are informed by the records. Good record keeping facilitates appropriate follow up and referral. Accurate data supports planning of the guidance service from a local and management level and informs national planning for FET guidance services At national level, SOLAS has access to the overall statistics to view the activities involved in the provision of guidance , number of 1-1 sessions, group sessions, information queries etc. SOLAS access the data 3 times per year in line with ETB reporting requirements. This data is collected at End May, End September and End of year . Guidance Services provide qualitative reports through the AGMS which provide the opportunity for service self -reflection and self-evaluation. The AGMS provides a facility for services to highlight Case Studies and examples of good practice. These reports are collated by NCGE to provide an Executive overarching report for DES / SOLAS . NCGE makes these reports available via www.ncge.ie
Quality Assurance
Quality Assurance of FET guidance services should be informed by the ELGPN Guidelines on Strengthening the Quality Assurance and Evidence-Base for Lifelong Guidance. http://www.elgpn.eu/publications/browse-by-language/english/ELGPN_QAE_tool_no_5_web.pdf/
Guidance Service Staff
Staff of the AEGI guidance services in FET are currently employed under the terms and conditions laid out in: Circular 70/04 and Circular 0015/2007 https://ncge.ie/sites/default/files/AEGI_Operational_Guidelines_2012__FINAL.pdf
Strategic Guidance Service planning
Strategic planning asks us to consider: Strategic planning is really about how an organisation defines its direction and makes decisions about the resources it is going to allocate to achieving its aims. Strategic planning is a key element of an organisation's effectiveness. It sets out to ensure that a Service is meeting the needs of its Service users. The guidance plan for an FET Guidance Service must work within the remit of its managing agency e.g. ETB. It is an intrinsic part of the managing agency’s strategic plan. As in all other strategic plans, the outlook is for the coming three to five year period. From this larger plan, the Service may wish to develop a one year operational plan. This operational plan can have much more specific goals. Plans should always have some in-built flexibility, in order to take into account any changes that may arise. The following represent an example of stakeholders, who are likely to be involved in the development of an FET Guidance Service plan:- Information from stakeholders can be obtained through consultation or surveys or through analysis of qualitative and quantitative data. Using qualitative and quantitative data as a strategic management tool can provide invaluable information to guide planning as follows: Quantitative data available from the Adult Guidance Management System – AGMS - which includes client numbers, referrals, staff time, general public queries Qualitative data available via the AGMS reports including : issues and challenges, gaps in provision, best practice, access and social inclusion, networks and outreach, case studies Client feedback ; conducting client feedback surveys can provide valuable information on client expectations & satisfaction, accessibility of the Service, quality of the resources and information available, improvements needed etc CPD needs of staff – conduct a staff training needs analysis and evaluation of CPD attended. Communications – consider the communications and processes within the Service, between management/staff/clients
Principals of service delivery
A quality guidance service is led by staff with a DES recognised qualification in guidance counselling. https://ncge.ie/sites/default/files/nationalguidance/documents/NGF_Quality_Report%20Final.pdf The following represent key principles: Accessible: Accessible to the specified target groups and without barriers in relation to learning opportunities, location, information and guidance materials; Appropriate: to the client’s needs and stage of development; Confidential: within an ethical framework and with an awareness of legal limits within the guidance process; Equality of opportunity: promoting and demonstrating equality of opportunity in relation to adult education with an awareness of the requirements of equality legislation; Impartial:, in order to safeguard the interests of the client; Individual Ownership & Opportunity: provision of information on educational opportunities locally, regionally, nationally and internationally as appropriate, which best meet the client’s needs. Integrated: clients are encouraged to take ownership and responsibility for their individual choices and decisions; Quality Standards and delivery: agreed standards of delivery, professionally qualified staff, together with appropriate facilities and resources to meet the needs of the client groups; Team Approach: adopting a team approach with education providers encourages the integration of guidance within adult education; Transparent: The guidance process itself should be open and transparent. Guidance practitioners should explain to individuals in clear, appropriate language how they propose to work with them within the guidance process; Complaints handling: Guidance Service providers should have a complaints procedure for clients and systems for obtaining client feedback.
NCGE FET & Careers Portal MyFutures+ Pilot
NCGE’s role includes informing policy and supporting the development of quality guidance practice in the FET sector. In this context the development of useful and meaningful resources to support quality practice is key. Informed by Quality Assurance and Evidence Guidelines of the ELPGN, NCGE supports the development of practitioner competence, service provision and improvement. NCGE also recognises the need for a cost/benefit for individuals and those funding the guidance service. To this end and acknowledging that Careers Portal designed My Futures+ specifically for the adult guidance community NCGE agreed to facilitate Guidance Counsellors in Adult Education and PLC Centres in engaging with a Pilot of ‘MyFutures+’. The Pilot was run as an exercise to ascertain the real world uses of this programme within adult guidance. The final report of this pilot can be accessed below.
Subject Choice: A Resource for Guidance Counsellors
Clearly, the range of subjects, both compulsory and optional, will depend on the resources of the school and on the requirements of the Department of Education and Skills. Similarly, the timing of students’ decision making in relation to subjects is largely a matter for schools. The choice of optional subjects prior to first year is discouraged. While schools have different systems in place to enable students’ subject choices, it is assumed here that students will have had an opportunity to study the optional subjects during first year in order that they may make informed choices following careful consideration. Ideally, this will be with your collaboration and with that of their parents or guardians. It is also assumed that optional subjects are chosen prior to the end of first year. In the longer term, the development of the Framework for Junior Cycle and of the Junior Cycle Profile of Assessment will have a bearing on the subjects and short courses provided by a school. Further information on this is available on the Department website at https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/Curriculum-and-Syllabus/Junior-Cycle-/A-Framework-for-Junior-Cycle1.html Part of your role, as guidance counsellor, is to provide information to students, in both group settings and on an individual basis. Your role may also be to collaborate with and to inform your colleagues and school management about the implications of the choices made by students and of the processes in place to facilitate those choices. You may find the resource 'Understanding Your Interests', available for download below, useful. This resource can be used to support student learning regarding their interests and aptitudes. The resource can be applied in a classroom setting by presenting to students for completion, followed by discussion of their choces in small groups. The resource 'Understanding Your Interests' can be accessed HERE. Students are encouraged to consult parents and important others, such as the guidance counsellor in considering their options. In brief, it is proposed that, at the level of the Junior Cycle, the primary consideration in choosing a subject is a student’s liking for that subject. It is also proposed that, in addition to Irish, English and Mathematics, the ‘safe range’ of subjects in Junior Cycle includes an additional language and Science. For the Senior Cycle, it is proposed that, in addition to liking a subject, students need to consider the entry requirements for their chosen career or course. It is obvious that such consideration takes time for most students and that much information is required. The NCCA website at https://www.curriculumonline.ie/Senior-cycle is an essential resource for this purpose. Qualifax http://www.qualifax.ie/ and CareersPortal https://careersportal.ie/ are also very useful in identifying course entry requirements. NCGE acknowledges the contribution of Colum Layton in the development of this resource page. The Student Resource Sheet, which is designed as a brief guide to students who are in the process of opting for subjects in the Junior Cycle, accompanies this resource page for Guidance Counsellors. A Parents Resource Sheet, based on that for students, is also available.