Advocate / Career Guidance Service

 

The Advocate programme offers career advice for learners in the centre and helps them develop a career path plan. The Advocate provides an opportunity for all learners to meet one to one, to discuss their career options and to look into the entry requirements for various careers. The Advocate is also in a position to link learners in with additional services they may require in the area, to assist in the development of their career plan.

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The Advocate brings learners to local college open days, arranges meetings with other educational institutions, helps with jobsearch etc. The Advocate will meet all learners at Induction stage of their training and follow this up with meetings during the time a learner is in the centre. The Advocate will also help with Social Welfare information, in particular relating to Back to Education payments and other financial arrangements that may be required when considering college as a progression option.

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ADVOCACY Service

 

The Role of the Advocate is to guide and support learners through an individual career path planning process.

This is done through one to one support throughout their time in the centre. As a tailor made service it is  client led

and flexibility is allowed to help those most in need.

 

The recent Indecon review of Career Guidance stated that those students from lower income

families  have access to less career advice from within their families and “ may therefore be in

greatest need of access to professional guidance counsellors drawing attention to the potential

significance of guidance in breaking the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage”

The Advocate helps in many ways:

• Helping learners to progress on to further training, education or employment

• Developing  individualised Career Path Plans

• Supporting and encouraging  learners to explore their own interests and values

• Inform learners of latest developments  in Employment, Education and Further training

• To represent our Centre and our learners by networking in the community to secure better outcomes for our young people

• Inviting  Employers and College Reps to come to the centre to speak with our learners

• To attend special events and workshops with learners relating to  Education, training and employment opportunities

• To encourage learners to develop their soft & hard skills through participation  the ‘The National Career Skills competition’

• Advocating by way of practical help when dealing with Govt bodies, schools ,colleges and employers.

• Facilitate referral of learners

• Supporting  learners on work related placements

• Developing links with Employers

• Helping With CVs and interview Preparation