Minutes from Careers Advisory Forum
Friday 25 February 2022: 2.00 - 3.00 pm via Webex
Forum Members:
- Judith Gillespie, CAF Chair
- Conal Baxter, deputising for Charlene Brooks, Parenting NI interim member
- Maxine Judge, Education Authority
- Carol Fitzsimons, Young Enterprise NI
- Lisa Toland - SOLACE
- Gearoid Rafferty - ETI
- Angela Scanlon - Ulster University
- Claire Gordon, BITC
- Esther Martin, deputising for Margaret Farragher, CCEA interim member
- Caroline van der Feltz, CBI
- Peter Dobbin, Assumption Grammar School
- Sandra Bailie, NICVA
Apologies:
- Claire Henderson, SERC
- Roger Pollen, FSB
- Julie Gorman, NIC-ICTU
- Paula Leathem, NI Chamber of Commerce
- Disability Action representative
Officials in attendance:
- Frances O’Hara, Careers Service (DfE)
- Raymond McAuley, Careers Service (DfE)
- Jillian Strain, Careers Service (DfE)
- Jack Ward, Careers Service (DfE)
- Gareth Edge (DE)
Guest speakers
- Dr Deirdre Hughes, DMH Associates
- Chris Percy, DMH Associates
1. Welcome
1.1 The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and noted deputies in attendance, as well as apologies from members unable to attend. The Chair advised the meeting attendees of the new CBI representative on the Forum and extended a special welcome.
2. Presentation of initial research findings of careers guidance delivery research project
2. The CAF Chair explained that the meeting would comprise a short presentation by Dr Hughes (DH) and her colleague Chris Percy (CP) of DMH Associates, and that this would be followed by breakout discussions, before concluding with a plenary session involving all members to inform final recommendations.
2.1 DH thanked the CAF for the opportunity to provide an update on the project, explaining that this would briefly comprise an overview of the initial research findings, followed by a short financial analysis provided by her colleague, CP.
2.2 DH explained that the research project was commissioned in mid-November 2021, with a focus on maximising value and reaching those most in need. DH explained the research had significant interaction with stakeholder groups including schools and colleges in NI and had also garnered survey responses from adult clients; detailed responses to the call for evidence and virtual meetings with various stakeholder groups.
2.3 Before outlining the headline findings emerging from the research, DH emphasised that no one organisation can deliver to every individual that may need career guidance, however, there is great potential in Northern Ireland to deliver world class careers support provision for young people and adults.
2.4 Two key messages emanating from the research, noted DH, are the need for regional principles and priorities in regard to careers guidance, and the importance of common language to make the careers offer clear and help disseminate key messages.
2.5 DH asserted that it is important to think about careers provision in the context of the local ecosystem and how this can be utilised to its best advantage. DH noted that the research report will include international exemplars of careers guidance practice, including Canada, Scotland, England and Wales. It was noted that NI receives less funding than Scotland and Wales (careers provision in England is devolved locally).
2.6 DH invited CAF members to make any initial observations, prior to the discussions via breakout group. A CAF member noted that the presentation reflected what they would have expected in terms of perceptions of schools and young people.
2.7 DH thanked the Ulster University representative for the data provided in regards to underemployment in NI, noting both the challenges and opportunities of serving this constituent group better.
2.8 The CAF Chair reflected on whether a different set of skills is required for delivery of career guidance to adults, compared with young people.
2.9 DH summarised some of the key themes emerging from the research findings. These include such issues as: parents’ perception that the careers offer does not apply to them, the need to prepare young people for a rapidly-changing world of work; the need for a world-class portal with specific points of entry targeted to particular client groups; (the majority of adults surveyed asserted that the website did not meet their needs) and the need for careers conversations to start much earlier on and make use of different delivery methods, such as groupwork. DH advised that the research results suggested that there is scope to move away from the traditional one-to-one model and “blanket interviewing” of the Year 12 group.
3. Headline issues emerging from careers guidance delivery research project
3.1 In summary, the research findings suggest that there are significant pressures on the careers ecosystem, noted DH, and these have been heightened by challenges including but not limited to COVID; Brexit; climate change; Industry 4.0; demographics; changing labour market and nature of work; education reform; and growing poverty and inequality.
3.2 DH noted that there are three main strands emanating from the research. Firstly, schools and colleges participating in the research reported a desire to move from the current approach of offering careers interviews to the whole Year 12 cohort, to a model based on flexibility and accountability.
3.3 Secondly, the research results reflected a desire for genuine partnership working and the tailoring of support to local needs; potential new ways of working could be explored via, for instance, “test and learn” pilot initiatives.
3.4 The third strand emerging from the research pertained to the use of technology, including a world-class portal where reliable, trustworthy information is available 24/7. Harnessing technology also has the potential to facilitate a more blended approach to guidance delivery, including the ability to “self-serve” (such as through the portal) or access brief support, as required.
3.5 DH proposed a number of short, medium and long-term options reflecting the abovementioned themes emerging from the research and to maximise the value of careers provision in Northern Ireland. DH invited comments from CAF members in relation to the research themes and short/medium/long-term options presented.
3.6 A CAF member enquired how the careers strategy will align with other key strategies such as the Skills Strategy and the Transition of Young People into Careers (14-19 project), taking into account the short time frame for some of the proposed actions. DH confirmed the intention that the recommendations emanating from the research will dovetail with other key policies, whilst acknowledging that the abovementioned policies have yet to be finalised and published.
3.7 Forum members agreed on the centrality of having clear, common vocabulary in regard to careers; encouraging young people to consider educational choices that offer them flexibility of career choice and the ability to change direction, if desired.
3.8 A CAF member enquired about entrepreneurship and how this had featured in the research results, noting that this is very important to the economy in NI. DH thanked the member for their comments and advised that the entrepreneurship theme did come across in the adult responses and virtual stakeholder meetings, though not as prominently in research interventions with young people.
4. Breakout sessions
4.1 The meeting attendees then split into two virtual breakout sessions wherein the opportunity to further discuss and enquire about the research findings was provided.
5. Plenary session
5.1 The main themes emerging from the discussions in each breakout group were further discussed when the meeting reconvened in plenary format. DH summarised that maximising the value of the careers provision will be about “the art of the possible” and how the players in the NI careers ecosystem can collaborate creatively and flexibly to optimise the use of the Careers Service resource to meet the needs of the local community.
5.2 The CAF Chair commented that there are some very positive local examples of successful partnership working, for instance in restorative justice and the health and social care multi-agency approach. The Chair asserted that it will be important to make this kind of collaborative working approach consistent across careers guidance delivery in NI, rather than solely existing in “pockets of excellence”.
5.3 DH noted that a key theme in the NI careers ecosystem is that teachers have no professional training route. DH suggested the establishment of a centre of excellence or career guidance academy, focused on ensuring a sustainable skills pipeline of qualified careers practitioners in NI, merits greater attention.
5.4 DH concluded the discussions in noting that the research project will be drawing to a close in the coming weeks. DH thanked the CAF Chair and members for their participation and invited those with further comments or suggestions to contact her directly as soon as possible.
6. Spring/summer CAF meeting
6.1 The CAF Chair thanked the members for their attendance and advised that the next CAF meeting will take place in May or June this year. Members will be advised of arrangements in due course.