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: IAF's careers programme

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We understand that young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) often face significant challenges when making informed decisions about their future. These challenges may stem from a range of factors, including socioeconomic disadvantage, disrupted education, a lack of accessible career guidance, limited exposure to the workplace, and the overwhelming complexity of available education and training options.

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In order to effectively support young people who are NEET or at risk of being so, information, advice, and guidance (IAG) services must be delivered in ways that meet their individual needs. This includes the use of multi-channel delivery methods ranging from web-based platforms such as our website, to telephone support, face-to-face one to ones, and on line tools for those who are ready. ​This tailored approach is particularly critical for at risk young people, who represent a diverse group with varying skill levels, personal circumstances, and levels of engagement. High-quality guidance must be:

  • Person-centred: Focused on the unique strengths, challenges, and aspirations of each individual.

  • Accessible: Available to all young people, regardless of their location, background, or ability.

  • Personalised: Adapted to the specific situation and readiness of the young person.

  • Responsive: Designed to evolve as the young person’s needs and circumstances change.

 

By providing young people with personalised, timely, and effective guidance, IAF aims to empower them to make confident and informed decisions about their futures; helping them to re-engage with education, access meaningful training opportunities, and ultimately find fulfilling employment. Alongside our Talk mentoring provision, all young people are welcome to attend careers workshops which run from our employability lounge in the Hub as shown below:​

ONE TO ONE CAREERS APPOINTMENTS

Young people interested in attending a careers appointment with our Careers Lead can request this at any time by speaking to their mentor, team leader or by contacting them directly via the button below. Please note we are only able to schedule careers appointments for service users registered with IAF. If you are new to our services, please submit a referral form in the first instance and a member of our team will be in touch.

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Edina Baines-Krawczyk, Careers Lead, holds a Level 7 Post-Graduate award in Careers Leadership and has played an integral role in developing IAF's successful careers programme. Today, ~81% of the young people supported through our educational programmes enter into education, employment and training and we are committed to ensuring all of our young people;

  • find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point,   

  • hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer,  including technical education and apprenticeships – through options events, assemblies and group discussions and taster events,

  • learn how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.

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               : IAF Careers Lead

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EDINA BAINES-KRAWCZYK

THE GATSBY BENCHMARKS

To ensure consistency and effectiveness, all careers-related activities within our educational programmes are aligned with the eight Gatsby Benchmarks, a nationally recognised framework for best practice in career guidance. This approach provides a mechanism for quality assurance, helping to ensure that every young person receives the guidance and opportunities they need to make informed decisions about their future education, training, and employment pathways. A strong careers programme embeds these benchmarks by;

  1. Creating a stable careers programme

  2. Learning from career and labour market information

  3. Addressing the needs of each young person

  4. Linking curriculum learning to careers

  5. Facilitating encounters with employers and employees

  6. Providing experience of work places

  7. Offering encounters with further and higher educational study

  8. Giving personal guidance.

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WHAT THIS MEANS IN PRACTICE

Due to IAF’s roll-on, roll-off provision, our careers activities do not follow the traditional academic year of September to July. Instead, all careers education is delivered in alignment with our ongoing programme, ensuring that every young person, regardless of their start date, receives the right support at the time it is needed. By the time each learner leaves IAF, they will have had the opportunity to:

  1. Participate in at least one high-quality, impartial careers guidance intervention,

  2. Engage in meaningful encounters with employers and education providers,

  3. Take part in workplace experiences to explore different career paths,

  4. Access up-to-date labour market information to inform their decisions,

  5. Receive support to build career management, employability, and personal development skills.​

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To learn more, please download our careers programme guide below.

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Success looks different for every learner so we empower young people to make unbiased choices by exploring all of the different education and training options available. In doing so, we help students take the path that's right for them, leading to successful careers and providing employers with skilled workers. Any education and training providers wishing to request access should get in touch with IAF's careers lead by calling 07805787428 or emailing edina.baines-krawczyk@inspireachieve.co.uk. IAF will then work with providers in order to identify the most effective ways to share information about education and training opportunities with learners and/or parents/carers.

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 : Provider Access Statement

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