CAREERS RESOURCE CENTRES

QUALITY STANDARD

EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS

January 2006

CONTENTS

Page

Introduction 1

Quality Standard 2

Guidelines for filing information using the CRCI 8

and examples of careers resources

INTRODUCTION

Careers information – up to date, accurate, relevant and appropriate to individual needs, is vital for effective career planning and decision making. Good careers information can support the individual but is also useful for teachers and lecturers across the whole curriculum to help provide relevance and context.

Careers Wales has formed these standards to promote best practice and to encourage quality, equality and consistency in provision of careers information in educational institutions throughout Wales. They are based on a comparison and assessment of the recommendations contained in Better Choices (1998) and the Connexions Resource Centre Guide (2004) and incorporate the Careers Resources Classification Index (CRCI), derived from the Connexions Resources Classification Index (CRCI).

In line with the introduction of careerswales.com and the development of other high quality careers-related Internet sites and software, these standards reflect the move toward increased use of ICT, and the reduction in the provision of paper-based materials. It is however, important that access to ‘raw’ information through ICT continues to be supported by careers education programmes and individual support and advice

Fulfilment of these standards, is a necessary element in the achievement of the Careers Wales Quality Award for Careers Education and Guidance and Work Related Learning.

If you would like further information and advice on developing your careers resource centre you should contact your local careers company, who will be pleased to help.

QUALITY STANDARD

CAREERS RESOURCE CENTRES
EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS

SECTION 1: ACCESS/PHYSICAL CONDITIONS/ PUBLICITY/

INDUCTION

SECTION 2: WELSH LANGAUGE/ CURRENCY/ BREADTH OF PROVISION/

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES/ ADDITIONAL NEEDS

SECTION 3: ICT/ INTERNET/ CAREERSWALES.COM

SECTION 4: CLASSIFICATION

SECTION 5: SUPPORTING THE CURRICULUM

______

SECTION 1:

ACCESS/ PHYSICAL CONDITIONS/ PUBLICITY/ INDUCTION

MINIMUM STANDARDS

1THE CAREERS RESOURCE CENTRE SHOULD BE WELL PUBLICISED WITH ADVERTISED OPENING TIMES

2THE CAREERS RESOURCE CENTRE SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE

3MATERIALS IN THE CAREERS RESOURCE CENTRE SHOULD BE WITHIN EASY REACH

4THE CAREERS RESOURCE CENTRE SHOULD BE WELL MAINTAINED

1THE CAREERS RESOURCE CENTRE SHOULD BE WELL PUBLICISED WITH ADVERTISED

OPENING TIMES

  • Signs throughout school or college advertising the Careers Resource Centre and opening

times

  • Convenient opening times, e.g. break time, lunch time, after school
  • Introduction to using the Careers Resource Centre to include careerswales.com in early

years, e.g. year 8 or 9

  • Refresher sessions in later years
  • Introduction to using careers resources to include focusing on the development of

research skills

2THE RESOURCE CENTRE SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE

  • Materials should be accessible, either in the main school library, the careers room or

elsewhere, as appropriate

  • Resources should not be housed in a room which is used as a classroom

3MATERIALS IN THE RESOURCE CENTRE SHOULD BE WITHIN EASY REACH

  • Leaflets in spinners or library boxes as appropriate
  • Trained support available on request (e.g. library staff or monitors)
  • Access for students with physical disability

4THE RESOURCE CENTRE SHOULD BE WELL MAINTAINED

  • Appropriate fittings and furniture
  • Regular audit to ascertain ease of use and wear and tear
  • There should be a system in place for maintaining, reviewing, updating and filing

accurately

  • Identified member of staff responsible for ensuring that maintenance is carried out

______

SECTION 2:

WELSH LANGAUGE/ CURRENCY/ BREADTH OF PROVISION/ EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES/ ADDITIONAL NEEDS

MINIMUM STANDARDS

1RESOURCES ARE CURRENT

2BREADTH OF PROVISION

3EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

4WELSH LANGUAGE

5ADDITIONAL NEEDS

1RESOURCES ARE CURRENT

  • All materials should be date stamped
  • Annual review to determine effectiveness of provision and inform development plan
  • All materials should be the latest edition

2BREADTH OF PROVISION

  • Range of materials appropriate for all age groups and ability levels.
  • Material should be available in a range of media e.g. books, magazines, leaflets, posters, videos, CDs and IT software (including Internet access).

3EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

  • Every student to have equal access to all materials from hard copy to Internet.

Ensure all materials are unbiased and meet equal opportunities criteria in terms of ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, disability, religion and beliefs, etc.

4WELSH LANGUAGE

The Careers Resource Centre should provide access to Welsh language materials e.g.

5ADDITIONAL NEEDS

  • The Careers Resource Centre should hold differentiated materials for students with Additional Needs.

SECTION 3

ICT/INTERNET/CAREERSWALES.COM

MINIMUM STANDARDS

  1. ACCESSIBILITY
  2. CURRENCY

1ACCESSIBILITY

  • There should be enough computers for the size of the institution with Internet connections and software. The hardware should be fit for purpose.
  • Printers available and regularly maintained.
  • Access to computers and the Internet at convenient times e.g. lunch time, break time.
  • Internet access available for the student, e.g. in the lunch hour.
  • Careers software should be accessible throughout the school/college network.
  • Registrations on to careerswales.com should be planned and training to use the

software should be provided. Registration of all students on to careerswales.com

should be incorporated in to the CEG programme.

  • Posters promoting appropriate software and careerswales.com should be displayed at access points and around the school/college.
  • Careers companies should provide training to school and college staff to use

careerswales.com and careers software.

2CURRENCY

  • The latest version of any careers software should be loaded and working.
  • There should be a written procedure for updating careers software to include the named member of staff responsible.

______

SECTION 4

CLASSIFICATION

MINIMUM STANDARDS

1. CRCI (Careers Resource Classification Index)

CRCI

  • A planned conversion to the new CRCI from CLCI by September 2008 at the latest.
  • All material clearly labelled according to CRCI index.
  • Careers Wales Association CRCI wall chart on display.
  • Record/catalogue of all materials to be kept where appropriate (hard

copy or electronic).

  • Nominated member of school/college staff to be responsible for checking, tidying and filing.
  • Where student monitors are used they should be trained.

______

SECTION 5

SUPPORTING THE CURRICULUM

MINIMUM STANDARDS

1COHESION

COHESION

  • Integrated use of careers resource centre and its materials in

delivering the ACCAC learning outcomes throughout the curriculum

  • Staff to be introduced to the careers resource centre
  • Developments to careerswales.com and CLIC to be regularly included in Inset days
  • For establishments working towards the Careers Wales Quality Award (CWQA) this document represents the quality standard required for Principle 4.

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EXAMPLES OF CAREERS RESOURCES
(These are suggestions for guidance only rather than a definitive list)
CRCI MAIN HEADING
Only need to use headings if sufficient material available for each section.
(NB: remember provision of info may be via Internet or software and therefore hard copy not necessarily required) / CRCI SUB-HEADING
Only need to use sub-headings if sufficient material available
If you require them, you can create your own sub-heading labels using the downloadable labels provided on / INDICATION OF TOPICS TO INCLUDE – some are self explanatory in which case no list has been provided. / WEBSITE / SOFTWARE / PAPER BASED

OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION

/ Refer to list of occupations as provided on CRCI poster / Information on different occupations and how to get started in them / Careers Ideas section
/ KUDOS
CID
Careerscape
Odyssey / Trotman Careers Guide
Job File

CHOICES

Includes the main choices you will face as you progress through learning and work and provides resources to help with important decisions. / Career choice age 14 /
Career choice age 16 /
Career choice post 16 /
Career choice graduates /
Career choice guides /
CRCI MAIN HEADING / CRCI SUB-HEADING / INDICATION OF TOPICS TO INCLUDE – / WEBSITE / SOFTWARE / PAPER BASED

EDUCATION

/

Qualifications

/ GCSEs
Advanced Level – AS/A Level, BTEC National
NVQs
Welsh Baccalaureate
International Baccalaureate
Degree, HND, Foundation Degree,
Exam Boards – BTEC, EDEXCEL, RSA, WJEC etc
Overseas Equivalence /

/ KUDOS
CID
Careerscape:
Qualifications – a brief guide
GCSEs and How You Can Use Them
GNVQs and Vocational
A levels
International Baccalaureate
NVQs / NVQs and how to get them
British qualifications
Secondary Education / School and college prospectuses /
Further Education / School and college prospectuses /
Higher Education / University prospectuses – paper or online
Applications process
Course tariff
University guides/ directories
Types of course and study methods
Student life /
Money for Study / EMAs
Assembly Learning Grant
Grants
Student Loans
Scholarships
Sponsorship
Other forms of funding for learning /


(Student Loan Company)


/ KUDOS
CID
Careerscape:
Finance for study for Adults
Finance for study for young people
Sponsorships and Scholarships / Financial Support for Students (DfES booklet)
Student Loans – A Guide to Terms and Conditions
DfES booklet
Bridging the Gap (for students with disabilities – DfES booklet)
A students’ guide to EMA (DfES booklet)
Financial Help for Students
(DfES booklet)
Student Money Matters
Study Skills / How to study guides and tips /
/ A-Z of exam survival
Studying Overseas /
/ EXODUS:
Wide range of factsheets
Careerscape:
HE in Europe / Experience Erasmus
You want to study where?
Gap Year / / Worldwide volunteering database / Making the most of your Gap Year
Taking a gap year
A year on…a year off
Gap year guidebook

FREE TIME

/ Sport and Leisure /
Voluntary Work /

HEALTH

/ Stress at work /
Disabilities /

HOUSING

/
LAW YOUR RIGHTS AND CITIZENSHIP / Legal services /
Refugees and asylum seekers /
MONEY / Managing money /
Benefits /
RELATIONSHIPS /
TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT / Maps and directions
Bus timetables etc / www,cliconline.co.uk


/ Local bus and train timetables
National Rail enquiries: 08457 484 950
National Express coaches:
08705 808080
WHERE TO GET HELP / Sources of help
Directories of agencies etc /
/ Directories of agencies etc
WORK AND TRAINING / Employment under school leaving age /
/ KUDOS
CID
Careerscape:
Young workers / Local Government information leaflets
Work Experience / / Careerscape:
Work experience
Training – young people / Work based learning - training and apprenticeships / / Careerscape
Job hunting / CV Writing
Applications
Interview techniques
Selection and assessment tests
Job vacancies
Where to look for jobs
Recruitment agencies / / KUDOS
CID
Careerscape:
Finding work on the Internet
Job applications
Job hunting
Interviews
Keynotes plus / CVs for first time job hunters
Interviews for first time job hunters
Job hunting strategies
Finding a job
Different ways of working / Self Employment
Part Time
Temporary work
Seasonal work
Homeworking
Teleworking
Job Share / / KUDOS
CID
Careerscape
CRCI MAIN HEADING / CRCI SUB-HEADING / INDICATION OF TOPICS TO INCLUDE – / WEBSITE / SOFTWARE / PAPER BASED
Employment legislation and conditions / Pay, hours and conditions
Health and safety at work
Equal opportunities at work
Disability discrimination
Rehabilitation of offenders
Trade unions and industrial relations / / KUDOS
CID
Careerscape:
Lone parents – employment
Mental health and employment
Labour Market Information / International
National
Local /


/ KUDOS
CID
Careerscape:
The Job Market
Job information (where to find it)
Working Overseas / / EXODUS: Wide range of factsheets
MAIN HEADING / INDICATION OF TOPICS TO INCLUDE – / WEBSITE / SOFTWARE / PAPER BASED
Additional Needs
/ These are suggestions only these resources are of necessity of a specialised nature / Animods
Blox
Paws in JoblandOn the Spot multimedia
If I were Plus
Learn to work safely (video)
CID - Multimedia Careers Information Database suitable for all ages and abilities / Practical Life Skills, Mid Glamorgan
Careers Special
Resource Pack
A day in the life of series
Busy Places
If I were leaflets
Going on work experience
On the Spot cards and leaflets
Year 9 Special Needs Careers Education Pack
Employability Skills Posters (12)
Yarooh!
I can move on Book 1 & 2
Reference Copies of Individual Prospectuses from National Specialist Colleges
Disability Rights Handbook

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