CEOs’ Questionnaire

This questionnaire relates specifically to the budget for the provision of guidance, counselling and psychological services in Youthreach Centres, Community Training Workshops and Senior Traveller Training Centres administered by the VECs on behalf of the Department of Education and Science.

Name of CEO:

VEC:

  1. What sum is being provided to your VEC by the DES this current year for the provision of guidance, counselling and psychological services in Youthreach Centres, Community Training Workshops and Senior Traveller Training Centres?
  1. Was the full amount spent in 2002? YES/NO

If NO, why was this?

  1. For each centre/workshop in your VEC area please state

(a)The type(s) of service currently being provided (e.g. guidance, counselling, psychotherapy, psychological assessment, psychological support, other)

(b)The number of hours per week/fortnight/month each service is provided

(c)The providers of the guidance, counselling or psychological services

(Please use enclosed sheet, photocopying extra copies if required)

Question 3(Please number these pages if photocopied)

Name of centre/workshop

(a) Type(s) of service [e.g. guidance, advocacy, counselling, psychotherapy, psychological assessment, psychological support, other (please specify)]:

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

For each type of service

(b) Number of hours per week/fortnight/month service is provided:

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(c) Name of service provider(s):

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

Name of centre/workshop

(a) Type(s) of service [e.g. guidance, advocacy, counselling, psychotherapy, psychological assessment, psychological support, other (please specify)]:

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

For each type of service

(b) Number of hours per week/fortnight/month service is provided:

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(c) Name of service provider(s):

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

  1. With regard to your VEC’s practice in the selection and appointment of guidance, counselling and psychological service providers

(a) Who sources the service providers (e.g. centre directors, VEC personnel)?

(b) How are they selected (e.g. by public competition and interview, by word of mouth, by transfer from another agency in the region, etc.)?

(c) What are the rates of payment given to service providers (and state whether per hour, contract, salary)?

  1. With regard to the regulation of guidance, counselling and psychological services

(a)Who oversees the quality of the services being provided (e.g. centre directors, VEC personnel, professional supervisors, line managers in their own services, no one)?

(b)How do centres report on their experience of services (written, oral, at meetings, they don’t)?

6. What meaning is ascribed in your VEC to the following:

Guidance

Counselling

Psychological Services

  1. Out of 100%, how would you rate in terms of importance the value of guidance, counselling and psychological support to the work of training centres?

Guidance%

Counselling%

Psychological Services%

  1. What do you consider to be the essential skills of good guidance, counselling and psychological services providers?
  1. Based on the feedback that you have received and on your own observations, what are your views on the adequacy and appropriateness of current services?

  1. What changes are needed, in your view, to make current guidance, counselling and psychological services more effective?

If you have any further comments that you would like to make please add on a separate sheet and I will be very interested in reading them.

Please return the questionnaire no later than Thursday, July 31 2003, by post to the address below or by email to .

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions.

Mary Gordon

Senior Educational Psychologist

Further Education Section

Department of Education and Science

Irish Life Building

Talbot St

Dublin 1

Name of person completing the questionnaire:

Position within the VEC: Date: