Careers, Information Advice and Guidance (CIAG)
” There’s no such thing as a career path, it’s crazy paving and you lay it yourself”
Sir Dominic Cadbury
There can be a lot of pressure on young people to have a long-term goal and know what they want to do in life. In today’s world people rarely stay in a job for life, progressing up a ladder, the reality is usually more complicated. People will progress through life in different ways, possibly changing their mind and job several times. We want young people in and leaving care to have a good understanding of all the options open to them and be supported in developing their strengths and skills.
We can offer careers advice, guidance and support through:
- 1:1 sessions,
- Group work,
- Certificates,
- Workplace skills,
- Links to other Carefree activities and Local Offers
To access the CIAG team just fill out this referral form here:
Drop-In Sessions
Our regular Get Ready drop-in sessions are for care experienced young people who are not in education, employment or training and aim to help young people to move closer to getting into employment or training.
Sessions include developing interview skills, CV writing, making informed decisions, what are employers looking for, job choices, life skills and relationship building skills.
We also cook together, share a lovely hot meal and try new recipes and foods. If you bring a lidded container there is usually plenty of food to take home as well.
You can also gain an accreditation. This year lots of young people have achieved the “Understanding Self for Personal Development” accreditation and “Preparation for employment”. If there are other accreditations you are interested in then I am sure we can fit them in.
A Personal Advisor is also on hand to offer support and answer any questions you may have.
Contact Mandy on 07702 880950 if you would like to attend.
A day in the life of a Careers Information Advice and Guidance Worker at Carefree
9.30am As I start a new day in the careers team at Carefree, my first task is to check my e-mails since I was last in, wow 30 emails! Go through these and reply to people and make note of any interesting information and events coming up.
10am I have an online meeting with other professionals. Unmute and video on to participate and then as soon as the speaker starts everyone gradually turns their videos off. Why is that? As we go round the introductions, one person inevitably speaks whilst on mute whilst everyone reminds them ‘you’re on mute!’. Thankfully, it wasn’t me this time!
11.30am Visit with a young person. It’s our first meeting and they’ve chosen to meet up at their home. I explain the Skills Your Way programme and listen to the young person’s interests and goals. We complete some paperwork together to get them signed up to the careers programme so we can offer them 1-1 support. I provide some career guidance on the areas they’re interested in and ways of reaching their goals. Then we work out an action plan together and agree to meet next week.
12.30pm Lunch!
1pm Phone call to a young person to organise our next meeting and talk about some course information. Unfortunately, the young person isn’t answering but I’ll try again another day. I make some calls and reply to e-mails instead.
1.30pm I meet with a very nervous young person going to their first job interview. They do brilliantly and they’re offered the job! We speak about how we can plan transport and anything else they might need to make it all go smoothly. They’re happy for me to link in with their other support workers too. Various calls made and they’re all set to start on Monday. That’s made my day!
2.30pm This is the end of my working day as I’m part-time. I check the plan for tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it.
Useful Links
Information, support and opportunities aimed exclusively at care experienced people
Opportunity Search Tools
Not going to uni– training and work experience options
UCAS – for higher education options