Communication
As both careers education and IAG involve many people and organisations, good communication systems are vital. Any communication difficulties can have a serious and negative impact on young people’s performance and progression. Implementation of the 14-19 reforms is likely to increase the number of people involved in careers education and IAG. As a minimum, it is advisable to check that current systems:
- keep people in touch with developments and minimise the element of surprise – check that everyone (including young people, their parents and carers, colleagues and business partners) knows what is happening, who is involved and how developments will affect them. Useful channels for raising awareness include briefings, e-mail updates, visual displays, websites/intranets, formal and informal reports
- involve all those who need to be involved – consider mapping existing contributors and compiling checklists for future reference
are transparent – consider using diagrams and flowcharts (linked to line management structures where appropriate) alongside contact lists and directories
facilitate professional dialogue – review the strategies used to promote professional dialogue internally and with external partners
ensure that action is based on accurate and timely information – efficient recording and monitoring systems help to ensure that careers education is progressive and that IAG sessions build on what has gone before. Check that IAG records are readily accessible to authorised personnel and available to support further sessions, follow-up activities and transition. Many different record keeping and monitoring systems have emerged over time. It may be necessary to review them and develop a single common approach so that it is possible to draw together data from different sources and use the records in a range of settings.
Questions to ask yourself
- Do organisational and/or local consortium arrangements support effective communication between all those involved in careers education and IAG?
- How do you know?
- How could existing communication systems be improved and who could help?