Advice and guidance: Providers brand guidance standards 'not fit for purpose'

This from Young People Now

The Government will have to go back to the drawing board with its standards on information, advice and guidance for 11- to 19-year-olds if it acts upon the responses of four major national guidance organisations to its consultation.

Among the criticisms to the consultation, which ended on 16 March, the most stinging attack comes from the National Association of Connexions Partners (NACP), which says they are "seriously flawed and not fit for purpose".

The association criticises the way the standards are divided into minimum expectations and higher-level practice, calling for all providers to reach the same level. It also says it is not made clear who the standards apply to and calls for a framework of independent inspection.

Youth Access condemns the standards, first proposed in Youth Matters, for failing to fully address young people's needs.

The Institute of Career Guidance (ICG) criticises the "narrow understanding of diversity" within the document. It presses for details on the sanctions that will be applied to organisations falling below the standards and the rewards for exceeding them.

And Careers England expresses alarm at the lack of coverage of counselling support, calling the exclusion of targeted support a "major mistake".

Director Paul Chubb said: "The standards as they are at the moment won't achieve best practice everywhere. There's a lot of work to do if they're going to achieve what they need to."

Youth Access director Barbara Rayment said: "The standards have prioritised careers and learning, leaving the provision of advice and guidance on areas it defines as 'life issues' to a continuing postcode lottery."

The final version of the standards is due for publication next month. A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said: "Responses will inform further work on the draft standards, supported by the steering group, membership of which includes representation from the NACP, Youth Access and ICG."