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Dept for Education and Employment

Answer

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many personal advisers will be required for the full implementation of the proposals in the paper, ConneXions; [119265] (2) what estimate he has made of the number of learning mentors who will be required for the full implementation of his proposals for the ConneXions service; [119273] (3) what estimate he has made of the cost of training enough personal advisers to implement fully the ConneXions service; [119267] (4) what plans he has for the identification and recruitment of learning mentors for the ConneXions service; [119271] (5) what estimate he has made of the number of persons who will be recruited as personal advisers in addition to persons already employed in the support and guidance of young people in order to fully implement his proposals for the ConneXions service. [119262] Mr. Wicks: We are currently examining the precise numbers of personal advisers required by the ConneXions service--who, within schools, will be known as Learning Mentors, based on the needs of different groups of young people. Piloting of the service, which has just started, will provide useful information on the operation of the personal adviser, caseloads and numbers needed. It is expected that in the initial stages of implementation the majority of personal advisers will be drawn from existing careers service and youth service practitioners, along with others from a wide range of backgrounds in the voluntary, public and private sectors with the necessary experience and aptitude to work effectively with young people. We will ensure that sufficient resources are available to train people moving into the role of personal adviser. A comprehensive training programme will be put in place to ensure that personal advisers have the appropriate skills and knowledge for the role and meet agreed standards for the profession. To help this process we will shortly be consulting widely on the structure of the professional and training framework for personal advisers.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

348 c565W;348 c560-1W; 119265;119273;119267;119271;119262

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Costs Advisory services Vocational guidance Young people

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk