Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 06 December 2012
06 Dec 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Careers Services
Youth unemployment is a huge problem, and it is getting worse. In my Motherwell and Wishaw constituency, there are more than 3,000 unemployed 16 to 24-year-olds.
Young people need help. They need help to make the right choices about their future, to get qualifications, to acquire skills and to apply for jobs. I was not convinced that the right help was being provided so, a few months ago, I looked into the local careers service that is offered by SDS. I was not happy with what I found.
For example, the local careers office is hidden away in Motherwell College and its location is not signposted. With thousands of young people in North Lanarkshire not in education, employment or training, and with the cuts in the college sector, it occurred to me that that may not be the most convenient location. To compound that, there is a 20 per cent reduction in front-line staff.
I doubted that the face-to-face access provided by those staff could be replaced by pushing young people towards web access and centralised careers provision, so I also had a look at the my world of work website. There was one telephone number on the contact page, but even that was a helpline for using the website—it did not put people in touch with someone who could give careers advice. Searching the site for Motherwell or Wishaw returned a couple of couple of courses at the college, but—surprise, surprise—there was no link to the local careers advice office that was based in the college. Was that the minister’s vision for an improved service?
It also came as no surprise to discover that, locally, only 14 per cent of the young people have registered on the my world of work website. That is only one in seven, which proves to me that the plan is not working. Will the minister explain why SDS is not co-operating with the academics who are conducting research into the new web-based service? What are the minister’s views on the previous research carried out for SDS?
It has been identified that there are shortcomings in the system. I hope that the minister agrees that SDS should work with anyone who can help address the problems or improve the system.
Having visited my constituency’s local careers office in Motherwell College, I was more convinced than ever that careers advice should be more easily accessible for all, which means somewhere central where people can go and speak face-to-face with an adviser. The staff whom I spoke to appreciated those concerns, so I decided to approach the council to see whether it could identify suitable premises in Motherwell or Wishaw town centre.
When SDS was put on the spot, the inaccessibility of the service was clear. With only 14 per cent of young people signing up to the my world of work website, the weakness of the web-based solution cannot be denied. SDS agreed to work with the council.
I am pleased to say that that has borne fruit, with the careers service now lined up to occupy part of the one-stop-shop in Motherwell. Of course, that victory for common sense is only part of what needs to be done, but it is also very much the exception to the rule, as has been heard from other areas.
I am also concerned about the traffic-light system that is being used to filter young people in order to decide who deserves attention. For many young people, the system is failing to provide support. There is an issue about whether the support that is offered is appropriate to the categories and whether the categories are being correctly assigned or, in some cases, even assigned at all.
The web system is aimed at the 75 per cent of the 16 to 19-year-olds who are in the green category. What we know of registrations suggests that only a quarter of them have actually signed up. Those pupils are those who fare best academically, but it is a mistake to assume that that translates into their not needing help with careers beyond what is provided on the my world of work website. It can be difficult for pupils to pick the right courses and plot out career destinations, whatever their level of academic ability or attainment.
Where is the evidence to support SDS? How does it compare to the evidence that it does not want to talk about?
The move to an appointments system is also making life difficult for older users, with drop-in opportunities diminishing and outreach for vulnerable youngsters being put out of reach.
All in all, the picture is one of a service that is perpetuating a dogma that underpins its reforms, which are being shown to be unfit for purpose. The strong suspicion is that the dogma serves the purpose of saving money rather than of serving the people.
Young people need help. They need help to make the right choices about their future, to get qualifications, to acquire skills and to apply for jobs. I was not convinced that the right help was being provided so, a few months ago, I looked into the local careers service that is offered by SDS. I was not happy with what I found.
For example, the local careers office is hidden away in Motherwell College and its location is not signposted. With thousands of young people in North Lanarkshire not in education, employment or training, and with the cuts in the college sector, it occurred to me that that may not be the most convenient location. To compound that, there is a 20 per cent reduction in front-line staff.
I doubted that the face-to-face access provided by those staff could be replaced by pushing young people towards web access and centralised careers provision, so I also had a look at the my world of work website. There was one telephone number on the contact page, but even that was a helpline for using the website—it did not put people in touch with someone who could give careers advice. Searching the site for Motherwell or Wishaw returned a couple of couple of courses at the college, but—surprise, surprise—there was no link to the local careers advice office that was based in the college. Was that the minister’s vision for an improved service?
It also came as no surprise to discover that, locally, only 14 per cent of the young people have registered on the my world of work website. That is only one in seven, which proves to me that the plan is not working. Will the minister explain why SDS is not co-operating with the academics who are conducting research into the new web-based service? What are the minister’s views on the previous research carried out for SDS?
It has been identified that there are shortcomings in the system. I hope that the minister agrees that SDS should work with anyone who can help address the problems or improve the system.
Having visited my constituency’s local careers office in Motherwell College, I was more convinced than ever that careers advice should be more easily accessible for all, which means somewhere central where people can go and speak face-to-face with an adviser. The staff whom I spoke to appreciated those concerns, so I decided to approach the council to see whether it could identify suitable premises in Motherwell or Wishaw town centre.
When SDS was put on the spot, the inaccessibility of the service was clear. With only 14 per cent of young people signing up to the my world of work website, the weakness of the web-based solution cannot be denied. SDS agreed to work with the council.
I am pleased to say that that has borne fruit, with the careers service now lined up to occupy part of the one-stop-shop in Motherwell. Of course, that victory for common sense is only part of what needs to be done, but it is also very much the exception to the rule, as has been heard from other areas.
I am also concerned about the traffic-light system that is being used to filter young people in order to decide who deserves attention. For many young people, the system is failing to provide support. There is an issue about whether the support that is offered is appropriate to the categories and whether the categories are being correctly assigned or, in some cases, even assigned at all.
The web system is aimed at the 75 per cent of the 16 to 19-year-olds who are in the green category. What we know of registrations suggests that only a quarter of them have actually signed up. Those pupils are those who fare best academically, but it is a mistake to assume that that translates into their not needing help with careers beyond what is provided on the my world of work website. It can be difficult for pupils to pick the right courses and plot out career destinations, whatever their level of academic ability or attainment.
Where is the evidence to support SDS? How does it compare to the evidence that it does not want to talk about?
The move to an appointments system is also making life difficult for older users, with drop-in opportunities diminishing and outreach for vulnerable youngsters being put out of reach.
All in all, the picture is one of a service that is perpetuating a dogma that underpins its reforms, which are being shown to be unfit for purpose. The strong suspicion is that the dogma serves the purpose of saving money rather than of serving the people.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-05109, in the name of Angela Constance, on the modernisation of Scotland’s careers services.14:57
The Minister for Youth Employment (Angela Constance)
SNP
Having the right people with the right skills in the right jobs is central to growing Scotland’s economy, and an effective careers service is a crucial found...
Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I am interested in the minister’s comments on a “universal service for all young people”. I have in front of me “Putting Learners at the Centre—Delivering ou...
Angela Constance
SNP
Absolutely not. One of the strengths of the careers service as it stands but enhanced by modernisation is that it will be flexible and responsive. With the u...
Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
The move from face-to-face support to online support has its challenges, of course. Is the minister aware, for example, of the recent figures that I have, wh...
Angela Constance
SNP
Let us be clear that a person does not need to be registered to access the careers service, but of course we want young people to register, as we think that ...
Kezia Dugdale
Lab
Will the minister take an intervention?
Angela Constance
SNP
Not just now—I have not finished dealing with Mr Smith’s point.With every month that goes by, registration increases by 10 to 15 per cent. I also take except...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Will the minister take an intervention?
Angela Constance
SNP
No, thank you.Those young people will receive career management skills in the classroom as part of the curriculum for excellence. That is our baseline univer...
Kezia Dugdale
Lab
The minister says that she wants careers services to be at the heart of the system. How, then, can she explain a 20 per cent cut in front-line services? That...
Angela Constance
SNP
Miss Dugdale will be aware—it is no secret—that Skills Development Scotland has had a voluntary severance scheme, which ended in March 2012. However, there h...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I am not a member of the Education and Culture Committee and I am quite new to the issue, but I have read the briefing from Unison, which says that 93 per ce...
Angela Constance
SNP
I am aware of that survey only because it is quoted in the Unison briefing that has been distributed to members today. I have of course seen press comments a...
Kezia Dugdale
Lab
Will the minister give way?
Angela Constance
SNP
No. The survey had 350 staff—Interruption.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Ms Dugdale, sit down.
Angela Constance
SNP
I understand that 350 staff participated in the survey, out of a head count of 1,150 staff. The survey took place before the intensive face-to-face engagemen...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Can we stop having remarks from a sedentary position?
Angela Constance
SNP
The Government is firmly committed to high-quality universal careers services for people of all ages. We are committed to services that are independent, impa...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
My experience of being a recipient of careers guidance at school was not particularly good, but that probably says more about my attitude as a surly, spotty ...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Michael Russell)
SNP
No.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I think that in this case Mr Russell was the innocent party. Some of his colleagues were certainly intervening.
Neil Findlay
Lab
I humbly apologise. Someone must have the same dulcet tones as Mr Russell.Help for young people with careers development is important. Our young people need ...
Angela Constance
SNP
I am certainly aware of the research that those reputable researchers conducted in 2009, which was actually pre my world of work. Does Mr Findlay accept that...
Neil Findlay
Lab
I am just coming to that point. The academics suggest that web-based services, while potentially a useful tool, should not replace the current face-to-face c...
Angela Constance
SNP
Will Mr Findlay give way?
Neil Findlay
Lab
Certainly.
Angela Constance
SNP
As Mr Findlay is so well informed by his trade union and Skills Development Scotland sources, does he accept the commitment that has been given that, in the ...
Neil Findlay
Lab
Presiding Officer, I think that we have heard enough from the minister now.