New award for careers information and advice
Unionlearn is introducing a new version of the Quality Award* for careers information and advice. The new award will be available to all national, regional and local services with a robust process for working with unions, and who can meet the assessment criteria. Providers achieving the award for their services will be publicised on the unionlearn website.
The new Quality Award will mean that careers information and advice services that achieve the standard have shown that their service is:
- accessible to working people
- flexible and adaptable to the needs of union members
- delivered by trained and experienced staff who have an understanding of workplaces and of unions
- based on consultation with unions and in line with their aims and values
- impartial and confidential, with strong equality and diversity policies
- part of a quality assured network for signposting and referral
- representative of best practice and endorsed by appropriate assessors and inspectors.
Organisations achieving the new Quality Award, include the unionlearn learning and careers advice service, nextstep providers, college services, SSCs* and unions who are delivering an information and advice service to members. As more providers receive the award, ULRs will be able to identify union-friendly services.
Achieving the unionlearn Quality Award will:
- be an incentive for providers to work with unions and to reach more learners
- provide a standard for working with unions and union learners
- signpost ULRs to union friendly provision
- increase union leverage and influence with providers
- help unions obtain high quality data about their learners from providers.
If you are a service provider and would like to apply, contact regional unionlearn staff for more details, or Ian Borkett, Standards and Quality Manager Iborkett@tuc.org.uk . You can find out more by visiting www.unionlearn.org.uk/qualityaward
Briefing document (300 words) issued 30 Jun 2009
