Guidance

A confidential client appointment with our Guidance Worker, Liz lasts for an hour and on average she will see a client 2 or 3 times – often over an extended period of time.  Our guidance provision covers the following areas:-

• Advising and Assessing – Our guidance worker helps clients to carry out a skills audit, underlining the skills they have already acquired within the home environment as well as voluntary and paid work. This process helps clients to clarify their needs and determine what their options are, in terms of training and career paths.
• Opportunities Awareness – This identifies what sort of jobs are available in the workplace which may suit a persons situation and whether there are any skills, professional qualifications or opportunities for voluntary work which will help achieve their goals.  Our guidance worker will support clients in making realistic judgements and in dealing with educational establishments.
• Job Search Skills – Many of our clients find filling in application forms, producing CVs and preparing for an interview a daunting prospect.   Our guidance worker helps clients to prepare these documents and often carries out mock interviews so our clients gain confidence for potential job interviews.

As part of our guidance programme, ASCEND has developed a network of contacts with local organisations, businesses and training providers in order to provide the most beneficial start for our clients in their transition to training and ultimately employment.  Some of these are linked below:

nextstep Hertfordshire – www.nextstepherts.org.uk

Job Centre Plus -  www.worktrain.gov.uk
Learn Direct – www.learndirect.co.uk
Herts Careers Service - www.hcs.co.uk
Volunteering vacancies - www.do-it.org.uk

ASCEND was the first project in Hertfordshire to gain accreditation for its information, advice and guidance services, and was recently re-accredited.

ASCEND is a partner in nextstep - the national provider of free, impartial information, advice and guidance for adults

For more info:
www.nextstepherts.org.uk