What is Careers Plymouth?

Careers Plymouth are a team within the Education, Participation and Skills department at Plymouth City Council who contribute to the statutory duty under the Education and Skills Act 2008 to support all young people aged 16-19 (16-25 with an EHCP) to participate in education or training.

They provide a statutory targeted transition support service for young people with a Plymouth maintained EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) including:

  • Post 16 transitions support for young people with a Plymouth EHCP to help them consider their Post 16 education and training options, and support for their parents/carers. This support complements, and does not replace, support schools already provide through their career’s education programme including Personal Guidance.

  • Identification, tracking and monitoring to identify and support young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) and to enable Plymouth Local Authority to report NEET, Not Known, and participation data to the Department for Education.

  • Information and signposting for young people who are seeking education, employment or training (SEET)

Post 16 transitions support for young people with an EHCP

Career Development Consultants provide the Post 16 transitions support for young people with an EHCP who are likely to transition out of their current education provider to another.

They are Level 6 or above qualified in Careers Guidance and Development, and they provide independent, impartial, and specialised career information, advice and guidance.

They are highly experienced in working with young people and adults of varying academic abilities, with special educational needs and disabilities, with social, emotional, and mental health issues, and those who are care experienced.

Careers Plymouth use a person-centred and trauma informed approach so that each person has a meaningful encounter that is tailored to their individual needs.

They work with young people to help them navigate their education and career options, reflect on their ideas, interests, skills, and personal motivations, and to make informed choices about potential Post 16 educational options and career paths.

Careers Plymouth are quality assured with regular observations of their professional practice, and they keep up to date with statutory and relevant training.

They have an excellent understanding of local Post 16 education and training providers and the local labour market, with strong links with education providers and employers who keep them updated on new courses and opportunities.

This is how they can support young people in each year group:

In Years 9, 10, 11 and Post 16, Careers Plymouth will:

  • Liaise with the School SEN Co-ordinator to collect background information about students with an EHCP; their Post 16 intended destinations; and their parent/carer contact details.

  • Identify students eligible for the transitions support, which are those intending to make a transition at the end of Year 11 (or if Post 16, the end of the current academic year) to full-time education or training at another education provider, including Apprenticeships and Supported Internships.

  • Students who are intending to stay on at the same School for Post 16 education are not in scope for the transitions support from Careers Plymouth.

In Year 9, Careers Plymouth will also:

  • Make an introductory phone call to all parents/carers of a young person with an EHCP to introduce the service and give an overview of Post 16 options if appropriate.

  • Where necessary or more efficient, deliver talks to parents/carers of young people with an EHCP, which can include attending Options Evenings.

In Year 10, Careers Plymouth will also:

  • Provide support to eligible students by conducting 1:1 meetings in School with them where possible, or group sessions if appropriate.

  • Make contact with parent/carers to discuss potential Post 16 options, with signposting for the parents/carers to arrange visits as appropriate.

  • Start an Options Appraisal Report, which gives an overview of the young person’s aspirations and theirs and their parent/carer’s views about the Post 16 options they are considering.

In Year 11 and Post 16, Careers Plymouth will also:

  • Provide support to eligible students by conducting 1:1 meetings in School with them where possible, or group sessions if appropriate.

  • Make contact with parent/carers to confirm Post 16 choices.

  • Complete an Options Appraisal Report and submit this to the 0-25 SEND Statutory Assessment Team to inform the consultation process.

  • Share the Options Appraisal Report with the young person and/or parent/carer upon request.

Further Information

Attendance at EHCP Review meetings which are due to discuss Post 16 options is by exception only – the 0-25 SEND Statutory Assessment Team will notify Careers Plymouth when they require attendance at a meeting.

Careers Plymouth also provide Personal Guidance services which can be purchased by schools, colleges and training providers to support their students to achieve Gatsby Benchmark 8.

Careers Plymouth do this in several SEN Schools where they deliver careers group work to Year 8 and 9 students, with follow up 1:1 meetings with Year 9 students and 1:1 meetings with Year 10 students.

Careers Plymouth work closely with key staff in schools, colleges and training providers to ensure delivery of a tailored and quality service. They work closely with other teams within Plymouth City Council including the 0-25 SEND Statutory Assessment Team, PIAS, Skills Launchpad Plymouth, the Virtual School, and the Youth Justice team.

Contact Careers Plymouth to ask more about how they can support you and your students: CareersPlymouth@plymouth.gov.uk.

Teenagers in uniform on their way home from school

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