Introduction to the Blueprint for Careers Presented by – Date – Career is increasingly being viewed as something every human has, for a lifetime (Gysbers, 1997)

Aim and objectives Aim: To introduce the Blueprint for Careers (England) and its Uses. Objectives By the end of the session participants will be able to: Analyse support and skills needed to manage careers Explain what the Blueprint for Careers is Relate it to their own context Identify how they might use it themselves.

Your career path Work in fours – preferably with people you do not know well Look at the quotes about careers – select ones that represent your views and values. If there are none that appeal to you write your own! Discuss what this means for careers and the support required for learners in developing their careers. You have 15 minutes for this exercise.

What is a career? A career is defined as the combination and sequence of roles played by a person during the course of a lifetime Super (1980) How does this compare to your definition? What is your organisation’s definition?

What is career development? Traditionally: Preparing for the world of work Gaining the skills and experience to find one’s vocation in life Improving one’s employability. Currently: A lifelong process that influences all aspects of a person’s life The knowledge, skills and attitudes that evolve through the lifelong process Continually developing relevant skills for both personal life and work.

What’s changed? Changing and fragmented labour market Less employer support for career development Less career support for young people and adults Complex choices and limited funding for learning More transition points: individuals need to recognise transferable skills Individuals need the competence to manage their own careers.

Learners’ careers Pedro Ichenko Karen Beesley Dennis Bird

Skills for the journey? Focus, on who they are, what they have to offer, and what is important to them Direction, knowing their options, what appeals to them, and how to qualify for suitable learning and work opportunities Adaptability, the skill of making the best of ever-present change Healthy self-esteem and self-knowledge, to counter uncertainty and doubt. Richard Froeschle (2003)

Blueprint for Careers The Blueprint for Careers is a framework that can be used to help people to manage their approach to their life, learning and work.

What is it? A framework of 11 career competencies for individuals with indicators describing outcomes It is flexible and can be adapted to different settings and circumstances It is suitable for all ages.

The Blueprint: versions developed 1989: Guidelines developed in the USA with focus on employability skills 1996: Canadian version developed with focus on on life / work design 2005: Australian version 2009/10: Work began to develop versions for Scotland / England 2011: Version for England produced.

Developing the Blueprint for England ICT skills Healthy living Employability skills Numeracy Building self efficacy Social Media Citizenship Financial Planning Mobility Building self-reliance Environmental Awareness Enterprise skills Globalisation Cultural diversity The Big Society Mobility Networking

The Blueprint for Careers (England) Effective Career Management Understanding and developing myself Exploring life, learning and work Developing and managing my career

The Blueprint – a version for England Exploring life, learning and work I learn throughout my life. I find and utilise information and the support of others. I understand how changes in society, politics and the economy relate to my life, learning and work. I understand how life, learning and work roles change over time. Understanding and developing myself I know who I am and what I am good at. I interact confidently and effectively with others. I change, develop and adapt throughout my life. Developing and managing my career I make effective decisions relating to my life, learning and work. I find, create and keep work. I maintain a balance in my life, learning and work that is right for me. I plan, develop and manage my life, learning and work.

Blueprint activity 1: Using it yourself (1) Which of these competencies have you developed? (2) What helped you develop them? (3) What changes in circumstances might affect your competence? You have 10 minutes for this exercise

Blueprint activity 2: Using it with individuals (1) How could you use the Blueprint with individuals in your work? (2) What self-directed activities could you develop to help your learners use the Blueprint themselves? You have 10 minutes for this exercise

How can we use it in our context? To review an existing career learning programme, learning curriculum or careers provision To develop a new career learning programme or career management competencies across the provider curriculum To enable learners to assess the extent to which they are competent at developing their careers – and identify priorities for action To review careers resources and products, and identify gaps.

How can we use it in our context? To plan career progression across partners (i.e. in a Diploma Consortium or a local authority) using the Blueprint to provide a common language and structure To help us measure the impact of the services we provide (i.e. by identifying the increase in our learners’ ‘career competence’) To help evaluate and improve the career services and provision we offer.

A learner perspective ‘The Blueprint covers what you want from a career, how hard you are prepared to work/study for it and how much it will cost you to train/study. It challenges your own work values and the probability that you will not have a job for life and that there may be several career changes. I wish I had received this when I was at school.’ An adult learner. pg 31 Career blueprint: supporting an all-age guidance Strategy. LSIS 2010

What are the benefits? Individuals learn how to manage their own careers throughout their lives Individuals know where to get information and support Providers have a common framework for planning, development and measuring progress Providers have a shared language and consistent practice One flexible framework for many careers and transitions.

Blueprint: What is the philosophy behind it? “Career management is not about making the right occupational choice. It’s about equipping people with the competencies (skills, knowledge, attitudes, character, emotional intelligence) to make the myriad of choices with which adults are confronted, in all aspects of their lives and throughout life to become confident, healthy, self reliant citizens, able to cope with constant change in the labour market and maintain balance between life and work roles.” Phil Jarvis

The Canadian high five messages for career development Change is constant Follow your heart Focus on the journey Keep learning Build relationships. David Redekopp, the National Life / Work centre

Blueprint activity 3: Action planning (1) Which of the activities discussed today do you think you would like to take forward? (2) What resources will you need? (3) What will you do immediately? You have six minutes for this activity

Summary 1.How has the concept of career changed? 2.Where was the Blueprint developed? 3.What is the philosophy of the Blueprint framework? 4.What are three main areas in the Blueprint for careers (England)? 5.What are you going to do next with the Blueprint? Thank you for attending, please complete an evaluation form

References LSIS, (2009) Career Learning for the 21 st Century: the career blueprint – a competence approach. LSIS, (2010) Career Learning for the 21 st Century: Careers Blueprint supporting an all-age guidance strategy LSIS, (2010) Career Learning for the 21 st Century: mapping the Blueprint against other frameworks LSIS, (2011) Career Learning for the 21 st Century: The Blueprint for Careers – evidence of impact LSIS, (2012) Career Learning for the 21 st Century: A guide to the Blueprint for Careers LSIS (2012) Blueprint for Careers: Brief guide LSIS (2012) Blueprint for Careers grid LSIS (2012) Blueprint for careers and its implementation (available May 2012)

References continued Canadian Website: Australian website: LSIS Blueprint materials Career Learning for all – free on-line CPD module produced by LSIS Froeschle, R. (2003) Cost of Market Indecision: The Economic Effects of Insufficient Career Information, Texas Workforce Commission, Career Development Resources, Austin, TX. Gysbers, N.C. (1997) Involving Counseling Psychology in the School-to-Work Movement: An Idea Whose Time Has Come. The Counseling Psychologist, 25(3),