CGC Ebook 5.0

Information and Advice

Sector Outlook A wide variety of roles exist within the industry for those with good communication skills and an interest in providing others with accurate and helpful information. People need to access advice on all sor ts of issues such as finances, relationships, housing, career direction, personal problems and even where to stay. As such advisors work in a variety of sectors including tourism, legal services, education, the health sector and charities. Jobs can exist with local authorities, schools, government and private consultancy firms. Some people work on a self-employed basis. The Health and Suppor t sector expects to employ an additional 40,000 people over the next 6 years. Roles in this sector could include drugs and alcohol worker, social work assistant and counsellor. For professionals with experience of helping people through significant change, new roles are appearing such as Life C oach , Health and Wellbeing Advisor or Community Connector. The career service in the UK is split into a national picture with Wales, Scotland and Northern I sl and running their own service. In England, the National Careers Service is split into regional contracts with companies such as Adviza, Prospects, CXK and the Futures Group. Career and employment coaching also exists with companies running government contracts such as the Work and Health programme or IPES (Intensive Personalised Employment Support) . Those businesses that work in the Employment Support sector include : Shaw Trust, Reed, Ingeus and Maximus. Across the industry you c ould be working in schools, higher education, charitable organisations, training companies, Jobcentre Plus or the Prison Service. You could also find employment with a National Careers Service Centre, such as those located in Leicester and Manchester. Other oppor tunities may exist with Careers Wales, Careers Scotland or Careers Nor thern Ireland. Whether you are going to work in health, education or customer facing roles, as an advisor you will need good questioning techniques, active listening skills, the ability to make presentations, an understanding of the guidance process and knowledge of the sector in which you are working.