Careers Plymouth - (previously CSW Group)
Our Careers Plymouth team consists of Career Development Consultants and Client Contact Administrators.
The team deliver Transitions Work and Personal Guidance Services that schools, colleges and training providers purchase.
Transitions work
Provide targeted support for young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). CDCs support Plymouth Education Providers who are planning to make a transition to a different education or training provider.
Our CDC’s complete an options appraisal report which gathers the views of young people and their parents/carers on their next steps. They also support young people with EHCPs who are seeking:
- employment
- education
- training
The support can continue up to their 25th birthday.
Client Contact Administrators assist Plymouth City Council in meeting our statutory duty, under the Education and Skills Act 2008, to support all young people aged 16-19 to participate in education or training. They do this by undertaking tracking activities so that we can provide information to the Department for Education about the current activities of young people aged 16-19. They will keep in contact with you and will signpost you to other services where relevant and based on your needs.
Why Careers Plymouth may contact you
If you have an EHCP, our Career Development Consultants may contact you to offer support. We may also arrange a meeting through your school.
If you are the parent/carer of a young person with an EHCP, we may contact you to give information, advice and guidance on the Post 16 education, employment or training options.
Client Contact Administrators may contact young people, normally by telephone, who have left statutory education up until they are 19, or up to the age of 21 for care-experienced young people, or up to the age of 25 for those with an active education, health and care plans (EHCP) to see whether they have continued in education, have moved into employment or whether they need any signposting support to access education or employment.
They will also check in with you if they are not sure what you are currently doing and offer support to you as required in seeking employment, education or training.
In most cases schools, colleges and training providers are able to provide us with this information. However, sometimes we will need to contact young people or their parents/ carers to ask for this information which allows us to also offer support to those who need it. Occasionally you may receive an email or letter either as a young person or a parent or carer of a young person, because we have been unable to establish contact or have no contact numbers.
Every year we also contact young people, (usually by phone) who have completed Year 11 or year 12 to see whether they are continuing in education, training or employment and if they need any support to access education or employment.
If we can’t contact you by phone, then you may receive an email or letter from us.
Personal Guidance Services
The team also offer Personal Guidance Services that schools, colleges and training providers can purchase.
We work with young people to better understand their individual needs and help them navigate their education and career options. We support students to reflect on their ideas, interests, skills and personal motivations to make more informed choices about potential educational options and career paths.
Our Team of Career Development Consultants:
- are Level 6 (or actively working towards a level 6) or Level 7 Qualified in Careers Guidance and Development and registered with the Career Development Institute (CDI) in line with the requirements set out by the Gatsby Benchmarks
- are all trained to the highest standard and undertake a minimum of 25 hours' Continuing Professional Development each year
- adhere to the CDI’s Code of Ethics
- hold Partnership Agreement meetings with key personnel in schools/colleges to ensure delivery of a tailored quality service.
Our entire team:
- are quality assured with regular observations of their professional practice, and they keep up to date with statutory training such as Safeguarding, GDPR, Equal Opportunities, Disability Awareness, Trauma Informed practice etc
- regularly survey our clients to create Impact Reports
We:
- are trusted with a long history of careers support in the region
- live and work in Plymouth and the surrounding area and have an excellent understanding of the local labour market, including work-based opportunities for students
- have strong links with local education and training providers who keep us updated on new courses, opportunities and offers
- are able to cover any of our team’s staff absences if required to ensure limited disruption for schools in our delivery of services
- deliver the Transitions Contract in all schools, which gives us increased visibility in schools, leading to enhanced impact (Gatsby, The Next 10 Years).
We will:
- have strong links with any service offered by the Local Authority under statutory duties and closer relationships with other services provided by the Local Authority such as Skills Launchpad Plymouth and On Course South West
- remain independent and impartial within Plymouth City Council
- work towards Plymouth’s strategy for unlocking potential and supporting young people
- consult with schools to tailor our professional charged services.
Contact Careers Plymouth
If you would like signposting or have any questions feel free to contact us.
Contact us by:
Email: [email protected]
When you contact us we will ask for:
- telephone Number
- email address
- current activity: School/College/Employment (for any of these we also need the name of the school, college, or employer) or if you are currently unemployed
National Careers Service
Information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work is available on the National Careers Service website
Job profiles
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What are my skills?
Use national assessments to find out what kind of jobs could suit you and save your results.
Apprenticeship finder
Find apprenticeships on GOV.UK.
On Course South West
On Course South West provide free careers information advice and guidance to anyone aged 19 and over. They also provide open days and drops ins at their hub: Hyde Park house, Mutley, Plymouth.
Booking an Appointment with a Learning Advisor
Need to meet with a learning advisor to discuss any part of your learning journey? Select a learning advisor and pick a time slot which suits you!
Careers Information, Advice and Guidance — On Course South West
Apprenticeships
On Course South West offers an apprenticeship service. The apprenticeships are tailored to meet the emergent needs of key sectors, ensuring that both individuals and employers benefit from a workforce equipped for the future.