The matrix Standard
Kathy Leahy and Pat McDermott
Registered matrix Advisers
and Assessors
20 September 2013
By the end of the session
• Discussed the context of careers guidance work
• Shared the experiences of the work undertaken with sole
traders
• Reviewed the approaches being trialled
The current landscape
• Statutory guidance to schools to secure independent and
impartial careers guidance
• Select Committee findings
• National Careers Council report
• Ofsted review
Securing independent careers guidance
– a practical guide
Issues to consider when developing your careers
provision
• The importance of face-to-face careers guidance
• Planning a programme of career activities
• The National Careers Service
• Assuring the quality of careers provision
Assuring the quality of careers
provision
• The quality of the school careers programme
• The quality of the independent careers provider
• The quality of careers professionals working with the
school
The quality of the independent careers
provider
The matrix Standard is the Government’s badge of quality
for information and advice about learning and work. To
achieve the Standard, organisations will need to
demonstrate that they provide a high quality and impartial
service.
Your school can access an online register of organisations
accredited to the matrix Standard at
www.matrixstandard.com
.
Working with providers of independent
careers guidance
• Connexions companies
• Careers guidance companies
• Education business companies
• Social enterprises
• Sole traders
Sole traders
• "becoming a self-employed careers adviser for the first
time, I felt it was vital for me to ensure that the service I
provide is of the highest quality. With no organisation to
support me the matrix Standard has allowed me to work
towards this goal. "
•
• "as a small organisation, if we are up against the bigger
players, matrix puts us on an even playing field as we will
have achieved the same benchmark."
•
• "it helps you look at and reflect on what you are doing,
which as a sole trader you don't have a wider network to
have those conversations."
Sole traders
• "it is making me look at the business planning side in
more detail and actually think about where I want to go in
the future."
• "I love the way everything comes back to 1.1, it tells your
story in a logical way.“
• “The leadership and management criteria are helping me
to build a strong foundation for my business by making
me think what are my aims and objectives and how am I
going to achieve these.”
•
Looking at the Standard
• Using a template to review the service offer
• Linking complementary criteria
• Helping to consider the ‘business’ and ‘service’ aspects
Assessment process - pilot
• Self assessment against the template
• 0.75 days on site, usually at the school where delivery is
taking place
• Explore self assessment with sole trader
• Discussions with ‘partners’ i.e. the school, plus other
organisations in your network e.g. local college, training
provider etc
• Small group interviews with young people
So far…..
• Working with 7 sole traders, all providing independent
careers guidance to schools
• All receiving advice from a Registered matrix Adviser
• Assessments planned for end of November/December
The future
• Aim to have a revised assessment model fit for purpose
for sole traders
• Ensuring a rigorous assessment
• Enabling more engagement with sole traders
• Building on the practical experiences of participants
For more information and
support resources:
The matrix Standard
www.matrixstandard.com
[email protected]
0845 304 8600