Context

This study was carried out as part of the LSC QDF Projects. Five of the IAG Partners contacted clients who had used guidance services 4 or 5 years previously. The aim was to evidence the long-term effects of guidance intervention with adults. Clients were asked what had helped or hindered them in their goals. With a return of 132 questionnaires and the production of 36 case studies, this is the first study of this type carried out in Cambridgeshire. 

The Value of Guidance for Adults: A Research project by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Information, Advice and Guidance Partnership. Report compiled by MM Consultancy. 

The purpose of the report

To evidence the long-term effects of guidance intervention with adults.  In order to achieve this objective, 5 organisations (all IAG Partners), which have been offering guidance to adults within Cambridgeshire for at least 5 years, have collaborated in surveying former clients and preparing case studies of some of them, based on their responses to the survey.

The partner agencies in the research

• Cambridge Women’s Resources Centre (CWRC)
• Connexions (carrying on the work of Cambridgeshire Careers Guidance)
• Cambridge Jobsearch
• QEST (Quest Employment Support Team)
• Cambridge City Community Education Outreach

These were selected to reach a range of different client groups which include the following:

• Women (including women returners)
• The whole Learning & Skills Council Area which includes people in rural areas
• People from socially disadvantaged areas
• People with mental health problems and physical disabilities returning to employment and training
• Unemployed people and those in low paid work
• People who have not gained from learning in the past or have not done any learning for some time

The range of guidance providers also reflects the range of outputs of guidance beyond work or training for work, which include education and voluntary work.

The participants (Client Profile)

132 individuals answered the questionnaire and some of the case studies were written on the strength of telephone conversations, so that the breakdown of client profile numbers in fact total 138. With regard to age, there was a good spread with 20 in the age range 20-29 years, 41 in the age range 30-39, 41aged 40-49, and 30 aged 50 plus. The age of 6 participants was not known. The gender breakdown of the participating clients was 94 females and 44 males.  Respondents came from both Cambridge and Peterborough, the Market Towns and villages. Thus, as can be seen, the sample was fairly mixed and representative of the client groups served by the 5 partner organisations.

The research

The agreed aim of the research was to survey by means of a questionnaire, a sample of at least 100 individuals who had received guidance and support from the participating agencies during the period between 3-5 years before, and from the responses to write up at least 30 detailed case studies which would amplify the survey findings. In the event 132 questionnaires were returned and 36 case studies are included in this report. For more copies of this summary, contact:

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough IAG Partnership, 7 The Meadow, Meadow Lane, St. Ives, PE27 4LG.  Telephone 01480 376592 

Research Questionnaire: 'About how Guidance helped you'

Question 1
This invited participants to tick all boxes which applied indicating the type of help they had received. The list was as follows: (numbers beside each represent the numbers of ticks in each box, with many respondents ticking more than one box):

• 102 One to one interview 
• 23 Psychometric testing  
• 56 CV writing support
• 44 Group session   
• 12 Drop-in/job club  
• 22 Referral to other agencies 
• 14 Work experience 
• 49 Printed information              

Question 2
This asked: Were you able to make a decision about your future direction as a result of the guidance and support you had? Participants were invited to tick boxes for ‘Yes’ (86, 65%), ‘No’ (26, 20%) and ‘Not sure’ (19, 15%).

The fact that almost two thirds of the sample had been able to make decisions about their future direction as a result of the help they received, indicates a very high value placed upon the guidance and support intervention.

This response showed an astonishingly value placed upon the guidance and support intervention that almost two thirds of the sample had been able to make decisions about their future direction as a result.

Question 3
Asked: If you answered ‘Yes’ to Question 2 what, specifically helped you to make your decision?

Of the 86 respondents who ticked ‘Yes’, 78 responded to this question – many with quite fulsome answers such as: ‘It made me aware of my capabilities and gave me the desire to use my skills and learn new ones’. Responses can be broadly described as stating that elements of the guidance process had given the client more confidence to enrol on courses, apply for jobs, or start a business. In particular preparation of a CV, advice and support, and the reinforcement of capabilities were cited as being most valued.

Question 4
Asked participants who had answered ‘No/Not sure’ to Question 2 what they felt would have helped them make a decision about their future direction.

Of the 45 respondents falling into that category, 29 wrote comments of which a representative sample is given here:

• ‘Psychometric testing and more job profiles’
• ‘Work experience would have been useful’
• ‘Have someone with knowledge and experience of dealing with graduates’
• ‘Less optimism, more realism – a better understanding of the obstacles presented by the job market’
• ‘More information about help for finding work despite my ill-health’
• ‘I would benefit from having better understanding of what computer qualifications meant’
• ‘Personal issues prevented me from ‘moving on’ rather than any lack of guidance’
• ‘The interview was only in connection with the 5-week computer course that was on at the centre’

Question 5
This was another multiple choice question about what actions participants were able to take following their guidance support and they were invited to tick any of the following boxes which applied: (numbers given represent the numbers of ticks beside each box, with some respondents ticking more than one box)

• 70 Start a course
• 41 Start applying for jobs
• 25 Start voluntary work
• 19 Contact another organisation for additional help
• 11 Work experience 
• 28 Start part-time work 
• 16 Start full-time work
• 2 Arrange childcare
• 17 Other – where they were invited to tell us more information

Question 6
Invited participants to tick a range of boxes to describe what they are doing now in terms of work, voluntary work, caring for family, education or other activities which they were invited to specify (numbers beside each represents the number of ticks beside each box, with some respondents ticking ‘more than one box’.

• 38 Part-time employment 
• 31 Full-time employment

Education

• 5 Short course
• 15 Part-time
• 4 Full-time

Caring for family/other

• 12 Part-time
• 25 Full-time

• 20 Voluntary work
• 11 Self employment
• 0 Temporary employment
• 0 Job-share
• Other (woodwork, started C&G this month )

Thus, almost 60% of the sample are in employment or self employed 5 years after guidance whilst about a third are engaged in study or voluntary work.

Question 7
Asked: Are you doing what you originally decided to do? It invited respondents to tick ‘Yes’ (53, 43%), ‘No’ (38, 31%) or ‘Partly’ (31, 26%) as appropriate. Numbers in brackets represent responses although 10 respondents failed to complete the question (thus % given relate to 122 respondents not the full sample).

Question 8
In this question, respondents were asked whether any of a range of issues had stopped them from moving on to learning or work. They could tick any of the following boxes that applied:

• 34 Finance
• 24 Childcare
• 10 Transport
• 26 Health
• 10 Unsuitable hours (learning)
• 13 Unsuitable hours (work)
• 40 Personal circumstances
• 30 Lack of relevant skills
• 33 Confidence
• 8 Lack of information
• 20 Age
• 7 Other

Question 9
This asked simply: What else would have helped you?
Over one third of respondents replied to this question with varying degrees of depth. Some of their answers ranged from age to finance. Sample examples or answers are:

• ‘Age affected my eligibility for loans to pay for a diploma’
• Career advice for women returners is too geared up to getting women to do what they did before having families –exploring other options would help’
• ‘Businesses accommodating mothers with small children with crËche facilities on site’
• ‘more direct contact with employers in order to   offer people a work placement that
• might lead to paid work’
• ‘A more flexible benefit system’
• ‘More direction from guidance worker’
• ‘Taking action ten years earlier!’

Case Studies

36 case studies are included in this report. They have been selected from at least twice that number available in order to represent the mix of age, gender and urban and rural home addresses of respondents. They illustrate the range of typical client experience such as those of women returners with childcare responsibilities, people with mental or physical health problems affecting their confidence or acceptance in the workplace. They also illustrate the value attributed to confidence building, help with writing CVs and interview techniques, psychometric testing, and the value of voluntary work and work experience as a route back to work and personal fulfilment. The case studies also illustrate the realities of life that people’s circumstances change and that they do suffer strokes or similar major health crises, which prevent them from realising their dreams. Ill health is a common barrier to achieving desired outcomes as are lack of money and childcare. The case studies reflect the statistical data derived from the questionnaire.

One case study described a woman running her own guesthouse who attributed her confidence to undertake this enterprise to the guidance and support she received. She wrote: ‘Having spent a few years at home, CWRC helped me come out of my shell. If I hadn’t gone there, I don’t know what I would have done. I would probably be working in a shop now’.

One man who secured a full-time management position attributed his success to the good CV produced for him at Ely Guidance Shop. In contrast, a number of individuals who had been suffering from mental health problems and needed far longer to achieve results, described how the help they received assisted them in gaining confidence and fulfilment through voluntary work or a work experience placement as a stepping stone back into employment. One wrote: ‘I like the idea of training and voluntary work before applying for a job as it helps to gain your self-confidence.  Having someone to help find out which courses are most suitable for you and advice for interviews etc is a great support’.

A number of the case studies represent the experience of people who, following accident or serious physical health problems were forced to make a career change and were greatly assisted in this process by advice, guidance and supported referral to appropriate agencies. Respondents frequently reported that the guidance worker had given them confidence and information which had enabled them to move forward.

Several case studies illustrate the position of women returning to the world of work having brought up a family, who were encouraged to realise that they had a wealth of skills resulting from motherhood. Often, with the assistance of referral to relevant training courses, they were enabled to make the transition to fulfilling paid work. Computer training in particular was often seen as a valuable way of updating skills for the modern workplace. One young woman who had left school without any qualifications went on to become a full-time childminder after joining the ‘Making Choices Course’ and subsequently going on to take a range of vocational training courses.

It was interesting to note that people who had held degrees prior to their illness or period away from the workplace were just as likely to lack confidence after periods of illness or time spent in the home with their families. They were just as likely to need one-to-one support in raising their self-esteem, and in considering what options were open to them.
For many people psychometric testing proved a useful tool in identifying their aptitudes and abilities or reinforcing their own opinion that they were ‘good with people’ or should go in a particular career direction. In turn it helped them identify the direction in which to go forward into new career areas.

Finally, of importance to note here were the interesting issues raised by the case studies in illustrating the range of agencies which referred clients to the guidance agencies (Health Visitors, Community Psychiatric Nurses, Mental Health Services etc); and also the range of agencies contacted by the guidance workers on behalf of clients. Often these went way beyond the call of duty within a strictly guidance context. Workers acted as bridges between their client and doctors, day centres, employers and a host of other agencies.

Conclusions

1. The astonishingly high response rate to the research project, despite the length of time which had elapsed between guidance being given and the research being undertaken, is indicative of the esteem in which the service was held by the individuals who responded. The flip side of this coin of course, is that among the 50% who did not respond there may well have been individuals who had not felt the service moved them on at all.

2. Where it was possible to make personal contact with potential respondents prior to sending out the questionnaire a higher rate of returns was achieved. Furthermore where there was continuity of the same worker still working in the same area clients were more likely to feel the commitment to complete a questionnaire.

3. The projects reported that respondents were very eager to talk when telephoned and a considerable number responded affirmatively to the covering letter which invited them to state whether they would like a copy of the report and if they would like to be contacted because they needed further help. In all, 34 respondents asked for further help, whilst 53 asked for copies of the report. There is, therefore a continuing sense of involvement and commitment to the guidance providers even up to 5 years after initial contact with the projects.

4. The research showed that 60% of the sample is in employment or self-employed 5 years after guidance, whilst about a third are engaged in study or voluntary work. This demonstrates the positive long-term effects of guidance. The large numbers of people who have ended up in part or full-time work as a result of guidance also provides evidence of the economic benefit of guidance.

5. The research shows an astonishingly high degree of importance attributed to the guidance and support received in that almost two thirds of the sample had been able to make decisions about their future direction as a result of the intervention.

6. Responses to open questions can be broadly categorised as stating that elements of the guidance process had given the client more confidence to enrol on courses, apply for jobs, or start a business. In particular preparation of a CV, advice and support, and reinforcement of capabilities were cited as being most valued.

7. Whilst personal circumstances and health combine to form the major barriers to moving on into learning and work, lack of confidence is highly significant, as are finance, childcare, age and lack of relevant skills. Some of the particular barriers presented were:

• Age affecting eligibility for loans to pay for higher education
• Career advice for women returners being too geared up to getting women to do what they did before having families rather than exploring other options.
• The inflexibility of the benefit system
• Lack of direct contact with employers in order to offer people a work placement that might lead to paid work
• Need for some type of personal training to build confidence, thus enabling the student to get to know their own mind and to help them make decisions
• Lack of businesses accommodating mothers with small children with crèche facilities on site
• Lack of funding to become qualified in a suitable job

8. The case studies show that the achievement of permanent positive outcomes takes a long time for disadvantaged people. Many clients received more than one guidance interview over a number of years and found it sufficiently helpful to want to return. The significant contribution which guidance makes to employability is in moving them on and helping them take decisive steps whilst also equipping them at each stage with the skills and self awareness they need to identify a place in the ever changing labour market. The open door policy of all the guidance projects is important in enabling people to constantly reassess their position. The relevance of  ‘outreach’ was seen as significant in that the service is out in the community and visible, rather than based in an office away from the community.

9. Both the answers to question 5 and the case studies show that all the guidance providers assisted clients into a range of provision. In many instances the case studies illustrate that the guidance workers are undertaking work which might otherwise fall to GPs and health service workers, and liaising with a wide range of agencies on behalf of their clients in order to remove barriers to learning or work.

10. The partner agencies themselves have stated that by participating in this research project they have been able to assess aspects of their service provision with a view to improving service practice. The feedback from clients has been very encouraging to the guidance workers and reinforces that the service they are providing as worthwhile. As one of the partner agencies put it: ‘The process has been a very positive experience for a somewhat jaded outreach worker (who sometimes spends more time struggling to keep the service afloat with ever changing and insecure funding than on the guidance itself) being reminded that the work has enabled significant and positive movement in a number of individual’s lives. Hopefully this research offers some important evidence for those responsible for funding of the value of guidance in people’s lives.’

11. This opportunity for reflection and assessment has enabled guidance providers to look back at the service they offered between three and five years ago and note the significant changes which have occurred over that period. In particular they have noted the limited scope of the data collected then, which has caused some difficulties with the research, compared to the extensive data kept now. One provider stated: ‘It is apparent that we now run a far more coherent professional service across the city and are accessible to a far wider range of people’.

 12. As a result of renewed contact with projects, a number of clients are now back in or planning to return to learning. For example, as a result of this research Ms S, who is still unwaged and whose child is now at full-time school, requested that the Community Education outreach worker contact her about the availability of literacy courses and has recently been reassessed and has begun attending a local group to address her literacy needs. She feels that this is now essential in order to be able to help her child with his own learning and sees herself as the key person in ensuring that her son does not have similar difficulties as he develops. This would appear to indicate that the lasting effects of guidance may continue to grow with time rather than diminish, perhaps even to the second and third generation. 

Areas for further research

1. Question 7 asked respondents whether they were doing what they originally decided to do. Only 44% replied that they were. It would be useful to research some of the barriers faced by those who responded ‘No’ or ‘Partly’. Personal circumstances and lack of confidence were given as the most common barriers with finance and lack of relevant skills highly represented. Health, age and childcare were frequently cited as barriers and it would be interesting to research what measures would be necessary to remove the external barriers. 

2. There will be follow-up of the 34 individuals who requested further help, and the 53 people who asked to receive the report. Because of the open door policy of all the projects, the respondents will have access to further guidance services. However, if funding were available it might be possible to identify their wider needs and to establish whether they encountered barriers to achieving successful outcomes at an earlier stage through any inadequacy in provision. For example one respondent wrote:

 ‘I was surprised that I had no further contact until you sent me this questionnaire. I think that just one follow-up to see what had happened to me would have been a good thing’. 

3. There were some responses such as: ‘I would benefit from having better understanding of what computer qualifications meant’ which indicate a need for some research into the ICT industry, its training requirements and varying levels of attainment, and where such courses are available in the locality and region.

4. To the question on what else would have helped, a number of respondents identified a lack of knowledge about the Labour Market. This would seem to lend support for research into a range of labour market issues which could fill deficits in the knowledge of guidance workers in making appropriate referrals. A database of family and disability friendly employers could be compiled. Work might also be done on acquainting employers of the needs of returners to the labour market for work experience, staggered hours and childcare provision in initial stages, bearing in mind that they are likely to become loyal employees given time, since they will wish to retain their employment.