This is going to be a bit of a mixed post, as there are several different things I want to reflect on....
Firstly, did anyone see the very interesting programme on 'Island communities' last night (Sunday 9-10pm)? The presenter was trying to discover what makes the 'sense of community' and belonging on an island, different to the mainland. He concluded that the boundary of water seems to make all the difference. Quite similar to my undergrad dissertation for anthropology that I commented on in my last post.
Placement has been interesting. I tried to ask about any career development theories used and the answer was 'Oh, we are very person-centred here.' (Whatever that's meant to mean??) I have to do a presentation this week at the team meeting on possible new ideas to be used in some of the guidance interviews and when I suggested 'life-maps' or 'narratives', the co-presenter said 'Oh, yes we can tell everyone about these new ideas, but they will never get the go ahead, as they are too time consuming!' Not the most encouraging of responses but I'll still try and give those ideas a plug.
Finally, I was struck this week by a comment on a job description for a post I'm applying for which stated how the careers advice given would be measured! It said that the careers advice would be measured by 'structure, currency and relevance'.......intriguing!
Inspiration from Graduation!
16 years ago
Gulp - that wasn't a post in the military you're applying for was it?!
ReplyDeleteThe narrative approaches and life maps are so interesting its a shame they are not more utilised. I take the point though about there not being much time. They are probably much more relevant to some time of guidance provision than others. Probably great where there's an ongoing relationship established with the client.
Unfortunately everything seems to have got so outcome based that there's a need to church though people asap.
Yes, time seems such a rare commodity! - even at Women onto Work, where I expected the women who attend the courses (the core activity of the service) would get a lot more one-to-one contact with the career counsellors.
ReplyDeleteBut the sheer practicalities of the work - involving as it does so much follow-up research, liaising with trainers, etc - means that the career counsellors struggle to spend even half an hour with each trainee at the beginning of their course. One of the great strengths of the a project like WOW, however, is the fact that they are able to offer follow-up to trainees, officially for up to 18 months after the course, but even after that I'm sure no one would ever be turned away. WOW had to struggle for funding to provide this follow-up support - but, as I witnessed yesterday at a meeting for former trainees, this support can be one of the most valuable aspects of the whole programme. I feel we could really do with something similar on our PgDip course!- and am sure we shall informally. It's good to know that our tutors will continue to look out for us, too.
How did you get on with "converting" the people on your placement to the new techniques?:)It's a shame they have that view, they are not being reflective practitioners I think!
ReplyDelete