• Connexions brings together all the services and support young people need during their teenage years. It links the work of six government departments and their agencies and organisations on the ground, together with private and voluntary sector groups and youth and careers services.

• Connexions offers practical help with choosing the right courses and careers, including access to broader personal development through activities like sport, performing arts and volunteering activities.

• Connexions will also provide help and advice on issues like drug abuse, sexual health and homelessness.

Personal Advisers provide a link to all relevant services - such as schools, health services, youth work, careers advice, housing departments, police, etc.

In essence, Personal Advisers make sure that the needs of young people are met so that they are able and motivated to take education, training and work opportunities and to achieve their full potential.

Personal Advisers:

• work with young people to establish their needs and offer information, advice, support and guidance - this can range from basic information to more substantial one-to-one support where necessary;
• help young people face challenges that may affect their capacity to take part in learning and work opportunities;
• work with and support schools, colleges, training institutions and employers in designing a range of local courses that will meet the needs of young people;
• work with voluntary, statutory and community agencies and commercial bodies to ensure a coordinated approach to overcoming barriers to learning and employment faced by young people;
• work with parents, carers and families to support young people;
• manage information effectively to facilitate the process of meeting the needs of young people.

The support provided by Personal Advisers to young people includes the following elements:

• identifying and setting goals;
• planning how to achieve these goals, which may include some practical careers advice;
• information and advice on personal issues - Personal Advisers can help access specialist services if necessary;
• personal development: through opportunities such as volunteering, community or recreational activities.

You will need enthusiasm, flexibility and a real interest in helping young people to make the most of the opportunities available. You will also need a wide range of skills, abilities and knowledge. The Connexions national training programmes help prepare the practitioners to take on the role.

If you wish to become a Connexions personal adviser, you should contact your local Connexions Partnership for information about recruitment in your area.

To become a fully qualified personal adviser you will need to hold a relevant qualification at S/NVQ Level 4, or equivalent. Some Personal Advisers will be working towards this level during training. Relevant qualifications at level 4 or equivalent in these areas will provide a sound basis for further study en route to qualified status. In addition, all Personal Advisers will be required to attend either the Diploma for Connexions Personal Advisers or the Understanding Connexions Training programme.

The Connexions Service does not duplicate or try to replace what these organisations are doing. Instead it builds on the best of existing practice to offer a coherent and integrated service to all young people.

Connexions is therefore keen for people working in these organisations to get involved - please contact the Southwark office.

It will be necessary to produce further guidance as the Connexions service develops. To contribute to this process, give your feedback on both the usefulness of the guidance and your experience of the support Connexions provides by contacting the Southwark office.

Organisations can order useful PDFs from the DfES website:

• 'Working together - Connexions and youth homelessness agencies'
• 'A briefing for Drug Action Teams'

Connexions School Service:

Personal Advisers are placed in a number of secondary schools in Southwark and each provides support to around 25 pupils. The schools with Personal Advisers are:

• Archbishop Michael Ramsey Technology College
• Highshore School
• Kingsdale School
• Walworth Upper School
• Waverley School for Girls

(For more information on these and other schools, please see our Schools in Southwark information sheet.)

Rye Lane Connexions Centre:

Prospects, a not-for-profit organisation, provides the careers guidance and information services for the Connexions service in Southwark. Its role includes:

• providing careers information, guidance and employment services for young people aged to 19;
• working with schools, colleges and training providers and employers to promote and widen career opportunities for young people;
• working in partnership with government and community agencies to reach young people most in need of advice and access to training, education and employment opportunities.

There are over 20 Personal Advisers based at this Connexions Centre.

For careers guidance or more information, contact or drop-in at:

Rye Lane Connexions Centre
128 Rye Lane, Peckham, London SE15 4SB
Tel: 020 8355 5150
Fax: 020 8355 5051.
www.prospects.co.uk

Harper Road Connexions Centre:

This centre is run by Faces in Focus. It focuses on providing counselling and community-based advice and support, and also with careers but to a much lesser degree.

For personal advice and support or for more information, contact or drop-in at:

Harper Road Connexions Centre
102 Harper Road, Elephant & Castle, London SE1 6AQ
Tel: 020 7403 2444
Email: facesinfocusorg@aol.com
www.facesinfocus.org.uk

Key Access Points:

In addition to the above Connexions Centres, the following key access points to the Connexions service in Southwark will be fully functioning by October 2002:

Aylesbury Youth Centre
Inville Walk, Inville Road, London SE17 2HY
Tel: 020 7252 6244
Fax: 020 7701 6956

Bellingdon Old School
Bellingdon Road, London SE15 4DG
Tel: 020 7635 6184
Fax: 020 7639 8078

Damilola Taylor Centre
1 East Surrey Grove, London SE15 6DR
Tel: 020 7703 9996
Fax: 020 7701 6465

London Borough of Southwark
15 Spa Road, London SE16 3QW
Tel: 020 7525 3941
Fax: 020 7525 3401
Email: beverley.parchment@southwark.gov.uk

The Southwark office is part of the Central London Connexions Partnership, which covers the London Boroughs of Camden, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Southwark, Wandsworth and Westminster.
Click here to find other Connexions partnerships.

Connexions (Includes information about the national Connexions strategy)

Central London Connexions

The Federation of London Youth Clubs
Bridge House, Bridge House Quay, Prestons Rd, London E14 9QA
Tel: 020 7537 2777

Sure Start Plus
Lambeth, Southwark & Lewisham HA, 1 Lower Marsh, Waterloo, London SE1 7NT
Tel: 020 7716 7000

Drug Action Teams
Grants and Community Safety
Southwark Town Hall
Peckham Road
London SE5 8UB
Tel: 020 7525 7332
Fax: 020 7525 7295
Email: fran.barry@southwark.gov.uk

Youthinformation.com