Ireland

							The most effective network in our
    work – Example from Ireland
      Aisling Roche and David O’Grady
                        April 29th 2011
Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare
Dublin City
Gougane Barra, Co. Cork
Kilkenny Castle
Lakes of Killarney, Co. Kerry
Clonaslee, Co. Laois
My school
Facts about Ireland

Population of Republic of Ireland: 4.1m
Population of Northern Ireland: 1.7m
Unemployment rate: 14.7% (March 2011)
 4.4% (March 2007)
Currency: Euro since 2002
Guidance in Education

               Third Level


                Further
               Education
                 Post
                Primary
                Level -
               age 12 to
                   17


                Primary
                 Level –
               age 4 to 12
Types of Post Primary Schools
 Secondary schools – privately owned (religious
  orders) 55%
 Vocational schools – managed by Vocational
  Education Committees 33%
 Community & Comprehensive schools – managed
  by Boards of Management 12%
Guidance in Secondary school

                Senior Cycle –
              Leaving Certificate –
                  Year 5 & 6




               Transition Year –
                Year 4 - age 15




              Junior Cycle – Year
              1 to 3 - age 12 to 15
Guidance Activities in Post Primary
Qualifications for Guidance in
Post Primary
A recognised teaching qualification (Higher
 Diploma/Postgraduate Diploma in Education)
A recognised qualification in guidance
 counselling
5 Universities offering Masters/
 Postgraduate/Graduate Diplomas in
 Guidance Counselling
Duration of Programmes - 2 years part time/
 1 year full time
My network:
The IGC – Institute of Guidance Counsellors
Who are the IGC?
 The Institute of Guidance Counsellors was
  established in 1968.
 It is the professional body representing over
  1200 practitioners in second level schools, third
  level colleges, adult guidance services, private
  practice and in other settings.
 On behalf of its members and their clients the
  Institute has a liaison and advocacy role with
  government departments, management and
  trade union organisations, national parent
  bodies, higher and further education institutions,
  employment and training agencies.
What does the IGC do?

The institute has a constitution and a code
 of ethics.
It promotes standards for entry into the
 profession and for the practice of guidance
 and counselling.
It supports the professional development
 of its members through in-career training.
I follow the IGC code of ethics
 Guidance Counsellors respect the dignity,
  integrity and welfare of their clients.
 GC’s are responsible for maintaining trust by
  setting and monitoring appropriate boundaries in
  the relationship, and making this explicit to the
  client and relevant others.
 The Institute of Guidance Counsellors strongly
  recommends supervision as an integral part of
  the professional practice of members.
IGC Structure
 The Institute of Guidance
  Counsellors is organised
  around a branch structure.
 There are 16 branches around
  the country in different
  geographical regions.
 Each branch has at least one
  representative on the National
  Executive Committee.
 This is the body which
  implements motions passed at
  the Annual General Meeting
  and manages the affairs of the
  Institute between AGMs.
 The National Executive
  normally meets at least ten
  times per year.
Why I find the IGC effective

Annual General Meeting of all the
 guidance counsellors in Ireland.
Branch meetings five times a year where
 training takes place
Counselling supervision once a month with
 an experienced counsellor
My other network:
Qualifax
 Qualifax is Ireland’s National Learners’
  Database.
 It is the "one stop shop" for learners. It provides
  the most comprehensive information on further
  and higher education and training courses.
Qualifax

I use it everyday in my work
I encourage my students to use it in their
 own time
I encourage parents to become familiar
 with it
Contains a calendar of career events
It is constantly being updated because of
 feedback from GC’s