Lincoln Financial Careers - DOC

							                         STATEMENT OF SERVICE

                    LINCOLN COLLEGE GUIDANCE TEAM

INTRODUCTION

The Guidance Team is part of the College’s Student Services Department and
provides Careers information, advice and guidance and Welfare information
and advice at Lincoln, Newark and Gainsborough Colleges. At Lincoln
Careers Guidance for students with learning disabilities or difficulties is
provided by Lincolnshire Connexions service. At Newark Careers Guidance is
also available to students aged under 20 through Nottinghamshire
Connexions Service. The Team is also responsible for administering the Adult
Learning Grant and Education Maintenance Allowance schemes within the
College. In the context of this document any reference made to Lincoln
College also includes Newark College and Gainsborough College.

PURPOSE OF OUR SERVICE

The purpose of our service is to provide an impartial and effective Careers
information, advice and guidance service and Welfare information and advice
service to current and potential learners which will help them to make well
informed, realistic decisions.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

We are committed to providing and developing a welcoming, impartial and
effective Careers information, advice and guidance service and Welfare
information and advice service to current and potential learners.
.
PRIORITY CLIENTS

Priority for our service will be given to the following clients:-

   1) Current Lincoln, Newark and Gainsborough College                     students,
      regardless of age, length of course and hours studied
   2) Adults, aged 20 and over.

Other clients will also be seen where time permits and it is not at the detriment
of the groups of clients identified above. This is to ensure that resources,
particularly in terms of staff time and budgets, can be used efficiently and
effectively for the benefit of our priority client groups. Particular priority will be
given to those clients where urgent assistance is required in order for them to
successfully complete the requirements of their Personal Profile/Action Plan.

WHAT WE OFFER

The Guidance Team provides impartial, information, advice and guidance on
academic and occupational opportunities. We can assist you with all aspects
of career planning. Through our Welfare service we provide information,


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advice, support and financial assistance to help learners and clients access,
sustain and complete their chosen course of study. Through our Adult
Learning Grant and Education Maintenance Allowance Team we administer
all aspects related to payment decisions for students participating on either of
these two schemes.
Information is provided in various media including publications, DVDs, audio,
software packages, the Internet, and is also made available, on request, in
large print and Braille. You are free to make use of our service on as many
occasions as you feel necessary.


ACCESS TO OUR SERVICE

You can access our service in person, by telephone, by email or, if you are a
current College student, by Moodle/Stoodle. See below for details of how to
contact us. We work closely with our colleagues in the College’s Learning
Support Team to ensure access is available to you if you have a learning
difficulty or disability. We have designated parking areas at all our centres
should you have mobility difficulties.

CONTACT DETAILS

Lincoln College, Student Services, Monks Building, Monks Road,
Lincoln, LN2 5HQ. Tel (01522) 876220 Fax (01522) 876223
Reception Opening Hours Term-Time
Monday to Thursday 8.00am to 6.30pm
Friday 8.00am to 4.30pm
Reception Opening Hours Out of Term
Monday to Thursday 8.00am to 5.00pm
Friday 8.00am to 4.30pm

Email guidanceteam@lincolncollege.ac.uk
Closure Days PM Friday 24th December 2008 to Friday 2nd January 2009
inclusive
Friday 10th April, 2009 to Tuesday 14th April, 2009 inclusive
Monday 4th May 2009
Monday 25th May 2009, Tuesday 26th May 2009
Monday 31st August 2009

Information available between:-   8.00am to 5.00 pm Monday to Thursday,
8.00am to 4.30pm Friday
Advice available between:-        9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday,
9.00am to 3.30pm Friday
Guidance available between:-       9.00am to 5.00pm Thursday and 9.00am to
3.30pm Friday. Other days and     times may be available on consultation with
the Guidance Advisers

The College is closed Saturdays and Sundays




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Newark College, Friary Road, Newark-on –Trent, Nottinghamshire, NG24
1PB. Tel (01636) 680680, Fax (01636) 680681
Reception Opening Times (Term-Time)
Monday to Thursday 8.00am to 6.30pm
Friday 8.00am to 4.30pm
Reception Opening Times (Out of Term)
Monday to Thursday 8.00am to 5.00pm
Friday 8.00am to 4.30pm

Email                As Lincoln College
Closure Days         As Lincoln College

Information available between:-    times given above
Advice available between:-         9.00am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday
Guidance available between:-       9.00am to 12.00pm Monday (all ages)
                                   9.30am to 1.00pm Friday (under 20s only)

The College is closed Saturday and Sundays

Gainsborough College, Acland Street, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire,
DN21 2SU, Tel (01427) 617471, Fax (01427) 617571
Reception Opening Hours (Term-Time)
Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 7.30pm
Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm

Reception Opening Hours (Out of Term)
Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5.00pm
Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm

Email        As Lincoln College
Closure Days As Lincoln College

Information available between times given above
Advice available between      Mon 9.30am to 3.00pm, Tues 9.30am to
3.00pm and Wed 9.00am to 2.30pm
Guidance available between    times as for advice

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM LINCOLN COLLEGE

   Staff providing advice, and guidance have, or are working towards
    appropriate qualifications (NVQ Level 3 or equivalent for staff involved in
    providing advice and NVQ Level 4 or equivalent for staff involved in
    providing guidance), and operate within the Code of Practice For
    Guidance Within Lincoln College. Staff are subject to a process of
    appraisal and performance review designed to ensure a consistently high
    standard of performance in job roles is attained and maintained. Staff
    involved in client interviews are also involved in a process of interview
    observation to ensure a consistent high standard of practice.
   The College will provide a service that complies with the requirements of
    legislation relating to people with learning difficulties and disabilities. We


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    will make every effort to ensure that we provide the support and
    assistance required for people with disabilities to access the full range of
    our services, in line with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination
    Act ad Disability Equality Scheme. The Guidance Team works closely with
    the Student Services Learning Support Team to ensure we meet this
    commitment.
   Interview offered within 10 working days of you contacting the College.
   Confidential 1:1 interview, geared to your needs.
   Use of appropriate room for interview
   Clearly written and agreed Personal Profile/Action Plan, stating action to
    be taken, by whom and by when following interview
   Up to date, relevant, impartial information, advice and guidance, which
    conforms to appropriate legislation eg) Equal Opportunities, Disability
    Discrimination, Age Discrimination Act, Sex Discrimination Act, etc
   Where a specific time period has been agreed for reviewing your Personal
    Profile/Action Plan the Adviser will comply with this.
   Information that cannot be supplied at interview will be dispatched within 5
    working days
   You will be referred to other appropriate organisations/institutions, where
    your need cannot be met by the College
   You will be treated in a courteous and respectful manner
   Your interview will commence promptly and at the agreed time
   Staff providing information, advice or guidance will work positively on your
    behalf, and will not work to their own agenda
   You will be contacted by telephone as soon as is possible to let you know
    if your interview has to be delayed or cancelled. If it is necessary to re-
    arrange your interview any new date and time agreed will be, as far as is
    possible, at your convenience
   Any complaints or grievances that you may have will be followed up in
    accordance with the College’s Complaint and Grievance Procedure
    (September 2007).
   Staff will respond to any messages left within 3 working days

WHAT LINCOLN COLLEGE EXPECTS FROM YOU

   You will let us know if you are not able to keep an appointment
   We would like you to be punctual
   We would like you to co operate and participate fully in your interview
   We would like you to provide objective feedback as requested
   We would like you to complete fully, honestly and accurately any
    paperwork requested prior to interview

HOW WE CAN ACT ON YOUR BEHALF

We Can Give You Training And Education Information And Advice
About:-

       Courses and qualifications available at Lincoln, Newark and
        Gainsborough Colleges


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       Where and when courses take place at the above Colleges
        (September starts, January starts and roll-on, roll-off)
       How much our courses cost and where and when to enrol
       Help you might be able to get with course costs
       How to get in touch with a tutor to find out more about a course
       Moving on to the next challenge
       Where to go if you need help with your Maths and English
       Eligibility for Home Student or Overseas Student status
       Software and paper-based resources available in the Learning Centre
        Career Zones at Lincoln, Newark and Gainsborough
       Local Labour Market Information
       Courses offered by other local and national learning providers (see
        www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice)

We Can Offer Impartial Career Guidance To Help You With:-

       Career planning and career decisions
       Researching career opportunities
       CV writing, UCAS applications and personal statements
       Job search and application skills

We Can Give You Student Support And Welfare Information And Advice
About:-

       Adult Learning Grant and Education Maintenance Allowance
       Financial support available for childcare, accommodation and travel
       College Learner Support Funds for Further and Higher Education
        courses
       Local Authority funding for Higher Education courses
       The College’s Learning Support, Counselling and Chaplaincy service
       Career Development Loans and local and national trusts, charities and
        grants
       Sign-posting service for other financial and benefits advice

LIMITATIONS OF SERVICE

   Information is only available in English
   If your first language is not English you can contact the Careers Advice
    Line (see www.careersadvice.direct.gov.uk/ethnichelpline, or 0800 100
    900) for careers and employment information, advice and guidance
   Service is not normally available at weekends or out of hours


HOW YOU CAN HELP US TO IMPROVE OUR SERVICE

   Complete and return promptly any formal requests for feedback eg) client
    questionnaire
   Write to us with any comments, suggestions or complaints



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   Any feedback we receive from you is used to review our service and
    improve the service we deliver to our clients

WHO CAN MAKE USE OF OUR SERVICE ?

Our service is offered to any client aged 16 and over, who wants to receive an
impartial and effective Careers information, advice and guidance service or
Welfare information and advice service. Clients may or may not be current or
prospective students of Lincoln College. This may include school leavers;
persons who are working or unemployed; persons who are unwaged, such as
returners to the labour market; asylum seekers, refugees and other overseas
nationals. We also recognise that Lincoln College staff are users of our
service. There is no specific group of persons excluded from using our service
but please be aware that we give priority to certain groups of clients as shown
on Page 1. Our service is offered irrespective of a person’s race, gender,
disability, and sexual orientation.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO USE OUR SERVICE ?

Our service is offered free to everyone, whatever your financial circumstances
and whether you are a student or not. This may not be the case with other
organisations or institutions.

REVIEW

The Statement of Service will be reviewed annually by the Guidance Team
Leader and other members of the Guidance Team to ensure its continued
accuracy.

Produced 11/12/2008




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