Information, Advice and Guidance Policy
Altamira Training Academy (ATA) IAG services support the academy values in that its staff members are passionate about education & enabling our learners to reach their potential. Our IAG staff members seek to develop the self-esteem and self-confidence of learners. We share with the rest of the academy our belief that every individual should be treated with courtesy and fairness and we respect the rights and beliefs of each other, regardless of gender, marital status, age, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or position within the Academy.
We value new ideas and approaches and seek new opportunities and solutions to meeting the IAG needs and demands of our learners, employers, and the local community whilst supporting national and regional education and economic strategies. We believe that our staff and students should work in an environment of friendliness, with a clear sense of purpose to achieve our mission and realize our vision.
All clients that use the IAG at the ATA, i.e. students, prospective students, and other stakeholders, are entitled to a service that is:
Accessible and Visible
Access to IAG is free from direct or indirect discrimination. Services would be recognized and trusted by clients, have a convenient range of entry points from which clients may be signposted or referred to the services they need and be open at times and in places which suit clients’ needs.
Professional and Knowledgeable
IAG frontline staff would have the skills and knowledge to identify the client’s needs quickly and effectively. We have the skills and knowledge either to address the client’s needs or to signpost or to refer them to suitable alternative provision. The learning and development needs of each of our IAG services is identified during the business planning and staff appraisal processes, alongside national priorities. The identified needs include professional and subject updating via long and short external courses and conferences, leadership and management, employability skills and other developmental activities.
Impartial
Clients have the right to information, advice, and guidance that is impartial, unbiased and realistic. Where appropriate, referrals will be made to external agencies.
Integrated
Links between IAG services would be clear from the clients’ perspective, regardless of the programme or location of their study. Where necessary, clients will be supported in their transition between services.
Aware of, and responsive to Diversity
The range of IAG services would reflect the diversity of clients’ needs and reflect both clients’ present and future needs.
Enabling
Enquirers, students, parents, employers, staff and partners should be able to make informed choices about the ways in which we can meet their individual training and development needs. IAG services would encourage and support clients to become lifelong learners by enabling them to access and use the information to plan their careers, supporting clients to explore the implications of both learnings and work in their future career plans.
Patient, Friendly and Welcoming
IAG services would encourage clients to engage successfully with the service. Clients are made aware of this entitlement through our website, prospectus and the free leaflet.
IAG Delivery
This policy applies to all enquiring, enrolled and our potential learners. For the purposes of this policy the term Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) is used as an umbrella term to denote a range of guidance activities and processes. The following definitions have been used:
Information
Information is data on opportunities conveyed through different media, both mediated and unmediated including face-to-face contact, written/printed matter, telephone helplines, ICT software, and websites.
Advice
This involves:
- helping a student understand and interpret information
- providing information and answers to questions and clarifying
- misunderstandings
- understanding their circumstances, abilities, and targets
- advising on options or how to follow a given course of action
- Identifying needs- signposting and referring students who may need more in-depth guidance and support.
Advisory work is usually provided on a one-to-one basis but may also be in groups.
Guidance
Aims to support students to:
- Better understand themselves and their needs
- Confront barriers to understanding, learning, and progression
- Resolve issues and conflicts
- Develop new perspectives and solutions to problems
- Be able to better manage their lives and achieve their potential.
Guidance may also involve advocacy on behalf of some students and referral for specialist guidance and support. This involves more in-depth one-to-one work by guidance trained staff.
Our tutorial curriculum includes several elements that relate to IAG including, soft skills development relating to work-readiness, C.V. writing, preparation for interviews and safeguarding. We will provide assistance relating to:
- The range of support available at the ATA
- Fees and other financial charges associated with a course of study
- Financial assistance available to support those in education and training
- Course entry criteria, qualifications, accreditation and modes of study
- Equipment, clothing, and materials which the student must provide
- Impartial careers advice and guidance
- Personal goals, aspirations, and motivation while on course
- Guidance to its current learners to discuss the progression
Key Personnel
The CEO is the lead for IAG in our academy. Key managers of the processes are the:
- Director of Studies
- Student Welfare Officer
We work collaboratively with a range of partner organizations. We are committed to developing quality IAG provision in the agreement with its partners, to ensure that the best range of progression opportunities are available and that consistency of delivery ensures all students receive impartial, high-quality IAG.
Information
On courses is provided by IAG staff, curriculum, ATA Information Services, and Admissions and Enrolment. Where we do not have the information, the IAG staff will seek the information on behalf of the individual, or provide the individual with the name and contact details of the organization, who will have the information being requested.
Advice
Provided is impartial and confidential, to enable students and potential students to make informed choices as to the most appropriate route for their personal and career development.
Guidance
Is provided by fully trained competent staff and potential and current students can see an advisor face-to-face, telephone or written format. We promote and support equality of opportunity and wherever possible we will seek to provide information in a format which suits the needs of the individual.
Assessment Review and Evaluation
To ensure a high quality of IAG service, we will evaluate its provision to ensure that:
- The information, advice, and guidance services are delivered in accordance with our own leaflet.
- The IAG standards are delivered in accordance with the Quality Standards
- The information, advice and guidance services would be delivered in accordance with the “Principles for Coherent Information Advice and Guidance” as contained within the Matrix Quality Standard.
We seek to have the MATRIX standard kite mark for IAG. This information feeds into the ATA self-assessment process at the end of the academic year and it is available in the Self-Assessment Report.