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Connexions

The Connexions service was established in 2001 with the aim of providing a comprehensive service to meet young people's needs for information, advice and support.

Through multi-agency working, Connexions provides high quality, impartial, information, advice and guidance (including careers advice & guidance), together with access to personal development opportunities to help remove barriers to learning and progression and ensure young people make a smooth transition to adulthood and working life. As part of the service, a dedicated website, Connexions Direct, is available for young people aged 13 to 19.

Target groups

Connexions is designed to help all young people aged 13 to 19 regardless of need, and those aged up to 24 with a learning difficulty or disability. However, there is a particular focus on those at risk of not being in education, employment or training (NEET), or of being socially excluded.

Delivery

The Connexions service has recently been through a process of transition. Following the publication of Every child matters: next steps, children's trusts were set up in each local authority area. From 1 April 2008 the funding that went directly to 47 Connexions Partnerships now goes directly to all 150 local authorities (LAs), via the new Area Based Grant, with LAs now responsible for delivery.

Service Specifications for Local Authorities from 1 April 2008

The Education and Skills Bill, currently before Parliament, proposes that legal responsibilities be brought into line by transferring to local authorities the statutory responsibility for the delivery of Connexions services.

Until the provisions in the Bill achieve law, the DCSF has made interim arrangements with local authorities for the provision of Connexions services, the conducting of assessments relating to learning difficulties, and the provision of careers services. Letters from the Secretary of State dated 25 March 2008 to lead members and to directors of children's services (DCSs) detail these arrangements.

The letter to DCSs included the Connexions Service Specifications for Local Authorities from 1 April 2008 as an annex. These specifications set out the most important features of the Connexions service which LAs are required to adhere to in the way that they provide for Connexions services.  In addition, the letter to lead members set out in wider terms the Department's expectation of every LA, and acts as a reminder of the Department's ambitions set out in the Children's Plan.

Delivery support and guidance

To ensure the requirements are clearly communicated, and that the appropriate support resources are readily available, the following pages have been created to reflect the policy areas and guidance which local authorities are required to have regard to. Full details of the current service specification are included, where appropriate.

Select the link to view the page and access further information, including links to other relevant sections of this website:

In addition, a range of good practice guidance, case studies and reports are available on the Core information page, with budgetary information detailed on the Funding page.

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This page was last updated on 04 September 2008

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