Careers and Employability Centre
Guidance Policy
Policy
One to one guidance interviews and e guidance conversations are offered to all University
of Sussex undergraduates, taught postgraduates, doctoral researchers, research staff and
graduates for three years after leaving. These groups of five different type of user will be
referred to as ‘clients’ in the rest of this document.
One to one guidance interviews and e-guidance conversations focus on either:


study skills (delivered by Clare Hardman)
all other careers and employability matters that cannot be covered by staff on the
Information Desk (Careers and Employability Advisers).
These are delivered in accordance with the generic Careers and Employability values of:
Impartiality: Information, advice and guidance should be impartial or declare any factors
which might limit the impartiality of the service offered to the individual;
Confidentiality: the process should be confidential and personal information should not be
passed on without the individual’s prior permission.
Client focused: the process should be focused on the needs of the individual
student/graduate whose interests are paramount.
Equality of Opportunity should underpin all aspects of provision and service providers
should demonstrate how they provide equality of opportunity. Equality of opportunity is at
the heart of what we do.
Continuous quality improvement: it is the responsibility of all staff to monitor, evaluate
and measure our service against our stated aims on a regular basis in order to identify
improvements which are proposed and implemented as appropriate. Leaders, managers
and all staff share responsibility for continuous professional development to ensure our
practice is of the highest standard.
Transparency: the process of careers education, information and guidance should be open
and transparent. Publicity and explanation of our services should be in clear and
appropriate language.
Accessibility: we work to promote and make the delivery of guidance accessible to any
eligible user including removing any physical and cultural barriers for users in the target
group.
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Careers and Employability Centre
Guidance Policy (continued)
Guidance Practice from Autumn 2013
In light of user evaluation quality feedback collected at the end of academic year 2012–13,
and the introduction of study skills tutorials in Autumn 2013 and the piloting of this new
service, the following practice is currently adopted.
Entitlement to individual discussions with an adviser must meet equality and diversity
principles and it is recognised that some students will require additional time for an
interview. However in relation to the principles of transparency we all need to make sure
that we are open and clear about the delivery of the service so that students understand
how it works on equitable principles of access. The delivery of the service is also
underpinned by efficient use of staff and resources and best use of staff time.
Entry point to the service and the booking process for 20 minute initial discussions with
advisers:
All students can access the:



booked (in advance) short interviews;
drop in interviews (drop in on the day)
study skills tutorials.
All last 20 minutes and are booked through the Information Desk or by telephone in the
Careers and Employability Centre. Clients are informed that interviews last 20 minutes.
Advisers undertake further initial assessment during this discussion and depending upon
need:
 a further appointment may be required and booked
 or the student might be encouraged to undertake some actions as part of the
outcomes of guidance and encouraged to make a further appointment when they
have undertaken these actions.
In some instances during an interview the 20 minute discussion an adviser will inform a
client that their interaction can be longer than 20 minutes. The Adviser will explain the
reason for there being more time available to meet the needs of the client.
As an example, this might happen during the summer vacation when ‘drop in’ is quiet. A
recent graduate may have presented many career issues to cover and there is no one else
waiting for an appointment. So the Adviser will explain that ‘our 20 minutes appointment is
now at an end but as no one else is waiting we can spend 10 minutes further exploring X’.
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Booking sheets: Two folders of appointment sheets are used one for Study Skills Tutorials,
the other for careers and employability interviews.
Longer consultations (from 40 minutes up to 60 minutes) are available to specific groups of
students and this may be due to initial assessment having taken place by e-guidance, by
telephone conversation or through referral and conversation with another member of
Student Services Division or Academic colleague to an Adviser.
All staff can inform students of this availability and take further details from conversations
or telephone calls at front of house for referral to an adviser.
Individual Advisers check the requirement for a long consultation in email correspondence
with the client and make these appointments directly into their own diaries. Currently,
longer consultations are offered to:

clients with equality and diversity issues [by Helen Gorman]

2013 graduates who are un/under-employed and accessing the 3 year after-care
services [by all Advisers by School of Study]

Sussex graduate clients who are travelling a distance to return to Sussex.

Part-time and full-time doctoral researchers and research staff clients [by Jane
Riley]

Other clients who present with other complex needs.
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