§ Baroness Blatchasked Her Majesty's Government:
What right a parent has to know that a son or daughter is assigned a mentor under the Connexions system. [HL1666]
§ Baroness Ashton of UphollandConnexions partnerships will generally advertise the existence of the Connexions service within their locality. In addition, through the partnership agreement, partnerships will work with schools, colleges and other appropriate institutions to make the availability of the Connexions service known to parents and their sons and daughters; letting them know that it is available to young people both within their school or institution and via Connexions one stop shops in the high street. Connexions personal advisers also strongly encourage young people to discuss any Connexions support with their parents but respect the right of the young person not to do so.
Partnerships are not obliged to notify parents that their child is actively involved with Connexions—either in one-to-one sessions with a personal adviser or through more general group sessions. The exception to this may be if the personal adviser is working with a young person in a school where it has been agreed that the school's confidentiality policy is followed, which may give the parents the right to know this information.
All information sharing policies drawn up by Connexions partnerhips must be in accordance with the Data Protection Act and other relevant legislation.
§ Baroness Blatchasked Her Majesty's Government:
What qualifications are required for the post of mentor under the Connexions system. [HL1667]
§ Baroness Ashton of UphollandConnexions personal advisers are drawn from a range of professional backgrounds. To be fully qualified they must possess an NVQ level 4 or equivalent in a relevant professional discipline (eg careers youth work, social work) and have attended a bespoke training programme, either Understanding Connexions or the Diploma for 29WA Connexions Personal Advisers. Training is delivered by higher education institutions approved by the Connexions service national unit.
§ Baroness Blatchasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many mentors under t he Connexions system are in post; and how many oft hem have been subject to a Criminal Records Bureau check. [HL1668]
§ Baroness Ashton of UphollandThe latest management information collected from partnerships shows that at the end of December 2002 there were just over 6,000 Connexions personal advisers in post.
Before being allowed any direct contact with young people, all personal advisers must, as a minimum, have been List 99 cleared (a DfES maintained list of people whose employment working with young people has been barred or restricted by the Secretary of State).
Partnerships must also carry out Criminal Records Bureau checks on personal advisers. However, List 99 provides robust clearance on child protection issues while the CRB check is undertaken.
The financial memorandum of Connexions partnerships requires Connexions partnerships to take all reasonable precautions to avoid employing any person convicted of a criminal offence involving an offence against the person, or an offence involving sexual behaviour, except with the prior written consent of the Secretary of State. Where the CRB check reveals other such criminal convictions, it is up to the partnership to decide if it wishes to obtain this consent.