Belong Nottingham

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Belong's Policies

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Code of Ethics for providing Information, Advice and Guidance

Belong are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct in all aspects of our Information, Advice, and Guidance (IAG) services. Our Code of Ethics serves as a guiding framework for our staff, trustees, and volunteers to ensure that we provide impartial, confidential, and respectful support to all individuals seeking our assistance.

Integrity and Honesty

  • We act with honesty, transparency, and integrity in all interactions with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders.
  • We provide accurate and unbiased information, advice, and guidance, ensuring that our recommendations are based on factual evidence and best practices.


Confidentiality and Privacy:

  • We respect the confidentiality and privacy of individuals seeking our support, adhering to strict confidentiality protocols and data protection regulations.
  • We only disclose confidential information with the consent of the individual or as required by law.


Impartiality and Objectivity:

  • We remain impartial and objective in our delivery of information, advice, and guidance, regardless of personal biases, preferences, or affiliations.
  • We provide unbiased support to individuals, helping them explore all available options and make informed decisions that align with their interests and goals.


Respect and Empathy:

  • We treat all individuals with dignity, respect, and empathy, acknowledging their unique experiences, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
  • We listen attentively to the concerns and needs of clients, validating their experiences and providing non-judgmental support.


Professionalism and Competence:

  • We maintain high standards of professionalism and competence in our roles as IAG advisors, continuously updating our knowledge and skills to provide effective support.
  • We adhere to relevant professional standards, guidelines, and codes of practice governing the provision of IAG services.

 
Client-Centred Approach:

  • We adopt a client-centred approach in our interactions with individuals, prioritising their well-being, autonomy, and self-determination.
  • We tailor our support to meet the unique needs, preferences, and aspirations of each client, empowering them to make informed choices and take ownership of their decisions.


Continuity of Support:

  • We provide ongoing support and follow-up to individuals throughout their learning, employment, and welfare journeys, ensuring continuity of care and assistance.
  • We collaborate with other service providers and agencies to facilitate seamless transitions and holistic support for our clients.


Accountability and Feedback:

  • We take responsibility for our actions and decisions, acknowledging and learning from any mistakes or shortcomings.
  • We welcome feedback from clients, colleagues, and stakeholders as an opportunity for continuous improvement and enhancement of our services.


By adhering to this Code of Ethics, we uphold the values of professionalism, integrity, and respect in our provision of Information, Advice, and Guidance services, thereby empowering individuals to achieve their full potential.

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Information Advice and Guidance Policy

Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to you if you are an enquirer, prospective or current learner or client of Belong.

Purpose

The IAG Service is to support you in achieving your aspirations including your study and career goals, whether you are considering support from Belong, or are already a learner/client.

Information: is a range of resource material, printed and online that is presented in a way that encourages self-assessment and independent decision making. Information is also provided by staff who will direct enquirers and learners/clients to relevant resources. Staff will use a variety of questioning techniques to gain an understanding of requirements and circumstances whilst identifying any underlying needs or potential barriers. Enquirers and learners/clients will also be signposted to more specialist support where needed.

Advice: is the process of supporting enquirers and learners/clients to reach informed decisions by making suggestions relevant to their options. Staff will use a variety of questioning techniques to clarify further and identify specific needs and help enquirers and learners/clients to interpret more complex information.

Guidance: is the process of helping enquirers and learners/clients with more complex needs to explore issues that may present a barrier to understanding, learning and progression. Staff will encourage enquirers and learners/clients to assess appropriate options, make decisions that are in their best interests and develop new perspectives and solution to problems. Guidance is likely to involve challenging unrealistic expectations, support enquiries and learners/clients to take ownership of their plans, planning realistic targets and taking steps to achieve their potential.

Prospective and current users of Belong services come from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. The IAG Service supports you in making decisions based upon your individual needs, circumstances and interests. We place an emphasis on helping you to make informed decisions by providing impartial information and advice that is easy to access, clear, relevant and up to date.

Review arrangements

Belong will this every three years to ensure it remains appropriate and relevant IAG service deliver, quality assurance processes, user feedback and alignment with key Belong regularity policies.

Location of the Policy

This policy is available for all staff members, third parties, learners and clients to access.

Communication of the Policy

Every staff member involved in the management, delivery, assessment of qualifications and delivery of services offered by Belong, shall be made aware of this policy during their induction period of employment. Learners and clients shall be informed of this policy during their initial engagement with Belong.

Aims, Objectives and our Commitments

We aim to provide an IAG Service which:

  • Respects the needs of the individual enquirer or learner/client.
  • As a service, our Information, is targeted to the specific needs of enquirers and learners/clients.


We aim to provide you with an impartial IAG Service which respects your individual needs and supports informed course choice and decision making.

We are committed to developing the IAG Service through compliance with the external Quality Standard Matrix, and via continuous quality improvement, including monitoring, staff training and development.

We will:

  • Consider any concerns you may identify in relation to the IAG Service.
  • Record any necessary communication with you regarding prospective/current support/learning.


With regard to Data Protection:

  • Information will be held in accordance with Belong Privacy Notice.
  • When you contact Belong, we will ask you to confirm some personal data before discussing your record.


The objectives of the IAG Service are to ensure that:

  • you are empowered to achieve your goals and to develop independence in your decision-making.
  • The IAG Service can support you if you have additional needs to help enable you to overcome potential barriers.
  • The IAG Service supports learners/clients success, progression and retention.
  • The delivery of Information, Advice and Guidance is responsive to changes and developments within Belong and the external environment.


We will achieve these objectives by:

  • raising awareness of the IAG Service so that you know what you can expect and how to access it.
  • providing you with timely and targeted information, advice and guidance at key points in during your time with Belong.
  • ensuring, as far as possible, that all information and advice is current, personalised, accessible, accurate and takes account of individual needs.
  • providing opportunities for you to access information, advice and guidance through a variety of channels, including online, email and telephone.
  • offering a range of opportunities to give feedback regularly on our IAG Service, and encouraging, and acting, on learner/clients and staff feedback.
  • ensuring members of staff have opportunities for training, skills and knowledge development appropriate to their roles.
  • monitoring and maintaining the IAG Service regarding the key skill sets required for an effective and responsive service.
  • seeking to ensure the IAG Service explores and adopts innovative and digital technology as appropriate and relevant in line with Belongs strategic plans.
  • identifying key internal and external points of contact, such as staff in different venues, or external agencies, to inform and support the provision of Information, Advice and Guidance.

 

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Information Advice and Guidance Offer for Adults

Introduction

At Belong Nottingham, we are committed to supporting adults in their journey towards learning, employment, and welfare independence. Our Information, Advice, and Guidance (IAG) service offers comprehensive support to empower adults with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to achieve their goals and improve their lives.

Services Offered

  • Learning Support


Initial Assessments:

  • We conduct initial assessments to understand each learner’s goals, interests, skills, and prior learning experiences.
  • Assessments help us tailor our support and recommendations to meet the individual needs of adult learners.


Course Information and Advice:

  • We provide information and advice on a wide range of courses and learning opportunities available with Belong and partner organisations.
  • Our knowledgeable staff members offer guidance on course content, entry requirements, accreditation, and progression pathways.


Career Guidance and Development:

  • We offer career guidance and development support to help adult explore potential career paths, identify skills gaps, set career goals, and develop action plans for career advancement.
  • Our IAG advisors provide information on job market trends, employment opportunities, and skills development initiatives.


Learning Support Services:

  • We offer learning support services to adult learners who may require additional assistance and help them to understand themselves and their studies to help achieve their full potential.
  • Our learning support staff provide personalised assistance and resources to help learners overcome barriers to learning and succeed in their studies.


Employment Assistance:

  • We offer practical support to help adults improve their employability skills, prepare for job interviews, and search for employment opportunities.
  • Our employment advisors provide assistance with job searching, CV writing, job applications, interview techniques, and networking strategies to enhance job prospects.


Welfare Benefits Advice:

  • We provide information and advice on welfare benefits entitlements, eligibility criteria, and application processes to support adults in accessing financial assistance.
  • Our welfare advisors offer guidance on benefits such as Universal Credit, housing benefits, disability benefits, and income support to alleviate financial hardship.


Financial Capability Workshops:

  • We organise workshops and seminars on financial capability topics, including budgeting, debt management, saving strategies, and financial planning.
  • Our workshops aim to improve adults financial literacy and empower them to make informed decisions about their finances.


Digital Skills Training

  • We offer digital skills training to help adults improve their computer literacy, internet navigation, and digital communication skills.
  • Our training programmes cover essential digital skills such as using email, browsing the internet, using different types of software, and staying safe online.


How to Access Our Services:

Adults can access our Information, Advice, and Guidance services by scheduling an appointment with one of our advisors.

Appointments can be made in person, over the phone, or via email, depending on the individual’s preference and convenience.

Our services are free of charge and available to all adults seeking support with learning, employment, and welfare.


Contact Information:

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact us at:

Phone: 0115 9790015

Email: inquiries@belongnottingham.co.uk

Website: https://belongnottingham.co.uk


At Belong Nottingham, we are dedicated to empowering adults to overcome barriers, achieve their aspirations, and lead fulfilling lives. Contact us today to access our comprehensive Information, Advice, and Guidance support services.Top of Form

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