This is the contribution of ESTYN, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales, to a review of careers services undertaken in the context of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Action Plan “Skills that Work for Wales”. The review was to determine how Careers Wales was in a position to respond to dynamic factors arising from policy developments, demographic changes, and economic conditions.

ESTYN analysed its inspection and thematic surveys across the 6 career companies that comprise Careers Wales, addressing issues of standards, the quality of education and training, and leadership and management. The inspections involved direct observation of the work of guidance practitioners, interaction with the clients, and discussions with staff and management.

This is an interesting example of how

• an inspectorate undertakes an assessment of a career guidance service
• an inspectorate can operate in a network model of guidance delivery so as to improve performance across the network of partners  (six different career companies were involved)
• the practice of group and individual guidance can be assessed through observation.

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