Build careers teams

Three possible careers teams exist in a school, each with different roles and responsibilities:

•  the lead team
•  the department team
•  the delivery team.

All schools should have a lead team and a delivery team, but they may not have a separate department team. If there is no department team, their responsibilities will rest with the lead team.

Careers lead team

A careers lead team is responsible for:

• leadership
• accountability 
• policy 
• planning and review 
• capacity and capability.

A careers lead team includes :

• the career development specialist
• senior management representative
• department /team leaders or representatives
  expert staff.

Careers department team

A careers department team is responsible for:

• programme design
• management and records
• professional support
• resources
• building community links and partnerships.

A careers department could include staff with formal responsibilities, such as:

• career development specialist/leader
• STAR and Gateway co-ordinators
• deans
• careers administration/support staff.

Careers delivery team

A careers delivery team is responsible for:

• teaching and learning
• access to information
• advice and guidance
• engaging family and whānau.

A careers delivery team includes all school staff who play a part in delivering defined, planned programmes of career education. The size and structure of a careers delivery team will differ between schools, and team members' tasks will vary.

Building a delivery team involves engaging the most appropriate teaching staff at the most appropriate moments during the career-related events in students' lives. The delivery team must be given sustained professional development and support, and quality information systems that are easily accessible.

To be effective, a careers lead team needs:

• a shared understanding of its roles and responsibilities
• a focus on whole-school communication and relationship management
• an evidence-driven, planned approach
• authority and delegations to manage change
• reliable access to all relevant information
• time and resources (including budget), as well as secretarial and administration systems
• reporting lines, times and deadlines.

Skills required in an effective careers lead team

 A careers lead team needs to draw on these skills to function well:

• strategic thinking and vision – developing the big picture
• engagement and relationship management – getting others on board
• planning and doing – getting things happening
• careers expertise – knowing what works
• systems and data management – keeping and maintaining records
• team leadership and facilitation – managing growth and change.

Try some of these tips for building your careers team:

• Keep your core team small.
• Ensure team members are enthusiastic about career education – they will be your champions.
• Ensure your team leader has sound leadership skills.
• Ensure everyone in the team has a sound understanding of career education – make this the first action to work on.
• Consider temporary team membership – harness staff strengths by seconding staff to do specific tasks at particular times.