To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail his Department’s careers policy for older people.

My Department's Careers Service offers impartial and personalised advice and guidance on an all-age basis, provided by professionally qualified advisers. The aim is to ensure that all individuals, regardless of age or ability, have access to independent, high quality advice which helps them to maximise their potential and contribute to their community and the local economy.

The refreshed careers strategy Preparing for Success 2015-2020, which I launched recently with the Education Minister, sets out the vision and aims for the careers system for the coming years including the aspiration that all individuals are encouraged to develop the skills and qualifications most valued by employers.

Careers Advisers can help individuals to explore their personal strengths, skills and abilities and explore opportunities for re-skilling and up-skilling, informed by the anticipated needs of the labour market. Help is also available for those facing redundancy or unemployment, and individuals hoping to return to the labour market.

In 2014/2015 the Careers Service delivered 16,608 careers guidance interviews with adults and has recently developed a multi-channel delivery approach which includes webchat and telephony as well as face-to-face services. This ensures that individuals are able to access careers support at a time, and in a way, that best suits their needs.

Careers Advisers are located in Careers Resource Centres, Jobcentres and Jobs and Benefits Offices across Northern Ireland and details are on the NIDirect website.

The careers strategy Preparing for Success 2015-2010 can be found at;

https://www.delni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/del/Careers%20Strategy%20%28web%29.pdf.