What i have gained and thought about the blogger site

Well when we where first told to set up a blog, i didnt quite use it too its full potenital. I feel the blogger should perhaps have had more emphasis on what it is for and how you ( Dr Maximus) go about marking it.

I have enjoyed the experience of using Blogger to communicate with my fellow classmates and input my thoughts on the world of guidance. So although i had a slow start i soon picked it up : )

Also i should add my thoughts on the course and how i have found it over the past 9 months. I have throughly enjoyed the course, but i won't lie, it has been difficult. The course has been exactly what i thought it would be and at times it has been a case of ' information overload' but i can understand that being the nautre and topic of the course.

I felt the first trimester could have had some theories introduced to us, as i was a rabbit caught in headlights on my first couple of placements as i didnt have a clue what they where talking about. I think the advisors thought i hadn't been paying any attention in class. It just would have been useful thats all.

Second trimester i feel it has all come together and i have a better understanding of theories etc. Although i have found myself alittle confused at times as to what theory is what, and which one is best to use etc. But again when i go out into the world of guidance i am sure i will find my 'comfort zone'. I am a tad nervous about heading in to the world of guidance, it seems quite easy...well not easy but understandable and straight forward in classes or placement but in the real world you are dealing with real people and real situations. But i am sure i will manage.

With all that i have learnt i will take with me and hopefully be successful in the world of guidacne.

My Ideal Career Provision...Hhmmm

We have been asked to think about our ideal career provison.....not as easy as it sounds.

Okay here it goes: My ideal career setting would be located central to Edinburgh, cater to all ages and backgrounds.
I feel the set up should be straight forward and advisors deal with guidacne and career related issues. I would have other points of contact under the one roof that deal with other issues like, drug and alcohol problems, housing, disabilities etc.

I would like the main reception to have a 'diagnosing' point where you are then directed to the correct persons who deal with that area or specific problem. I know some people dont agree with the term 'diagnosing' but i feel if the client can be seen by the appropriate person at the start then it makes them feel much more comfortable with the whole process.

Some clients are passed from pillar to post because the advisor cant or doesn't have the skills or knowledge to deal with client. I turn the client can be left to feel more vunreable and perhaps not come back. I want to client to feel they have come to an environment where their needs priority.

I feel there should be a model within the insitute but just a guidline and that your own personal techniques should be present. You conduct the interview as you see fit and use whatever means of guidacne you feel is necessary for that client.

Communities within the Craig Miller area

While on placement at Work Track in Craig Miller it was interesting to see how communities work. Craig Miller has always been a community in itself, hidden behind the beautiful Arthur Seat lays a community full of issues and barriers.

I have only ever driven through Craig Miller and never actually walked the streets and felt the atmosphere and aknowledge the goings on that happen on a daily basis. In a way i did feel quite rude as i always felt it was a place of poverty and hardship.

The Craig Miller area has gone through some drastic changes over the years to try and get rid of the stigma that is attached to the area. They have knocked down housing estates and re build new ones to bring back some life and confidence to the people of Niddry. In doing so the community now houses both private and council property's.

But when i had to undertake a door to door survey and ask residents how they felt about their area, alot of it was negative based and that even though there has been a huge re furb in the area there is still a huge gap between individuals.

The old residents of Niddry are still very much present even though alot of them where re- located else where due to the re development. New members of the community or ones that have made a go of it there are troubled by the rif raf who have basically given Craig Miller the stigma.

It is such a shame that so much hard work and money has been spent to try and give people a chance and support them, for it then to be thrown back in our faces. Community within this area i feel is lacking big time and even with the support of worktrack, adult learning link, the thistle and space arts, its not appreciated enough.

In this case there is a community within Niddry but the wrong type of community,i.e drug gangs, vandels and crime. I feel this is always going to be around and it will be difficult for those not involved to try and build community out with this. So sad!