staff may feel, or be made to feel, unable to devote the necessary time to young people
whose problems are likely to be the most time-consuming (p358). The refocusing agenda
has, of course, now ensured that this is less likely to occur.
In an assessment of the impact of the Connexions Service on careers guidance, Roberts
(2000) concluded that it will be at the heart of the new service. The new policy priorities em-
bodied in the Connexions Service demand a particular combination of knowledge and skills
which careers services can supply. He observes that:
‘Many careers officers have long aspired to broaden out into life counselling. They will
now have that chance. The attractions of careers in careers guidance will receive a
boost’ (p27).
References
Bynner, J. & Roberts, K. (1991) (eds) Youth and Work: Transition to employment in England
and Germany, London: Anglo-German Foundation.
Daws, P.P. (1981) The socialisation/opportunity-structure theory of the occupational location
of school leavers: A critical appraisal, in Watts, A.G., Super, D.E. & Kidd, J.M. (Eds) Career
Development in Britain: Some contributions to theory and practice, Cambridge, England:
CRAC/Hobsons Press, p246-278.
Daws, P. (1992) Are Careers Education Programmes in Seconday Schools a Waste of
Time? - A Reply to Roberts: Postcript in Dryden, W. & Watts, A.G (eds) Guidance and Coun-
selling in Britain: a 20 year perspective, Cambridge: Hobsons Publishing, p208-210.
Roberts, K. (1968) `The entry into employment: an approach towards a general theory’,
Sociological Review, 16, p165-84.
Roberts, K. (1977) `The social conditions, consequences and limitations of career guid-
ance’, British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 5, p1-9.
Roberts,K. (1984) School Leavers and their Prospects, Buckingham: OU Press.
Roberts, K. (1993) `Career Trajectories and the mirage of increased social mobility’, in
Bates, I. and Riseboroug (eds.), Youth and Inequality, Buckingham: OU Press.
Roberts, K. (1995) Youth Employment in Modern Britain, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Roberts, K. (1997) `Prolonged Transitions to Uncertain Destinations: the implications for
careers guidance’, in British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 25, 3, p345-360
Roberts, K. (2000) Cause for optimism: Current reforms can work, in Careers Guidance
Today, 8, 5, p25-27.