The wrong person for the job? Professional habitus and working cultures in Connexions

Abstract

A paradigmatic shift has taken place in the underlying principles that have, in the past, informed the provision of careers education and guidance (CEG) in the UK. The root cause has been a policy transition to a new service model that emphasizes the importance of CEG as part of New Labour’s social inclusion agenda. This article reflects on this policy transition and, using the Connexions service as a case study, explores some aspects of its effects on professional identities of Connexions personal advisers (PAs) through a Bourdieusian framework. The article argues that a new, externally imposed context and service discourse can affect the various ‘communities of practice’ that operate under the Connexions service. The article also questions policy attempts to create generic forms of professionals for the delivery of future welfare services.