Encounters in the new welfare domains of the third way: Social work, the connexions agency and personal advisers

In England, the Connexions service is to provide a universal service which is to inform, advise and guide young people aged 13-19 years old. The role of the agency and the personal advisers 'at the heart' of the scheme is also likely to have a major impact on other professionals working with children and families, such as social workers. A number of initiatives introduced by New Labour have already resulted in the marginalization of social work. Personal advisers and other 'new emergent professionals', such as mentors, also provide evidence of cultural transformations that are being promoted in terms of how best to properly engage with children and families. It is critically important to respond to the range of discourses that are identifiable in the Connexions strategy. These are centred on: youth transitions; social exclusion and disaffection; risk and the surveillance of young people. In the latter context, particular concerns relate to a database or 'register' of all those aged 13-19 and a Connexions Card which tracks 'progress' in education and the 'world of work', and which provides 'rewards' for compliance.