The field of career development has been focused on one-to-one practice but recent years have seen a growth in the need for alternative approaches that are more effective at challenging inequality. Collective group-based models have been identified as addressing this need but little attention has been paid to developing group coaching in the literature. The collective career coaching approach, which is underpinned by a critical pedagogical theoretical base, is introduced in this article and it is proposed that this model is able to contribute toward steering the focus of career guidance practice toward the advancement of social justice.

This article calls for delivery models which encourage the collective career learning of groups to be brought to the centre stage of career guidance practice. It challenges the long term focus of the sector on the one-to-one guidance interview and considers why group work is seen as a support activity for the majority of practitioners. The group integrative narrative approach (GINA) which was developed by the author will be introduced as a model of small group work and its potential to act as a vehicle to steer group career learning will be discussed.

No abstract

This article explores how individual and group work models of career development practice could be adapted and redesigned to be more effective at empowering people to overcome barriers and inequalities. It is set in the context of the ongoing major review of career services in Scotland and examines the possible benefits and challenges if such emancipatory practices are embedded into future service delivery.