Welcome to issue 31 of the Workforce Unit's e-bulletin.
Our bulletins will keep you up to date with the latest voluntary sector social services workforce development issues. If you have a workforce development event or initiative you would like to publicise please let us know and we will include it in future editions. If you have problems viewing the e-bulletin, please go to our website.
Lisa Pattoni
Information and Communications Officer
lisa.pattoni@ccpscotland.org
Content
The Workforce Unit needs your views!
We are conducting a review of our information products and services. We want to ensure that these are relevant, accessible and best suit your needs. Your answers will really help us to better plan our future support to the sector.
There are only 23 questions in total, and the survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. Many thanks to those of you who have already completed the survey. If you have not yet completed it, please do take the time to participate - we really value your opinion. You can find the survey here.
Many thanks.
Wednesday 26th August - Aberdeen Foyer, Aberdeen
Thursday 27th August - Jubilee House, Stirling
Funding
The Network meeting will focus on the new Voluntary Sector Development Fund (VSDF) application form, and will also investigate Modern Apprenticeships in the light of the increased opportunites being made available for the sector. You can find out more information about both of these topics on the Workforce Unit Website.
Consultation
The Scottish Government is currently consulting on 'The Role of the Registered Social Worker in Contributing to Better Outcomes for Scotland', which is an issue that will affect voluntary sector social service providers. The Workforce Unit is preparing a response to this consultation, and would like to hear your views.
Swine Flu - the latest information ***New Topic just added
Network members will find out up to date developments regarding the proposed H1N1 ('Swine Flu") Vaccination of the social care workforce. In the meantime information will be updated on the Workforce Unit website.
Get the full programme for the network meetings. To book your place in Stirling or Aberdeen, email Laura Weir at vswu.admin@ccpscotland.org or telephone 01786 849 752.
The Workforce Unit has produced a guide to map out the key organisations operating in the social services field in Scotland. It provides an indication of the range of intermediary and umbrella organisations with which voluntary sector providers of social care may need to link and engage. It also describes each organisation and hosts a number of links for further information.
Read or download a copy of Mapping the Social Services Workforce Organisational Landscape now.
The Workforce Unit's Workforce Planning Toolkit is a handy resource intended as introduction to the key stages involved in workforce planning. The tools included will help you build up the information required to develop your own workforce plan.
The Toolkit now includes updated to include up to date information on required registration, the Continuous Learning Framework and also, all the links and references have been refreshed. You can read or download a copy of the updated Workforce Planning Toolkit here.
'What Do We Know about the Voluntary Sector Social Services Workorce?' is a new report; written by Judith Midgley and Caroline Sturgeon, Workforce Unit and Janet Miller, Workforce Matters, that brings together current knowledge about the sector and highlights implications for future workforce planning and development.
The report maintains that whilst making a very significant contribution to service provision, there is still a huge shortfall in the level of skill in the workforce and a very uncertain funding situation for the future. Areas that need particular attention include:
The Joint Improvement Team and Scottish Government’s Procurement Directorate are jointly leading the preparation of guidance and good practice materials on social care procurement. A ‘Good Practice in Social Care Procurement Reference Group’ has been established and the Workforce Unit Director, Judith Midgley, is represented on this group.
This Group will inform the development of the Guidance and will ensure all perspectives on issues with the procurement system will be taken into account. The next meeting will be in September 2009. You can read a copy of the most recent newsletter from the Social Care Procurement Reference Group here.
We will keep you up to date with the latest developments as and when they arise.
Awareness, Recognition and Reporting - ½ Day Training (various dates)
Recognition & Response - Full Day Training (various dates)
The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007, was implemented to help identify "adults at risk", to provide support to them when they need it, and to provide the means to protect them from harm. There are a number of places available for managers and senior staff in voluntary sector organisations working in the Forth Valley area to attend the above training to learn more about this.
If you have any questions, or for more information please contact Ann Rennie on 01259 222099
Evening Training Events
STRADA is pleased to announce the latest development to their Modular Programme delivery, Evening Training Events which will run from 6pm to 8.30pm. These evening training events are from the menu of STRADA Essentials and STRADA Concise courses. There are currently dates
for - STRADA Concise: Substance Misuse: The Facts which will be held in Girvan and Perth and STRADA Essentials: Assessment Skills which will be
held in Glasgow. Click here to find out more about these events
STRADA Concise: Substance Misuse: The Facts is being held on 14th September 2009, 6pm-8.30pm at Perth Grammar School. Book your space now!
There will be more dates at other venues later in the year -if you are interested in a specific Concise or Essential event being delivered in the evening in your area (Scotland only), contact STRADA on 0141 330 2335
The University of Dundee has recently approved a new suite of post-graduate programmes in Child Care and Protection and Adult Care and Protection. The new Child Care and Protection course starts in September 2009 and the Adult Care and Protection course will start in September 2010. An Individual module costs £750, and the Postgraduate Certificate costs £1400
The new programmes reflect the changes that are happening in the work place and are flexible and responsive to the needs of students and their employers. For the first time, the University will be offering distance learning options as well as on campus teaching. There have also been significant changes made at the post-graduate certificate level which has a clear focus on practice skills while retaining its strong inter-agency approach. Students will also have the opportunity to learn with other post-qualifying students from across the school with backgrounds in education, psychology and social work.
For futher information, read the course flyer.
For an application form, click here.
The report will be of interest to those in the learning disability sector with a responsibility for, or interest in, food, health or those who are involved in the delivery or promotion of the REHIS (Royal Environmental Health Institute course), which this work was based on.
The work undertaken by those in this report showed that food and health training can be an important first step towards improving the diet-related health of people with learning disabilities.
‘Widening Participation in Social Work Education- taking stock and looking forward’
30 Sept, Hamilton Campus, West of Scotland University.
The Open University, University of West of Scotland , Glasgow School of Social Work, South Lanarkshire Council and the SSSC have worked together to develop a stimulating day identifying key themes and possible ways forward to ensure that the workforce of social work reflects the wider community.
Professor Jane Aldgate will chair the day with Professor Mono Chakrabati offering the key note address. A range of key stakeholders will be offering workshops with further details nearer the conference. The event is free to maximize participation. Please put the date in your diary and initial interest can be noted with Jamie Marshall at r11-shsw@open.ac.uk .
Social Services Sector News will keep you up-to-date with the latest developments in the sector: for example policy announcements, consultation exercises and news from key stakeholders. A key feature of these new services is that they are yours: share your news and events with the rest of the world by sending the details to IRISS. This compliments the IRISS Social Service Events, a service which keeps you informed about upcoming events relevant to social services and social care in Scotland.
The SSSC has been reviewing its registration processes to ensure that they are fit for purpose.
Disclosure Checks
Following discussions with the SSSC Council it’s been decided that changes in policy would allow the SSSC to adopt a more balanced approach in requiring all applicants for registration to undergo criminal records checks. From the 1 October 2009, all social service workers (apart from social work students, self-employed social workers and unemployed social workers) will no longer be required to undergo a criminal records check when applying or renewing their registration. Currently, employers must undertake Disclosure Scotland checks when employing a member of staff. Therefore all applicants will already be subject to a Disclosure Scotland check prior to applying for registration.
The SSSC will still require Disclosure Scotland checks for social work students, and unemployed social workers, but will pay the costs of checks for social work students and unemployed social workers. Self-employed social workers must pay for their Disclosure Scotland checks when they are applying to register or renewing their registration with the SSSC.
Employers will need to confirm they have received a Disclosure Scotland check for the post the applicant is seeking registration for and employers will need to provide the dates and unique reference numbers of the disclosure. Under the new Vetting and Barring Scheme, each applicant for registration will be expected to provide evidence of scheme unique scheme membership number. Disclosure Scotland have advised that, subject to the approval of the Scottish Parliament, the fee for all levels of Disclosure applications has risen from £20 to £23 from 1 August 2009.
Registration of newly qualified social workers
Newly qualified social workers (NQSWs) will be registered for three years in line with the registration of all other social workers rather than the current 18 months (24 months for NQSWs working part time). They will still be required to submit their PRTL record of achievement to sssc for consideration within 14 months of registration (20 months for NQSWs working part time). Immediate line managers will now be sufficient to sign PRTL records of achievement.
However, when NQSWs apply to renew their registration at the end of their first registration period, their SSSC lead countersignatory will continue to be asked to endorse (or not) their suitablilty for registration. This endorsement from lead countersignatories is only required at the end of the NQSWs’ first period of registration. If you have any queries please contact Susan Kinnear, Reigstration Manager, at susan.kinnear@sssc.uk.com
Employee Demand for Skills: A Review of Evidence & Policy
This report presents the results of a detailed review of evidence and policy relating to the factors that influence the engagement of the individual in skills development. The review is deliberately broad in its focus, drawing on evidence and policy relating to people in different positions within the labour market. Some of the key points emerging from the review included:
To read the full report, and for more information please visit the UK Commission for Employment and Skills website.
The event summary for the service users conference regarding the new scrutiny bodies for healthcare and social care and social work is now available. Following this consultation, the Scottish Government is planning to engage separately with service providers on the proposed changes.
As there are over 15,000 service providers in Scotland in sectors affected by the establishment of new scrutiny bodies, the plan is now to hold a meeting with various umbrella bodies representing the sector; such as CCPS and SCVO, in August. At this meeting, the group will discuss how best to engage with the wider group of service providers.
The Workforce Unit will be feeding in to this group and would urge you to contact us to ensure that you can air your views regarding these changes. As usual, we will keep you informed of any updates as this information becomes available.
MARS is a national multi-agency resource for those working with complex child protection issues. It's aim is to assist agencies and practitioners involved in protecting children to carry out their work effectively. MARS objectives include:
Read the MARS flyer. To find out more about MARS, please contact the Director, Beth Smith.
Shaping the Future of Care Together sets out a vision for a new care and support system. The Green Paper highlights the challenges faced by the current system and the need for radical reform, to develop a National Care Service that is fair, simple and affordable for everyone.
Within the Green Paper, it sets out a number of consultation questions and asks everyone to provide their views about how they think Government can make this vision a reality and develop a care and support system fit for the 21st century. The consultation will run from 14 July 2009 to 13 November 2009. (Please note that this publication refers to England.)
Further, a panel of MPs have set up an inquiry into the future funding of social care services in response to the publication of the adult care green paper.
An additional 170 childcare apprenticeships are to be created for young people aged 16 to 19, the Scottish Government has announced.
Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the move would help the economic recovery. Ms Hyslop said: "By ensuring support is in place at the first opportunity we can give every young person the chance to reach their potential.
"Developing the skills and career opportunities of those delivering early years services is key to helping us achieve that goal, and will also help support Scotland's economy out of recession and back to economic growth. These apprenticeships will not only help young people into rewarding childcare careers, but will support the expansion of the sector."
The announcement was the latest stage of the government's ScotAction package aimed at helping businesses and individuals through the recession and providing skills assistance.
Qualifications Can Cross Boundaries
The popular leaflet, Qualifications Can Cross Boundaries – a rough guide to comparing qualifications in the UK and Ireland, has recently been updated and is now available to download as a pdf. This leaflet provides information that allows you to look at the ways qualifications are organised in Ireland and the UK.
Figures submitted to the Scottish Government by the Care Commission following recent inspections highlights Scotland’s voluntary care providers (The Third Sector) are consistently out-performing both the public and private sectors in the provision of services when caring for people at home.
The Care Commission awards grades from 1 (unsatisfactory) to 6 (excellent) for three different parts of the service – the quality of the service, the quality of the staff providing the service and the quality of the management. Only voluntary organisations achieved a grade six in any of the three criteria used to assess the quality of the services, and also had significantly higher grade five ratings than either the public or private sectors.
Click here for more information on the report.
This email is intended for subscribers only. If you have received it by mistake, please email vswu.admin@ccpscotland.org, and you will be removed from the mailing list.
If you would like to remove your details from the mailing list at any point, please send an email to vswu.admin@ccpscotland.org and include your name, organisation and the email address you used to subscribe to the e-bulletin.
