Welcome to the August edition of the Voluntary Sector Social Services Workforce Unit's e-bulletin.
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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 think a colleague may be interested in the bulletin then please forward it. If they would like to sign up for the bulletin, they can sign up online.
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Lisa Pattoni
Information and Communications Officer
lisa.pattoni@ccpscotland.org
Content
Got a spare 5 minutes?
Fill out the Workforce Unit stakeholder survey! The objective of the survey is to review our relationships with you, our stakeholders, and the value of the products and services we provide. We want to support you as best we can, so we aim to find out what we are doing right, and where we can improve.
We really appreciate you taking the time to give us your views, and so, at the end of the survey there is the opportunity to enter a prize draw to win a day delegate place at the CCPS conference 'Stick, Twist or Fold: Gambling on the Future of Care and Support,' on either 25/26th November.
We really value your opinion - thanks in advance for taking part!
Complete the survey now! The closing date for the survey is 25th Aug.
2009-10 proved to be a challenging year for the voluntary sector with major re tendering exercises driving down workforce development budgets and resulting in transfers of staff between employers. With funding under pressure, our work in supporting and promoting the development of the voluntary sector social services workforce has become even more critical.
The Workforce Unit Annual Report 2009/10 aims to give you a flavour of the work we have undertaken in the past 12 months and aims to highlight the focus of our work for the future.
We would like to thank you, our stakeholders, for your continued and unwavering interest, readership and support. With your interests at the forefront, we will continue to maintain our high standards and deliver targeted and appropriate workforce development support to our sector in throughout the coming year.
21st October - Commodore Hotel, Helensburgh (1-4pm)
28th October - Inverness (1-4pm)
4th November - Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries (1-4pm)
11th November - Dunfermline Carnegie Library, Dunfermline (1-4pm)
In collaboration with the Housing Support Enabling Unit, the Workforce Unit is pleased to present a number of events for housing support providers. Please save the dates of these not-to-be-missed events in your diary today!
The focus of the events will be on national housing support issues, including the following:
If you would like to reserve a space at these events, please do not hesitate to contact Laura Weir at: vswu.admin@ccpscotland.org. More information will be posted on our website soon.
2nd September - Edinburgh
3rd September - Glasgow
The Workforce Unit, Housing Support Enabling Unit, CCPS and GSCPF are pleased to announce two half day seminars focusing uniquely on the legal implications of different models of collaborative working. The seminar will be delivered by Maclay, Murray & Spens solicitors in both Edinburgh and in Glasgow and topics will include:
The main objectives of the seminars are to:
Working collaboratively can carry risks as well as benefits. This event will help you to explore many of the issues involved when considering working in this way. Download a full programme and booking form for the event on our website.
14th September, Holiday Inn Express, Aberdeen
16th September, To be confirmed, Glasgow
10.30am - 3pm (including networking lunch)
Effective leadership is essential to the provision of high quality social services which make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable people across our communities.
These Workforce Development Network events will give you the opportunity to look at what’s happening both locally and nationally within the leadership agenda for social services. Speakers will include representatives from the Scottish Social Services Council, who will be consulting on your views about the leadership needs of the sector, and speakers from the Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (IRISS) who will talk about leadership for outcomes. This is your chance to help shape the vision for leadership within the social services sector. We will also be looking at what leadership is required for more personalised services.
To book your place, please email your details to Laura Weir: vswu.admin@ccpscotland.org, phone 01786 849 752 or book online at the Workforce Unit website.
Attention all Managers!
How do you prepare workers for SVQs?
How do you support them whilst undertaking the award?
How do you ensure the transfer of their skills and knowledge into practice and decide upon their Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and Post Registration Training and Learning (PRTL)?
Not sure? Then this is the event for you.
SQA, the Workforce Unit and SIRCC are working in partnership to bring this not-to-be-missed event to managers across the social services sector who have staff undertaking, or preparing for an SVQ. The event aims to offer support to social services managers who might have limited knowledge of SVQs, or who simply want to gain a better understanding of how to support and motivate their staff through the process.
The event will focus on success at three stages, using the following format:
Not only will our experienced speakers provide you with theory, hints and tips, Caroline King (Carr-Gomm Scotland) will also present a practical example of her organisation’s approach to the integration of SVQs into the overall learning and development strategy. This event is the ideal opportunity to network with other managers from the sector, to share ideas, learn from experiences and explore new options.
This free essential event for managers will take place on Friday 8th October (9.30am-1.00pm - with networking lunch) at Jubilee House, Forthside Way, Stirling, FK8 1QZ.
This event may count towards your Post Registration Training and Learning (PRTL). CPD certificates will be issued to all attendees. To book a place, please contact Laura Weir on 01986 849 752 or email vswu.admin@ccpscotland.org. Bookings may also be made online today!
Thursday 30th September
Glasgow Marriott Hotel
A Scottish Care hosted national conference on palliative and end of life care.
This is an opportunity for all providers, managers and trainers in the private, voluntary and statutory social care sectors and managers and educators in the NHS to attend a focused palliative care and end of life conference fully endorsed and partly funded by the Scottish Government with support from NHS Education for Scotland, the Care Commission and the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care. It is hosted by Scottish Care, the voice of the independent care sector in Scotland.
For programme details and information on how to reserve a place visit Workforce Initiative or Scottish Care websites
Building on the success of the previous 'What Works' seminar series, IRISS is hosting four day-long workshops on the theme of 'what works' with respect to involving people who use services and their carers. These events are free and will:
The workshops will take place at the Albany Learning and Conference Centre, 44 Ashley Street, Glasgow, G3 6DS and are brought to you by IRISS's Evidence Informed Practice programme.
The first two workshops are now open for booking:
Workshop 1: Effectively involving people with learning disabilities - Friday 10th September 2010, 10am-4pm
This workshop will focus on two key themes:
Workshop 2: Effectively involving people with communication difficulties - Friday 12th November 2010, 10am-4pm
For further information, please contact Ellen Daly on 0141 228 6373. Information about the third and fourth workshops will be released in the coming months. Join the IRISS mailing list for further updates.
Friday 29th October (9.00am - 4.45pm)
The Edinburgh Suite, Craighouse Campus, Edinburgh Napier University
The Scottish Institute of Human Relations (SIHR) are pleased to present this rare opportunity to explore some of the 'below surface' dynamics and complexities that can present challenges in organisational life. It will also explore the concept of individual and organisational resilience.
Social services employers will note that the work addresses many of the key themes of the "Managing Self" part of the CL Framework - being more self aware, managing conflict and complex situations, using research and evidence to gain greater insight into people and their circumstances etc.
View or download the conference flyer and booking form to find out more, or to book your place.
Wednesday 1st September (9.30am- 12.30pm)
Mitchell Library, Glasgow
Social Services Knowledge Scotland is evolving!
You might not have looked at SSKS for a while.... but it's changing!
The Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (IRISS) and NHS Education for Scotland (NES) are delighted to invite YOU along to discuss the progress with the website redesign. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to gain insights into the new site, provide feedback and have your say. If you’d like to join us, please complete the online booking form.
Friday 27th August (9.30am registration, Conference 10am -1pm followed by lunch)
Radisson Blu Hotel, 80 High St, Edinburgh
This event will focus on the Scottish Government's draft National Guidance for Child Protection, which will replace the existing 1998 guidance Protecting Children - A Shared Responsibility: Guidance on Inter-Agency Co-operation. The consultation period runs from 1 June 2010 until 17 September 2010. The guidance, together with the supporting consultation documents and a summary of the guidance is available on our web pages at www.scotland.gov.uk
The event is aimed specifically at the third sector and non statutory organisations who play a crucial role in the wider context of child protection. The event will provide an overview of the guidance and explore the usefulness, accessibility and relevance of the guidance for your sector and on your roles and responsibilities. How could the guidance be improved? Are there any important omissions? How can we all best work together to protect and safeguard children?
The event is free but spaces will be limited. Allocations will be on a first come basis and we would ask that you send no more than one representative from each organisation.
Please complete the short form below and send to :-
childprotection@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
National Consultation Event - Child Protection Guidance
My name:
My organisation:
My Job title/role:
Email address : (If you do not want your email address to be shared on the delegate list at the seminar put a X here)
Phone number :
For more details about the event, contact;-
Sandra Manning
Child Protection Team
Safer Children Stronger Families
2B North Victoria Quay
Scottish Government
Tel: 0131 244 7028
email: sandra.manning@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Call for Applications: Free Training for Trainers Human Rights Course
The Scottish Human Rights Commission has developed training and awareness raising materials relating to the care and support of older people, Care about Rights? The training and materials will enable you to become a human rights trainer.
The Commission now invites applications from individuals working as care managers or trainers in the care home or care at home / housing support sectors who wish to be selected to participate in a two day training for trainers course. The course will cover the basics of the human rights framework and relates this to applying human rights principles in the delivery of care and support. The project is supported by the Care Commission.
The training for trainers courses will run at the following dates and times:
The course is free of charge, including a full course pack and accompanying DVD with films that support the materials. We are asking for a commitment from those applying to the course to commit two further days in total of their time (between October and December 2010) to train others within their respective organisations, and beyond to others in the care sector, using the training materials provided on the course.
Scottish Care is supporting this project and its Workforce Initiative is providing the administrative support to the training of trainers and subsequent training courses. If you are interested in becoming a human rights trainer then please complete the booking form and return by:
Please note that applications will be assessed on a first come first served basis and your place is non-transferable to others, except with prior agreement. Applications should be submitted by Friday 20 August. We look forward to receiving your application.
New Accredited Award in Leadership
ARC Scotland is delighted to offer this new award for aspiring leaders in social care. Suitable for workers in support or keyworker roles wishing to develop knowledge, skills and confidence in leadership, this award comprises two NQ units assessed together to provide 9 SCQF credits at level 5. A useful and innovative way of meeting CPD requirements and enabling potential progression to a role in leading others.
The award requires candidates to attend one full day's taught input followed by completion of 2 assignments within 8 weeks. One workplace observation is also required. The price for this award is £275. Places are limited to ten for each cohort and the first one begins on Wednesday 22nd September.
For more information or to apply for a place, please contact Muriel Mcleod on 0131 663 4444.
Together with SSSC, COSLA and Scottish Care, the Workforce Unit are contributing to a response from the social services sector in Scotland to the new UK Government's two consultations on migration to the UK from outwith the European Union (EU).
You can take part in the consultations which are both available online.
Links to the consultation papers are available on the Workforce Unit website. More information will be posted here early next week. In the meantime, if you have any questions, issues or points to raise regarding this consultation, please contact Caroline Sturgeon before 1st September.
The Equality Act 2010 aims to consolidate and streamline existing discrimination law, bringing together nine separate pieces of legislation into one single Act.
The Act applies to all organisations that provide a service to the public, or a section of the public (service providers). It also applies to anyone who sells goods or provides facilities. For example, it will cover community centres, information and advice agencies,charity shops,sports clubs, internet-based services, and residential care homes and day care centres. It applies to all your services, whether or not a charge is made for them.
The Act protects people who have a 'protected characteristic' (these used to be called 'grounds'). The relevant characteristics are:
The provisions in the Equality Act will come into force at different times to allow time for the people and organisations affected by the new laws to prepare for them. Implementation of majority of the Equality Act will begin on 1 October 2010. Major changes have occurred within the legislation covering Harassment, Victimisation, Positive Discrimination and Charities. There are also new legal provisions which have been introduced around:
Voluntary and community organisations that already have good equality procedures in place will not need to take much further action. However, it may be wise to:
For more information about the Equality Act and how it will impact upon employers, please follow this link to the Government Equalities Dept, where a series of summary guides will offer more information, in particular, how this Act will impact upon the voluntary sector.
Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) has worked with the Government Equalities Office and the Equality and Human Rights Commission to produce a quick start guide for employers. This guidance covers the changes coming into effect through the Equality Act 2010 and details how employers can reassess and align their practices to remain compliant.
Employees are entitled to more limited pension protection under TUPE than they might expect…
Recent case law has noted a set of circumstances highlighting a loophole in the protection the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) affords employees in connection with pension rights.
The rules protect employees’ rights during transfers and outsourcing by transferring all “rights, powers, duties and liabilities” in connection with their employment contracts to the new business owner or service provider.
Occupational pension schemes are generally excluded from TUPE, so the new employer is not automatically obliged to provide the same type of scheme post-transfer. Contributions to personal, group or stakeholder schemes and, sometimes, rights to early retirement pensions or enhanced redundancy pay paid through a pension scheme, will transfer from one employer to another if these are contractual entitlements.
However, “pension protection” is something of a misnomer. The obligation is not to maintain an existing scheme, but to provide an equivalent pension post-transfer i.e. the new owner does not have to provide identical benefits. It must maintain a minimum pension provision, but can decide what kind of scheme to offer and its level of contribution, subject to minimum standards. It may offer a final salary or a money purchase scheme, for example. But someone in a final salary pension scheme is not automatically entitled to a final salary pension scheme after a TUPE transfer.
The General Social Care Council (GSCC) in England is to be abolished, with responsibility for regulating social care staff transferred to the Health Professions Council (HPC). Social care staff will become the 16th profession to be regulated by the HPC, which is set to be renamed to take account its new social care role. In its Report of the Arm's Length Bodies Review, the Department of Health said there was 'no compelling reason' for the GSCC to continue.
According to a recent British Association of Social Workers (BASW) report, the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) has said that it will be business as usual for regulation in Scotland.
This paper examines research evidence, argument and policy development on public service delivery over the last five to ten years guided by the general question: ‘what does the research and evaluation literature tell us about third sector involvement in public sector delivery.
Key findings:
Commissioning and procurement is acknowledged to be a complex set of processes, with numerous reports of how difficult, confusing and uncertain Third Sector Organisations (TSOs) find the new service delivery landscape, particularly smaller organisations, BME organisations and organisations in rural areas.
Key features of TSOs thought to be successful and/or ‘commission-ready’ by commissioners include a good reputation, strong relationships with the local community, awareness of local needs, specialist expertise and an ability to achieve targets and outcomes. Reasons cited by commissioners for unsuccessful tenders from TSOs include poor quality bids and a poor understanding of the changing agenda, lack of staff capacity and insufficient attention paid to the outcomes specified in the tender.
Several studies note that organisations lack resources for service and organisational development, and small and medium sized organisations in particular lack capacity in business and strategic planning. As a consequence they have a limited ability to respond to the new funding environment, operating instead with what has been described as a ‘hand to mouth’ existence and a misplaced optimism about the future.
More appears to be known about the support needs of TSOs around service delivery than about the organisation and effectiveness of initiatives for providing that support. The literature suggests that support on the ground for TSOs in commissioning and procurement is lacking, growing slowly or fragmented, with calls for a more differentiated support response across the sector and a concern for more in-depth and tailored training.
The bulk of literature reports a range of sector anxieties and other negative consequences, echoing earlier debates on the ‘contract culture’. Six key aspects are discussed in the literature, focusing on the impact of public service delivery on: independence, mission, innovation, employment terms and conditions, collaborative relationships and polarisation within the sector. However, the evidence surrounding some of these concerns is relatively mixed and under-researched.
Download the full briefing paper
Last month, we reported that the Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) Implementation guides for strategic managers, operational managers and practitioners were available. The Learning Community is a new online resource where anyone with an interest in GIRFEC can go to share beset practice and discuss issues in their area. This is a members only site, so if you'd like to join please call the team on 0131 244 7389 or email gettingitrightforeverychild@scotland.gsi.gov.uk for joining instructions and a password.
The Scottish Government are keen to hear what you think of the Learning Community - whether you find it useful and how it could be developed in the future. If you have any feedback, please contact Claire Hider on 0131 244 5029.
Technology has become a necessary and everyday part of studying and working. Learning with online and mobile technologies: a student survival guide, is a new publication written by Janet Macdonald, Open University and Linda Creanor, Glasgow Caledonian University, which examines effective practice in learning, and shows how technology can support that good practice. read more
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