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The National Workforce Group ( NWG) was set up by Scottish Ministers to provide cohesion and strategic development of the social services workforce of the future. This fifth news bulletin continues to report the activities of the NWG and highlights important projects and events.
Some of the members of the BME Group
From left to right: Lynne Hooton, Billy Renfrew, Najimee Parveen, Ruth Stark, Margaret Cook and Mike Docherty (Chair)
Would you like to discuss matters with the Minister?
Euan Robson is keen to discuss your concerns. If there are issues about workforce development in the sector which you would like to discuss with the Minister directly, he would be delighted to meet with you by video conference. Contact the Workforce Team through the NWG's mailbox,nwg@scotland.gov.uk, or write to us at the Scottish Executive, Social Work Services Policy Division, Area 1F-South, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ.
EQUALITIES GROUP SUPPORTS NEW SOCIAL WORKERS
Following a successful conference last year which looked at ways to bring more people from black and minority ethnic ( BME) communities into the social services workforce, a short-life working group was established to examine ways to achieve this aim. The Informed Choices: Positive Opportunities Conference brought together nearly 100 organisations, recognising the vital contribution to society made by people from BME communities and the need to do more to promote equality of opportunity. The BME Working Group has now been established under the National Workforce Group for Social Services and is looking at ways to work with local and central government, the education sector and others to ensure equality and diversity issues are addressed.
A notable success for the Group has been the creation of a pilot scheme for BME trainees participating in the Social Work Fast Track Scheme for graduates. The pilot, developed in partnership with PATH (Social Services) Scotland, will provide mentoring, support and extra training for BME trainees while they work towards gaining a social work qualification. Najimee Parveen of PATH, also a member of the BME Working Group, said "We are working with a model of supporting students which has a proven track record and we look forward to working with employers and trainees to further promote diversity in the social services workforce".
Announcing the finalists for the Oscars for social services in Scotland
The Care Accolades 2005 is an incentive between the Scottish Social Services Council ( SSSC), Scottish Executive and Care and Health to recognise and promote the work being done to ensure we have a highly trained, confident workforce who can deliver effective social services.
The shortlist for the Care Accolades 2005 awards for the social service sector in Scotland has been announced by the judging panel.
Kate Vincent, Chair of the judging panel and Head of the Social Work Services Policy Division, Scottish Executive, said: "Selecting the shortlist for the Care Accolades 2005 was a difficult but enjoyable task and we were pleased with the range of interesting projects across social work services in Scotland. This is an opportunity for social service organisations and workers to gain the recognition they deserve and I'm really looking forward to meeting the finalists at the ceremony in June.
"I was at last year's event and know those shortlisted had a wonderful day and have enjoyed the recognition their work has gained as a result."
This year's awards follow on from the highly successful inaugural event which took place in June 2004 and will continue to recognise and celebrate the good work and innovation that is employed every day to ensure we have a highly trained, confident workforce who can deliver effective social services.
The finalists were selected from nearly 80 applicants received from social work and social care organisations and staff throughout Scotland. The Accolades will award employers who have policies in place that retain and support staff, organisations that involve people who use services to ensure that their needs are at the centre of their work and provide examples of innovative training programmes.
Care Accolades 2005 took place on 3 June at the Radisson SAS Hotel, Glasgow and was hosted by Kaye Adams. Unfortunately this Bulletin went to print before the awards so we can't publish the winners, only the finalists.
Care Accolades of 2004 - Photographs courtesy of Gus Campbell photography
Categories and finalists:
Category 1
Best employer in developing policies and practices to retain and support staff
Hansel Alliance
West Lothian Council
Glasgow City Council
Category 2
Best involvement of people who use social services in any area of the organisation's work
Fife Council Social Work
Fife Employability Team
Argyll and Bute Council
Category 3
Best initiative to promote partnership working
CHILDREN 1ST
Dundee Families Project, NCH Scotland
The Boyndie Trust
Category 4
Most innovative training programme
South Lanarkshire Council
SIRCC Core Skills Project
Fife Council
Category 5
Best example of a development in learning for practice which reflects a spirit of creativity and innovation
FSU Scotland/University of Edinburgh
Lifetime Achievement Accolade
The winner will be announced at the ceremony on 3 June 2005
Contact: Nicky Scott on 01382 207261 or email nicky.scott@sssc.uk.com
The Sponsors: CareVisions, UNISON Scotland, Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education, CoSLA, Scottish Qualifications Authority, Glasgow City Council, British Association of Social Workers.
INTERIM FINDINGS FROM SOCIAL WORK REVIEW
The 21st Century Social Work Review Group, standing l to r: Ann-Marie Rafferty, Alan Campbell, Martin Hill, Norma Graham, Deirdre Watson, Alexis Jay and Carole Wilkinson (Professional Adviser); sitting l to r: Mary Marshall, Stephen Ebbitt, Willy Roe (Chair) and Colin Maclean. Not present: Douglas Bulloch.
An interim report was published in April at www.21csocialwork.org.uk by the independent expert group which is currently reviewing social work services. The 21st Century Social Work Review Group wishes to share its emerging findings so that all those with an interest in social work can contribute to the review and shape its recommendations to Ministers on the future of social work in Scotland.
Key early, emerging themes include the following:
- A growing mismatch between what social workers feel they are trained to do and what they are required to do.
- A need for services that are more flexible, more focused on early intervention and more suited to the individual needs of service users.
- Concern about a downward shift in the time spent developing effective therapeutic relationships with service users because of increasing paperwork, form filling and caseloads.
- An acknowledgement that while there is still a need for a single social worker education programme, there is potential to develop specialist knowledge, for example in mental health issues, disabilities and problematic substance use, either in the later stages of training or after qualifying.
- Recognition of the burden placed on individual social workers who are working with some extremely vulnerable or dangerous clients and making challenging decisions about their welfare, while balancing the need to ensure that individuals and communities are safe.
- A need for greater continuity of staff and service delivery so that service users and carers don't experience constant changes of social worker.
Willy Roe, the chair of the review group said:
"While we are continuing to gather evidence, our early findings are highlighting consistent themes across a range of sources and sectors.
"The review is attracting a great deal of debate about what is the role of social work in today's complex and changing environment. For example, we know that social workers are most effective when they are able to build consistent therapeutic relationships with their clients, yet the impact of large caseloads and crisis management often means they have little time to do so. We must ask ourselves whether this is practical and indeed, offering best value.
"We are learning that a lot of social work interventions are done in crisis and emergency situations, after the damage has been done. Yet we are also beginning to recognise that the investment in preventative services is very low in comparison. So we need to look at what the balance should be in the future, between prevention, early and later interventions.
"And, while the integration of public services is critical for everyone, we are learning that service users and social workers have variable experiences of their effectiveness. We need to do more work to ensure that health, education, social work and criminal justice agencies are providing a united service that is focused on the needs of the user."
The 21st Century Review of Social Work has ended its first phase which has been focused on gathering and analysing evidence from a diverse range of sources across the statutory and voluntary sectors. While the next phase will continue to gather evidence, the review group will now start to explore and identify solutions and proposals that will aim to strengthen the social work profession and make better use of resources.
For more information about the 21st Century Review of Social Work visit www.21csocialwork.org.uk, which includes 21C News to provide a regular update on progress, email 21csocialworkreview@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or call Luke Manley on 0131 244 1583.
A FRAMEWORK FOR SUPPORTING FRONT LINE STAFF
The framework for supporting front line staff launched on 11 May is the product of a partnership between the Association of Directors of Social Work ( ADSW) and the National Workforce Group (Human Resource Management Sub Group).
The framework is based on the belief that the most effective way to improve service delivery is to invest time and effort into the way staff are recruited, managed and developed.
The delivery of person-centred care services, to an increasingly diverse population at a time of great social and demographic change, presents a complex challenge. Social care staff continue to demonstrate an outstanding commitment to making a difference to the lives of others and both the ADSW and the NWG feel they must ensure that the challenges of recruitment, retention and development are addressed.
Both the ADSW and the NWG are committed to promoting the best possible people management practices, and will aim to be Employers of Choice whether in the private, public or voluntary sectors. The framework brings together current literature and research, theory and practice. It captures the findings of the ADSW's 'Supporting Front Line Staff Initiative' (2003-2005) reflecting the views, good practice and aspirations of many front line staff and managers.
The ambition is for a social care workforce that is fit for the 21st Century and is: Competent and Confident • Enabled and Empowered • Flexible and Diverse • Safe and Healthy
The framework complements the National Workforce Group's "National Strategy for the Development of the Social Service Workforce in Scotland" and "Scotland's Social Care Labour Market". All three are tools to assist delivering effective services to those in our communities most in need of support, care and protection.
Contact: Sophie Mills, Association of Directors of Social Work: sophie.mills@adsw.org.uk
Addie Stevenson, author of the framework
Core Minimum DataSet Consultation
Data and information about the Scottish social services workforce is often inconsistent and incomplete. The Workforce Intelligence Group, a sub-group of the National Workforce Group, has addressed this issue by developing a standard Core Minimum Dataset for the Social Services Workforce in Scotland.
Once implemented, the dataset will help us produce and make available standard, high-quality, person-specific information. This information will aid workforce analysis, training, recruitment, retention planning and development, at local and national levels. Employers will benefit by having ready access to information about their workforce including: where social services staff are being recruited from, where they go after leaving and why they leave, levels of flexible working and measuring their staff's training needs.
Standard data will also facilitate benchmarking exercises so that employers can identify and compare good practice amongst themselves, e.g. successful retention, matching qualifications attained to job function, optimal balance between workers, managers and support staff. At a summary level, the information can be used by government and other statutory bodies for a range of purposes, including workforce monitoring, development, planning and policy evaluation.
The Core Minimum Dataset, which is compatible with templates being developed for the other UK countries, has gone out for consultation across Scotland. It asks for your views on the dataset and invites suggestions for changes. Euan Robson, the Deputy Minister for Education and Young People, strongly endorses the consultation as he is keen to see a reduction of the burden placed on employers to collect and update information on their workforce. This was a point raised at the recent Unison social work conference he spoke at.
The consultation period will be 12 weeks and will close around the end of August 2005. The Social Work Services Policy Division of the Scottish Executive is running two half-day seminars to support the Consultation. The seminars will be held in:
- GLASGOW on Thursday, 23 June 2005 at the Radisson SAS Hotel, Argyle Street from 10.00-14.00.
- EDINBURGH on Friday, 24 June 2005 at the Radisson SAS Hotel, 80 High Street from 10.00-14.00.
For more information on the seminars contact debra.hay@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.
The document will also be available at www.scds.org.uk
Contact Phil McNicol: phil.mcnicol@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.
New Workforce Unit for Voluntary Sector Social Services
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| Jan Miller, Director |
Developing a confident, enthusiastic and well-qualified voluntary sector workforce is vital to ensure optimum provision to the users of services, their relatives and carers.
The newly established Voluntary Sector Social Services Workforce Unit aims to support the development of the workforce by providing information and guidance on issues such as funding, training, qualifications and recruitment and retention. The Unit will work with employers and policy makers to ensure that the interests of the sector are represented at a national policy level, providing a collective voice for service providers. A strategy is being implemented to reach out to small and medium-sized enterprises.
Workforce planning is also an important part of the Unit's remit. In partnership with
the National Workforce Group and the Sector Skills Councils, the Unit will build an accurate profile of the workforce, identifying gaps and needs to inform service improvement in the future.
With developments such as the introduction of new health and social care SVQs, the new Diploma in Social Care Management, the establishment of Learning Centres, and the new honours degree for Social Work, it is certainly an exciting time for the voluntary sector workforce. The Unit aims to help employers optimise the possibilities which these and other developments present for the workforce in Scotland, helping the workforce gain the skills and confidence to adapt to the ever increasing demands of high quality service provision.
The Workforce Unit needs to be actively part of driving the national policy agenda as well as supporting the smallest voluntary organisations to develop their staff. We look forward to working with you in order to maximise the potential of the voluntary sector.
The Unit has been established by Community Care Providers Scotland ( CCPS) in collaboration with the Scottish Social Services Council ( SSSC) and is funded by the Scottish Executive. We are delighted that Euan Robson, Deputy Minister for Education and Young People will launch the Unit in Inverness on 28 June 2005.
Our contact details are:
Director: Janet Miller
janet.miller@ccpscotland.org
Development Officer: Caroline Sturgeon
caroline.sturgeon@ccpscotland.org
Information Officer: Neil Macleod
neil.macleod@ccpscotland.org
For more information, please visit our website at www.ccpscotland.org
National Development Strategy for the Development of the Social Service Workforce - A Thank-You
Our grateful thanks to all of those who took the time to respond to the recent consultation on the Draft National Development Strategy for the Development of the Social Service Workforce. Launched on 17 December last year the consultation closed on 31 March and we received many responses from across the social service sector. From the detailed and considered responses we received it was clear that you took considerable time and effort in responding.
Your responses are currently with George Street Research who will conduct an independent analysis. As part of that analysis George Street Research will provide a report to the Education, Training and Development Group which will include an overall analysis of all the views presented, as well as identifying the key and emerging themes from your responses.
The report will inform the final version of the strategy which is to be published over the summer and launched to the sector in the autumn. Copies of the Draft National Development Strategy for the Development of the Social Service Workforce are still available on request to Jenny Simons: jenny.simons@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
ACHIEVING THE CHALLENGE - EXTENSION OF FUNDING TO ADDITIONAL AREAS
Additional European Funding to Raise Skills Levels in the Workforce
On 13 June at the launch of the Sector Skills Council for social services the Deputy Minister for Education and Young People Euan Robson will announce the award of further funding for the social services sector from the European Structural Fund.
The Scottish Executive has secured funding from the European Structural Fund to assist the social care workforce in the Highlands & Islands area of Scotland (Objective 1 area) gain qualifications.
This funding effectively extends the current Achieving the Challenge project to cover the whole of Scotland. The new funding means that workers living in Highlands & Islands and parts of Argyll & Bute who were not previously eligible will be able to apply to join the project.
Achieving the Challenge will play a key role in assisting the upskilling of the social care workers and the development of a confident, competent social service workforce that is fit for purpose in the 21st century. This is an exciting opportunity to obtain funding to enable social care staff to achieve a qualifying award for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council.
The project targets three particular groups of workers from the voluntary and private sectors who are required to register under phases 1 and 2 of the Scottish Social Services Council's registration timetable. The three groups are:
- Residential child care workers,
- Heads of adult day care services, and
- Heads of adult residential care homes.
It will be possible to undertake the following qualifications via the project:
SVQ Level 2 in Health & Social Care
SVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care
SVQ Level 4 in Health & Social Care
SVQ Level 4 Registered Manager in Health & Social Care
Or for candidates who have already begun their awards:
SVQ Level 2 in Care
SVQ Level 3 in Care, Promoting Independence, Caring for Children and Young People, Community Justice, Working with Offending Behaviour, Working with Victims, Survivors and Witnesses.
SVQ Level 4 in Care, Community Justice, Working with Offending Behaviour, Working with Victims, Survivors and Witnesses, Community Work, or Registered Manager in Health and Social Care.
The project will run from 1 July, 2005 until 30 June, 2006 and will allow up to 200 people in the social services workforce from the independent and voluntary sectors to gain a qualification.
To obtain more information please visit the website at www.achievingthechallenge.com where you can register your interest or call the freephone number on 0800 652 2980.