Welcome to this fortnight's edition of the Skills for Care London e-news.

Over the coming months we will be sending a regular bulletin listing all the latest news, views and updates. We hope that you find it useful and informative, and we welcome your contributions.

SEASONS GREETINGS TO ALL SKILLS FOR CARE LONDON'S FRIENDS IN SOCIAL CARE. WISHING YOU ALL THE VERY BEST FOR 2010.

NEWS HEADLINES     

• Everybody Benefits 2009/2010 - Social Care Funding Guide for London

Everybody Benefits is a guide to the funding and support available to social care employers in the London area. This guide has been compiled by Skills for Care London with the aim of ensuring our stakeholders have a single point of reference to identify the funding options and support opportunities available in the region which can support the development of the social care workforce. So whether you're looking for funding to support workforce development, further education, supplemental training or assessment, Everybody Benefits can assist you to explore the major funding streams available in the London area.

View Everybody Benefits - a guide to funding and support 2009/2010. 

• Train to Gain provision in London Region

Triangle, a business services company, deliver Train to Gain provision in London.The training provision they offer to the Health and Social Care industry includes free supplementary workshops, which enhance the learning experience and are specifically catered for issues in this sector. Workshops include Supervision and Appraisal Skills, and Health, Safety and Security. Those employers taking up a Logistics based Level 3 or 4 NVQ will be eligible for up to 10 additional fully funded NVQs at Level 2.

For more information about the Skills Multiplier project and to check your eligibility contact skillsmultiplier@trianglefusion.co.uk

• Invitation to Tender: Assessment of the Practice Educator Framework Demonstration Projects

You are invited to offer a tender to carry out formative assessment of the progress of 16 demonstration projects, funded by the Social Work Development Partnership (SWDP), providing pathways or programmes for developing practice educators in line with the proposed national practice education framework. The framework can be found here.

To request the tender documents please email swd@skillsforcare.org.uk

4 hard copies of your tender must be received by Friday 15 January 2010 no later than 12pm.

• Free Infection Prevention and Control Training

In their recent report; 'Working Together to Prevent and Control Infections', CQC suggest that infection prevention in care homes is inadequate, with many failing to follow guidance documents published by the Department of Health; 'Essential Steps'.

To help organisations prepare to meet their compliance requirements has decided to offer new clients free access to our dedicated 'Infection Prevention and Control' online learning until March 2010. As part of this course, access will also be provided to CQCs unique Policy Safe solution, enabling client's to deliver, track and confirm acceptance of key policies and procedures which is crucial to achieving compliance.

To discuss in more detail or to claim your free access, please contact us on 0161 228 1712 or via our online form.

AWARDS

• Skills for London Awards 2010

Are you an organisation committed to making a difference through training and development? Do you know any exceptional learners who surpass expectations in their learning or training? Then make sure you enter the Skills for London Awards 2010.

The Skills for London Awards 2010 will be held at a prestigious central London venue next June and will showcase the talent and achievements of apprentices, employers, providers and learners across London. There are 14 awards in total including Apprenticeship categories, employer categories, learner categories and a provider category.

The closing deadline for entries is Friday 26 February. Winners will receive a trophy, framed certificate, and learners can receive vouchers worth up to £250. Full details including online entry forms can be found on the Skills for London website. 

• Entry to Apprenticeship Awards 2010 is now open

The Apprenticeship Awards 2010 aims to honour and celebrate England's apprentices, old and new, along with the businesses that employ them, at the seventh annual Apprenticeship Awards.Employers and businesses of all sizes and across all sectors that employ apprentices can nominate themselves or their apprentices for an Apprenticeship award. The prizes will be judged across nine regions and winners will be taken through to a national award ceremony in July 2010. For more information on the Apprenticeship Awards 2010, please visit the Apprenticeship website.

RESEARCH/REPORTS

• NMDS-SC Briefing: Issue 11

This latest issue provides an overview of how NMDS-SC data is being used by Skills for Care's key stakeholders, particularly the Department of Health, Local Authorities and CQC. Quotes from colleagues in DH, ADASS, CQC and from local authorities highlight how the NMDS-SC is becoming key to informing planning, funding and commissioning across the sector at all levels. The issue also touches on InLAWS and how the NMDS-SC is an important tool, giving DASS access to essential workforce information that had previously been challenging. NMDS-SC Briefing: Issue 11

EVENTS

• National E:Learning tools for End of Life Care Event – 21^st January 2010

The National End of Life Care Programme are pleased to invite you to register for theNational Launch: E-learning in End of Life Care for All Event (e-ELCA) which is taking place at Novotel St Pancras, London on Thursday 21^st January 2010.

Delegates from a cross section of areas will be in attendance, thus ensuring a good mix of sectors. The tools being launched at this event will be an excellent resource in developing your workforce to provide effective end of life care. In addition, there will be an opportunity to explore the End of Life common core principles and competences that have been developed across health and social care to underpin the work.

To register for the event, please go to www.eventprouk.com, click on EVENT REGISTRATION; then input username: EP1006 and password: EL210110 (please note that all the 0's are zeros' and use capital letters). This event is FREE OF CHARGE to attend. For more information please see the flyer and agenda for the day.

• The South London Lifelong Learning Network Conference – 29th January 2010

The South London Lifelong Learning network is pleased to extend an invitation to their one day conference being held on the 29th January 2010 at the University of Kingston.

The conference will address current topics in education and training, emerging qualifications and vocational progression. These will include coverage of social inclusion, apprenticeships, qualifications and credit and employability agendas. For more about the conference, please see the conference flyer. If you wish to attend, please return your completed booking form to sllp.events@prospects.co.uk                                                            

To amend your contact details, be added to our distribution list, or to provide us with your feedback, please e-mail sfc.london@skillsforcare.org.uk