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.
News headlines
VACANCY: London Sub-Regional Coordinator (secondment)
The aim of the post is to co-ordinate the work of Skills for Care in one of its five sub-regions in collaboration with sub-regional stakeholder networks of employers, education and training providers, carers, people who use services and strategic investors. In addition to this, the postholder will be expected to work across sub-regional boundaries to deliver information, advice and guidance on the work of Skills for Care.
Duties include the development, implementation and review of a sub-regional operational plan with the stakeholder group, based on the Skills for Care London Business Plan. The work of the Co-ordinator will support any future development of the sub-regional committee.
Please note that the closing date for receipt of completed applications is Monday, September 28, 2009 at 12 noon. For all the supporting documents including the application form please go to the Skills for Care vacancies.
Apprenticeship workshop
Skills for care London is running a half day workshop on January 21st, 2010, to look at how local organisations can be supported with the recruitment and retention of staff. Organisations represented at this event will inlcude the National apprenticeship Service and the London Apprenticeship. Please see here for more information and the booking form.
Information Sharing and Mental Health
This guidance sets out some of the issues relating to the exchange of information between mental health trusts and external organisations and individuals. It sets out when, why and how information can safely be exchanged for the benefit of the individual and the public. Link: www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_104949
Social Care Payments
Revised guidance on direct payments for community care, services for carers and children's services has now been published to reflect recent legislative changes that extend direct payments to previously excluded groups. The guidance aims to assist local councils in managing and administering direct payments, and replaces guidance issued in 2003. A user guide is also available.
View and download the guidance at: www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/Socialcarereform/Personalisation/Directpayments/DH_076522
FREE English Communication courses for employees working in health & social care
Do any of your staff need to improve their English speaking, reading or writing skills? If so, IHTS can help. London Development Agency funding has been received to run FREE courses in employers' workplaces. The training will help employees to:
- understand and use "colloquial" English and everyday expressions with colleagues and client
- be more confident talking on the telephone and taking messages
- reduce errors when writing care plans, reports, letters, notes and emails
- be more confident in completing NVQ Portfolios
Short numeracy courses are also offered.
The courses are tailor-made specifically for staff working in health & social care. They take place on employers' own premises at times that fit in with their work schedule. A minimum of five learners are needed to run a course. Staff in all job roles (Care Assistants, Cooks, Nurses, Cleaners, Caretakers, etc) are eligible.
All courses lead to City & Guilds qualifications in English Language, Literacy, Numeracy or the National Tests (GCSE level). For further information, please call Lesley or Michelle on (020) 8446 9778 or e-mail info@ihts.co.uk
Events
Skills for Care London Regional Conference 2009
Date: 30th September 2009
Venue: Westminster Central Hall, Storey's Gate, SW1H 9NH
Cost: £85 + VAT. Discounted places will also be available for delegates from charities/voluntary organisations that employ less than 25 staff. We have reserved a number of places for people who use services. If you are interested in attending, please contact Michael Armstrong at Michael.Armstrong@skillsforcare.org.uk
The topic for the 4th Skills for Care London Annual Conference is 'The Workforce Speaks: Learning in action with London's adult social care employers'.
The conference will provide an opportunity to learn about the work being undertaken in London and hear from the individuals who have contributed to and benefited from our regional programme of workforce development activities over the past year. The Joint Improvement Partnership (JIP) will be supporting the event and this year our guests include keynote speakers Ian Winter - Deputy Regional Director for Social Care at the Department of Health and Moira Gibb – Chief Executive, London Borough of Camden and Chair of the Social Work Taskforce. We are pleased to announce that Alzheimer's campaigner Barbara Pointon will also be contributing to the day.
There will also be an opportunity to participate in discussions about regional development in workshops throughout the day. Workshops will be run on a range of topics, including:
- The Qualifications and Credit Framework
- Dementia
- Apprenticeships
- Learning in Action
- The Principles of Workforce Redesign
Please click here to download the conference flyer. You can register your participation as a delegate at the conference by completing the form at the back of the flyer and returning it to our office.
The video of last year's conference can be viewed here: (please note that you need QuickTime installed on your computer in order to run this).
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
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