Agenda item

Report of Strategic Director of Early Intervention

Candida Brudenell, Strategic Director of Early Intervention, and Lisa Hazell, Integrated Workforce Consultant, presented the report which proposes changes to the Strategic Core Development Standard. 

The Core Development Standard, which links into the Priority Families Programme, was last considered by the Children’s Partnership Board in 2013 and is designed as a framework to support a co-ordinated approach amongst all Children’s Partnership partners. It has become apparent that a further update is necessary to best support and progress the knowledge and skills of the Children’s workforce. 

The most significant change is that where there were originally six key themes, there are now four:

(i)  Communication and Engagement;

(ii)  Child Development;

(iii)  Integrated Working and Information Sharing;

(iv)  Safeguarding and Welfare;

Within these four key themes the levels of training requirements are identified as;

(i)  the minimum skills and knowledge expected for the whole workforce from the workforce strategy;

(ii)  skills and knowledge for colleagues and managers who have no or minimal direct contact with children, young people or their families;

(iii)  skills and knowledge for colleagues and managers who have direct contact with children and young people or their families.

Information on the training available via the website is outlined in appendix B to the report and includes a comprehensive training facilitated by partner organisations with many aspects free of charge to partners.

Also available is the Nottingham Priority Family Training Programme for partner representatives who wish to work towards becoming a family partnership worker or accredited practitioner. The content of this training is outlined in appendix C to the report.

The Core Development Standard is still hosted on the Children’s Partnership website (http:/www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/ics/TrainingSkillsDevelopment) offering training and skills development and opportunities information.

Comments and questions from partnership members and responses provided included:

(a)  further work is required to improve engagement with schools, including private schools. Training may be independently sourced, but the opportunity remains for them to utilise the Core Development Standard programmes offered within the partnership;

(b)  it is imperative that that all colleagues and partners working with children are equipped to identify child sexual exploitation (CSE) so while a rise in the uptake of CSE awareness courses is pleasing, there is still further work to be done;

(c)  it is a concern that whilst some courses, including safeguarding and CSE, are provided free of charge, people book but don’t necessarily attend. It is possible that a ‘no charge’ course is considered to be of lower quality and isn’t valued the same as a charged for course so further consideration of charging, possibly for ‘non-attendance’ bookings, is needed.

RESOLVED

(1)  to approve the improvements and changes to the Strategic Core Development Standard;

(2)  for each agency to look at ‘best fit’ within their own training plans to show consistency of developing practitioners in line with the Strategic Core Development Standard;

(3)  to note where partners needed training delivery support; the offer of buying elements of the core offer from Nottingham City Council if or when required;

(4)  for further consideration to be given to the charging arrangements for the skills development courses provided within the Strategic Core Development Standard.