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News - 29 September 2008

Changing Lives Autumn/Winter 2008 Newsletter

The Changing Lives Autumn/Winter 2008 Newsletter will be available late November/early December. If you would like to be added to our mailing list please contact Ben Coburn email: ben.coburn@scotland.gsi.gov.uk. Newsletters will be sent out electronically, however a hard copy (or copies) will be made available on request.

Welcome to Social Work Scotland

Welcome to the Social Work Scotland website. This website was set up by the Scottish Government in 2006 to enable users to access a wide range of information about Changing Lives – the change programme for social work services in Scotland, based on the 21st century review of social work.

The Changing Lives team work with a wide range of individuals, organisations and groups with an interest in social work services. This includes service users and carers, local authorities, voluntary and private organisations, umbrella and partner organisations (including health, education and justice services), universities and colleges and other Scottish Government departments.

Transformation of social work services to better meet people's needs requires major cultural change, as well as visionary leadership at national and local levels. It will need concerted effort, collaborative working and for every one of us to play our part, and be willing to challenge and to be challenged to ensure delivery of the services needed for the 21st century.

The Way Ahead

The key aspiration of Changing Lives is to improve outcomes for individuals and communities. To do this we need to: build the capacity to deliver services; and develop a confident, competent, valued workforce. Click here to see how the ‘core products’ being worked on by the Change Programmes are intended to support this approach.

It remains the case that the Changing Lives agenda needs to be recognised and owned at local level, with service providers at all levels taking responsibility for making the aspirations of Changing Lives a reality.

» Scottish Government Links

The Changing Lives programme has links with a number of Scottish Government areas.

29 September 2008

Learning Network Website Success

The Learning Network North have issued a Press Release on the success of the Learning Network Website www.learningnetworks.org.uk

Learning Network North announce appointment of new Development Officer

The Learning Network North have issued a Press Release on the appointment of Lynsey Turner as their new Development Officer.

Consultation Paper - Guidance on the Role of the Chief Social Work Officer

The consultation period for the Guidance on the Role of the Chief Social Work Officer paper began on 26 September and is running for 12 weeks. Please follow the link for access to the consultation.

Changing Lives, the Report of the 21st Century Social Work Review, recommended a strengthening of the governance and leadership roles of the Chief Social Work Officer. The guidance has been drafted by the Changing Lives Practice Governance Group and has been agreed with ADSW, COSLA, SOLACE and representatives of NHS CHCP Directors.

The deadline for responses is December 19, 2008.

Following the end of the consultation period, and subject to the views of respondents to this consultation, the guidance will be finalised and distributed to key stakeholders.

Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care (SIRCC) to lead national initiative

The Scottish Government have commissioned SIRCC to lead on the National Residential Child Care Initiative (NRCCI), which is aimed at shaping the future direction of the services to suit children’s needs. More than 20 members of public sector and voluntary organisations will sit on the project board of the initiative, which will allow young people who have been in residential child care and their families to give their views. Health, education, local authority, social service and voluntary sector interests will be represented on the group.

Key objectives of the initiative will include:

Devising a blueprint for the future of residential child care which will meet the full range of children and young people’s needs
Determining the right skills mix of residential child care professionals to help young people realise their fullest potential
Recommending measures for consistent improvement in the sector

For more information please contact the NRCCI Project Manager, Kelly Bayes, by emailing nrcci.sircc@strath.ac.uk.

Shifting the Balance of Care newsletter

The first edition of the Shifting the Balance of Care newsletter is now available. This newsletter will keep you up to date with progress and developments, both within the Scottish Government and locally in Community Health Partnerships by sign posting examples of good practice and evidence. Please visit the newsletter by visiting their website www.shiftingthebalance.scot.nhs.uk.

22 September 2008

Development of the Mental Health Officer Award

The Scottish Government asked the SSSC to lead in the development of a replacement for the Mental Health Social Work Award (MHSWA).

The need to develop the new award came from the introduction of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 which introduced a new range of duties and requirements for Mental Health Officers (MHOs) along with the outcome of work undertaken by the SSSC during 2005 to review how the MHSWA is delivered.

There are three partnerships within the Mental Health Officer Advisory Group (North, East and West) each progressing the development of validated and approvable programmes.

The North partnership will have their programme validated through the Robert Gordon University (RGU), the East Partnership through the University of Edinburgh and the West Partnership initially through Glasgow Caledonian University. All of the partnerships have opted for a model in which employers will have a significant role in the governance, delivery and assessment of the Mental Health Officer Award (MHOA) programmes. Ongoing consultation with stakeholders is a key aspect of development.

Work is progressing on module development and assessment of the award and each partnership plans to seek approval from the SSSC between late 2008 and early 2009 with a view to delivering new programmes in 2009.

Further information can be obtained from karen.mclaughlin@sssc.uk.com, celia.rothero@westlearn.org.uk, billy.swan@fife.gov.uk and laura.gillies@highland.gov.uk

8 September 2008

Engagement and embedding strategy for the Continuous Learning Framework

The first draft of the Continuous Learning Framework, developed by the SSSC and Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (IRISS) was distributed for consultation between March and May 2008. It was developed in response to the vision for transformational change outlined in ‘Changing Lives’, the Sector Skills Strategy and some of the key actions points from the National Review of the Early Years and Childcare Workforce.

The Continuous Learning Framework sets out what all people in the social services workforce need to be able to do their job well now and into the future and describes what employers need to do to support them. It aims to improve approaches to three key integrated areas: learning and development, career pathways and progression and improved standards of practice.

A number of consultation processes have been used to provide evidence to strengthen the final Framework and shape the embedding and engagement strategy. The Continuous Learning Framework has been welcomed by the large majority with implementation being seen as the biggest obstacle to overcome.

The Continuous Learning Framework is due to be launched in late 2008. For further information on the Framework please contact either Jayne Dunn (IRISS) email J.S.Dunn@dundee.ac.uk or Fiona Clark (SSSC) email fiona.clark@sssc.uk.com or visit the websites: http://www.iriss.ac.uk or http://www.sssc.uk.com respectively.

4 September 2008

ADSW hosting ‘personalisation’ seminar

ADSW is hosting a one day seminar on 25th September, 2008 on the theme of 'personalisation' - one of the two key priority areas in plans to progress the 'Changing Lives 'agenda.

The aim of the seminar is to facilitate learning, and also dialogue, between staff and organisations, working towards a common understanding of what 'personalisation' actually means and how more personalised services can be delivered across Scotland.

If you would like more information or to attend the seminar, please contact Sophie Mills at ADSW.
Email sophie.mills@adsw.org.uk. Tel 0131 474 9220.

» Conference Flyer

3 September 2008

The DVD of the National Practitioners Conference is now available on the National Practitioner Conference page. If you would like a hard copy of the DVD a limited number are available on a first come, first served basis. Please contact Ben Coburn. Email: ben.coburn@scotland.gsi.gov.uk. Tel: 0131 244 7683.

Local Practitioner Forum Guidance

The Local Practitioner Forum Guidance is now available. This replaces the LPF Toolkit2.

The Children’s Panel are now recruiting

The Children’s Panel are now recruiting, for further information please click here.

News from previous months can be found in the archive.

» News Archive