Training and development opportunities
With the planned introduction of personalised care, increased integration with health colleagues and a new Safeguarding Adults Team, there has never been a more exciting and challenging time for Adults' and Community Services team at Lambeth - London's most improved Council 2008.
Adults' and Community Services Learning and Development provide opportunities to equip staff within, and those within the local social care workforce, with the necessary knowledge and skills to continuously improve care practices.
To meet the challenges to social care in the 21st century, we aim to strengthen partnerships with local care providers and encourage a flexible and highly skilled social care workforce by providing a comprehensive offering of learning and development opportunities to equip staff with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the demands of the work they do, as well as developing their work experience and ongoing professional development.
We are committed to training and staff development as an accredited Investor in People. We have demonstrated our commitment to addressing areas of recruitment and retention of social workers and have used a number of initiatives to ensure we have a stable and growing workforce. Various models have been used previously, these include:
- Graduate Trainee Social Work Programme
- The Employment-Based Route Social work Programme (for internal staff already employed in Lambeth).
In 2005, Lambeth recruited ten graduates to join the graduate trainee social worker programme – across both adults and children’s social care. This programme runs for 5 years and during these years the trainee works for the first year as a Trainee Social Worker. After one year they applied to the university which Lambeth has a contract with to begin their Master of Arts (MA) degree in Social work. After the trainees have successfully passed their MA, they will be employed as newly qualified social workers (NQSW) and receive the support now nationally recognised and required as NQSW with Lambeth.
We also provide support to social work students, and social workers once qualified through the Post qualifying (PQ) route. Lambeth ACS will be recruiting through the trainee graduate route in 2010; this will be open to graduates who hold a degree in any subject although the degree needs to be a high 2.2 or above. We welcome any graduate who has a degree and would like to consider a career in social work to think about applying. Further information can be provided by sending an email to ACSlearning@lambeth.gov.uk.
General care training
A range of courses offering opportunities for continuing professional development, including:
- Safeguarding Adults
- Mental Capacity Act /Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
- Welfare benefits
- Dementia
We also offer the opportunity to obtain a social work degree whilst obtaining relevant work experience. This demonstrates our commitment to staff training and development, whilst addressing the recruitment and retention of social workers and ensuring a stable and growing workforce.
Various models have been used before, including:
- The Graduate Trainee Social Worker Scheme (for external applicants)
- The Employment Based Route (for existing social care staff)
- Sponsorship of graduate students
- Training for Practice Assessors
Adults' and Community Services will be running another social work scheme in 2009. We are also developing a programme of development opportunities for newly qualified social workers.
National and Vocational Qualifications in Health and Social Care
Lambeth Adults' and Community Services provides eligible staff in the private, voluntary or independent sector who have social care contracts with, or receive funding from Lambeth to gain their NVQ 2 and 3 qualifications in Health and Social Care. There are also be opportunities to gain Level 4 awards in Care and in Leadership and Management which are essential requirements for registered managers of nursing and residential homes.
E-Learning
We are developing a range of free social care related e-learning packages to help those people who would like to learn in at their own pace in a more flexible environment.
Accredited adult social care training
Lambeth Adults' and Community Services has partnered with South Thames College and Eltonbury Training and Consultancy to deliver the CIS, LDQ and NVQ 2, 3 and 4 programmes to our external care providers and partners in the voluntary, private and independent sectors. In 2009/10 we expect to run three cohorts of the CIS, LDQ and NVQ 2 and 3 programmes.
Please contact Karl Livingston on 020 7926 4574 or klivingston@lambeth.gov.uk for more information.
Common Induction Standards (CIS)
CIS are designed for people entering social care, and those changing roles or employers within adult social care. The standards provide a structured start for new workers and are intended to build confidence by developing competencies and supporting continuing professional development and are designed to be met within a 12 week period.
Learning Disability Qualification (LDQ)
The LDQ is a new award which covers the Common Induction Standards in the context of supporting people with a learning disability. This course was specifically created to meet the needs of the learning disability sector and replaces the Learning Disability Award Framework (LDAF). On completion workers will be able to demonstrate that they have met the requirements of the CIS in a learning disability context.
Health and Social Care - NVQ levels 2 and 3
Registration at levels 2 and 3 is required for those who work in residential homes, day centres or domiciliary care.
NVQ level 4 (Registered Managers Award)
The Registered Managers Award is now a requirement for all registered managers in the adult sector, and this will be extended to include day care, home care and possibly other services.
Trainee Social Worker Scheme
Lambeth Adults' and Community Services offers the opportunity to obtain a social work degree whilst obtaining relevant work experience. This demonstrates Lambeth’s commitment to staff training and development, whilst addressing the recruitment and retention of social workers and ensuring a stable and growing workforce.
Various models have been used before, including:
- The Graduate Trainee Social Worker Scheme (for external applicants)
- The Employment Based Route (for existing social care staff)
- Sponsorship of graduate students
Adults' and Community Services will be running another social work scheme in 2009.
Other training
We also offer support people to gain professional qualifications in other areas which provide an essential role within our Department such as management, customer services, project management, finance and procurement.