CWDC launches new skills framework to support workforce

The Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has published a new framework of competencies and standards designed to support the children and young people’s workforce across the UK.

The Skills Development Framework (SDF), as it is known, has been established to support employers to nurture and promote integrated working skills within their organisations. It will inform employees, training providers, workforce development managers and regulatory bodies as they work to introduce and develop the necessary skills for effective integrated and joint working practice.

Steve Crisp, Director of Sector Delivery at CWDC, says: “The SDF provides a very useful focus on the shared skills that underpin integrated working practice and that complement the important professional and specialist skills that workers already have. The framework aims to enhance the integration and quality of the young people’s workforce by providing a model that local employers can use as they wish to help support young people better.”

The CWDC developed the SDF following extensive consultation with a wide range of employers and national workforce representatives. The Council is now inviting people employed within the children and young people’s workforce to join an online forum through which they can discuss practical ways of using the framework. They can also make recommendations about how the SDF can be implemented in their local area and used to support the development of skills and competencies of workers.

The discussion forum is key to the success of the newly developed SDF because it provides the Council with important feedback and will help to shape further developments of the framework. The first phase of the document is being reviewed until 10th December 2010 to assess its usefulness to a range of employers, employees, volunteers and workforce development managers.

First Response Training offers a wide range of training courses aimed at the professional development of the children and young people’s workforce. A number of subjects relating to the key skills and competencies required by those who work with and care for children are covered by the First Response portfolio of courses, including many of the statutory health and safety topics.

Perry Leeks, Managing Director at First Response Training, explains: “We have a number of training courses aimed at the professional development of the children and young people’s workforce and we provide training for over 1,200 organisations within this sector every year.

"Our paediatric training courses are mapped to Ofsted requirements and developed in line with guidance issued from the Pre-School Learning Alliance and National Childminder’s Association. Our diverse course portfolio is also based on the standards issued by the CWDC.”

Call First Response Training today for more information or visit their website to learn more about the courses offered, including Health and Safety for Child Carers, Manual Handling for Child Carers, Risk Assessment for Child Carers and more specialist courses such as Epilepsy Awareness or Autism and Asperger Syndrome Awareness training.