1. Introduction
One of the key priorities of the NYSB outlined within the LSCB Business Plan 2008-11 is to ensure that those who work directly or indirectly with children receive appropriate child protection and safeguarding training. This includes all agencies of the LSCB, voluntary and independent sectors.
This Training Strategy has been written within a legal framework and is based on Chapter 4 of Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006, which is issued under Section 16 of the Children Act 2004.
The North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Board is the key statutory mechanism for agreeing how all organisations in
The LSCB is committed to delivering a high quality inter-agency training programme, which supports professionals, volunteers and the independent sector in their work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
Working Together 2006 requires all agencies working with children either directly or indirectly to provide single agency training in order to carry out their own roles and responsibilities. This includes being able to recognise and raise safeguarding concerns. The LSCB role differs in respect that it builds on the training offered by single agencies and organisations by promoting the premise that only by organisations and agencies working together can children be effectively safeguarded by:
- A shared understanding of roles and responsibilities
- Improved communication between professionals and those working with children
- Effective working together based on sound working relationships
- Improved assessment and decision making.
The key drivers for this strategy are:
- Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006
- Every Child Matters
- Children Act 2004
- Common Core of skills and Knowledge for the Children Workforce DCSF 2005
- The Children Workforce Strategy for
- LSCB Business Plan
- North Yorkshire Children and Young Person’s Strategic Plan
2. Purpose of Training Strategy
The purpose of this strategy is to identify the minimum acceptable requirements for safeguarding training. Further, to provide agencies and organisations with the following information:
1 What statutory, independent and voluntary agencies must do to comply with the requirements for LSCB training
2 The minimum training to be provided by single agencies.
3 The minimum LSCB training required by staff and volunteers
4 The LSCB training pathways for managers and workers
5 The role of the LSCB in ensuring consistency of content and delivery of LSCB training
6 Ensure LSCB training is resourced to promote and deliver consistent training that safeguards and promotes the welfare of children across
3. LSCB Training Responsibility
Working Together 2006 states that the LSCB and its nominated Training Sub Group has a responsibility to ensure that both single and multi-agency training is delivered to a consistently high standard and that a process exists in all agencies and the LSCB to evaluate the effectiveness of training. This strategy will ensure consistency with the above document and consider the following:
- Single agency training.
- Multi-agency training.
4. Who requires training?
In effect it is all those who work with children directly or indirectly. This includes all employees and volunteers of all LSCB member organisations. Training should be targeted at the following groups:
- Those with particular responsibility for safeguarding children such as designated or named professionals, those undertaking Section 47 enquiries or working with complex cases
- Those who work regularly with children, young people and adults who are parents/carers and may be asked to contribute to assessments of children in need
- Those in regular contact with children and young people and with adults who are parents or carers. These may be people who operate in an environment where they see children or adults but do not have case responsibility for them.
The model in Appendix 1 reflects the complexity and specific targeting of multi-agency training. It is related to the levels of contact that workers have with children and their families. The model illustrates that as skills become more developed and roles become more specialised the level of knowledge increases.
(These lists are not intended to be exhaustive but offer a model linked to the training database to enable managers to determine the appropriate level of training required to meet the needs of their staff.)
5. Core Values in Training and Development
All LSCB training should create the ethos that:
- values working collaboratively
- respects diversity
- promotes equality
- child centred
- promotes participation of children and families within the wider safeguarding process.
6. Levels of Training and Target Audiences
The model used will be updated in line with Working Together 2010
7. Training Priorities
Priority One
Undertake a mapping exercise to establish what single agency safeguarding training is offered within
Priority Two
All recommendations that are applicable to
Priority Three
Undertake a “Needs Analysis” with LSCB partners regarding the Training Plan for 2008-9.
Priority Four
Develop a Database for all those who attend LSCB Training
Priority Five
Re-organisation of the Training Sub Group
Priority Six
Development of a Quality Assurance System.
Priority Seven
Increase the number of people working with children and families that take up training opportunities.
Priority Eight
Ensure that LSCB training meets the identified requirements of the Children Workforce.
8. LSCB Training Standards
The training standards have been agreed by the LSCB and are based on relevant legislation and statutory guidance.
These standards relate to multi-agency training operated by the LSCB. However, agencies may use these standards for single agency training. The standards will be monitored on behalf of the LSCB through the strategic part of the Training Sub Group.
All aspects of training will be based on the following principals:
- Child centred
- Rooted in child development
- Focused on the outcomes for children
- Holistic approach
- Ensuring Equality of opportunity
- Involving Children and Families
- Informed by Evidence
- Multi/inter-agency in approach.
Standards
Standard One
It is the responsibility of the North Yorkshire LSCB to ensure that relevant multi-agency training is provided, to evaluate the quality of the training and that it is reaching all relevant staff.
Standard Two
The Training Sub Group has the responsibility for a range of safeguarding training and development opportunities and is accountable to the LSCB.
- The Chair of the Sub Group will ensure that all members have sufficient knowledge of training needs and process to enable them to make informed decisions on behalf of their agency
- The members of both the strategic group and the panel will be in a position to influence training within their own organisation and complete tasks as required by the LSCB
- The Training Sub Group will provide relevant data to the LSCB.
Standard Three
The content of training will be compliant with national minimum standards.
- Material will be updated to reflect national/local changes in practice, guidance and legislation
- Training will only be delivered by LSCB accredited trainers.
Standard Four
Training will be delivered by LSCB accredited trainers.
- Accreditation will be provided
- Training delivery will be monitored by the Strategic Training Sub Group.
Standard Five
The effectiveness of training is evaluated.
- The Training Sub Group will provide a quarterly report to the LSCB
- Consistent evaluation systems are used by deliverers of training detailed in the strategy.
9. Commissioning of Training
To ensure consistency and quality of training it should be delivered by LSCB –accredited trainers. However, outside trainers should provide a CV and meet where possible the accredited framework provided. Some trainers will be experts in their own right and will be well known in their field. However, they should still go through the same evaluation criteria. When commissioning training internally a local area agreement should be drawn up between the Training Unit and the provider. When commissioning training externally the LSCB should enter into a written contract. This should specify type of training, materials, who pays for what, venue and the cost of the trainer.
LSCB – Accreditation
The minimum requirement prior to attending the Training for Trainers Course, which will be funded by the LSCB, is to deliver single agency training.
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Essential Requirements |
Desirable requirements |
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Education/ Training/ Qualifications |
Professional qualification. |
Nationally recognised qualification in adult learning and development or teaching. |
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Experience |
Minimum of 2 years experience of working in an inter-agency capacity. Delivered a minimum of 15 hours training to adult learners in the last two years. |
Delivery of training on an inter-agency basis. |
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Knowledge |
Understanding of the structures/complexities of their employing agency and its relationship to other agencies regarding safeguarding children. Safeguarding children legislation/ procedures and their application to statutory, private and voluntary sector organisations. The rights of children and diversity. |
Knowledge and understanding of private and voluntary sector organisations working with children. |
Accreditation Process
- Agreement of line manager
- Attendance at the Training for Trainers Course if no prior teaching / training qualification
- Trainers support will be provided by training delivery being observed within 6 months of completing the course by a person nominated by the LSCB Sub Group
- Attendance at the LSCB annual trainers update meeting
- Annual observation of practice in employing agency by a person nominated by the Sub Group
- Trainers will work to NYSCB training standards.
10. Course Administration
All course administration will be done via the Safeguarding Unit. At present there is a training manager and a full-time training administrator.
- Course Allocation
All courses will be published on the LSCB web-site through the training plan. Extra courses and briefing sessions may take place during the year if there is a change in legislation or the introduction of a new process. Flyers will be sent to all member agencies in these circumstances and the web-site will be updated.
All course applications must be via the LSCB web-site and applications either e-mailed or posted. All e-learning courses provided by the LSCB have a clear link on the web-site and can be accessed if you follow the link.
Due to the nature and cost of some third level commissioned courses they will be offered once, sometimes twice a year. The courses will take place centrally so that as many people who can will be able to attend. The aim is to offer all level one courses through an E learning package.
On some courses the LSCB aim for a broader section of agencies to reflect inter-agency working and to learn from each other. Therefore places are not allocated on a first come first served basis.
Confirmation of a place and venue instructions will be sent by e-mail or post to the applicant and to their manager three weeks prior to the event. Similarly unsuccessful applicants and their manager will be informed by e-mail or post 3 weeks prior to a course date. Please avoid contacting the office until the three week deadline to check on a place.
- Cancellation and Charging Policy
Demand for the LSCB courses is high and some applicants will not obtain a place. We therefore require a minimum of seven working days notice of any cancellation in order for the place to be offered to another candidate.
A fee will be payable where a booking is cancelled less than seven working days in advance, or where a candidate fails to attend a training event. In each case, the candidate’s employing agency will be invoiced for the fee.
Where a booking is cancelled less than seven working days in advance, or a candidate fails to attend on the day, the cancellation fee will be £50 for a half or one-day training event and £50 per day where the event lasts two days or more.
To make a cancellation, the candidate should e-mail the Training Administrator: sarah.miller@northyorks.gov.uk
The LSCB Training Administrator will then acknowledge receipt of the e-mail and indicate whether the cancellation fee has been incurred. If this is the case the candidate’s employer will be invoiced through the NYCC Finance Team and payment should be made to the NYCC Finance Department.
LSCB partner agencies on 5th April 2010 agreed that there would be no exceptions and no appeals process for this policy. It further agreed that where a fee has been incurred, then the candidate concerned will not be permitted to attend any further LSCB courses until the fee has been paid. Candidates employed or volunteering for any of the partner agencies should take any queries through their internal processes.
- Certificates of attendance
Certificates of attendance will usually be available on the day. In order achieve a Certificate of Attendance, the course evaluation form needs to be complete and the candidate needs to have furnished all database details to the Training Administrator.
11. Training Sub Group and Panel
The Training Sub Group will be formed from those nominated by Board members who have an understanding of strategic training priorities within their own organisation. The Training Sub Group will be responsible for the mapping of single agency training once a year, a yearly “needs analysis”, aggregation of data, the accreditation of trainers and the report to the LSCB once a quarter and an annual training report.
The Panel will be answerable to the Sub Group. It will identify trainers and take forward accreditation. It will be responsible for updating knowledge, designing, implementing and evaluating training.
12. Resources
Financial resources will be provided from the LSCB budget. Venues will be vetted for accessibility and cost.
A Training Budget will be published each year with the strategy.
13. Quality Assurance
The LSCB has a responsibility to ensure quality of multi-agency training. Training must be consistent and of a high quality. The effectiveness of training should be continually and consistently evaluated.
Measuring the quality and effectiveness of the training will be done at various stages. The stages are set out in the quality assurance cycle.
The first part of the cycle is to take a draft to the Panel in order to make sure that the course meets the required remit and the level of trainer is appropriate.
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