Scottish Social Services Learning Network

The Scottish Social Services Learning Network West works with and provides services to stakeholders in Dumfries and Galloway, North, South and East Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, East and West Dunbartonshire, North and South Lanarkshire, Argyll and Bute and Glasgow areas. This section provides introductory information on who we are and what we do.

If you are looking for information on providers within your area, why not check out your Local Learning Network page. By clicking on the above area in which you work you can follow instructions on how to access the Care Commission directory. This directory is simple to use and has all relevant information you will need to know about a provider and its services.

MSc/Diploma/Certificate in Social Work Management Glasgow School of Social Work, University of Strathclyde. Applications are invited for this course. This post graduate programme offers busy social work managers a flexible, challenging and professionally relevant course. The programme is recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council. Entry qualifications are first degree or professional qualifications and/or experience deemed equivalent. Application packs are available by emailing p.mcdaid@strath.ac.uk Course Administrator, or ringing her on 0141 950 3581. Closing date for application 20 August 2008.

Learning Teaching Scotland, Curriculum for Excellence - Learning and Teaching Scotland, through a process of engagement and trialling, are seeking views from the range of partners who have an interest in promoting health and wellbeing of children and young people and would welcome your support. Feedback your views either as an individual, a group or as an organisation. For copy of outcomes and to complete online questionnaire click on link. http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/curriculumforexcellence/onlinesurveys/healthandwellbeing.asp

The Open University Scotland invites you to afternoon events in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee. These event are aimed at employers with an interest in sponsoring a student to do the BA (Hons) Social Work, Scotland at the Open University and
employers already sponsoring students on the degree. Following each afternoon event, there will be an evening event aimed at people with an interest in a career in Social Work. These events are for people presently in a social work or social care post and
people who want to become a social worker but do not have sponsorship at present. Click on links for booking forms Afternoon Session, Evening Session.

'What it means to me', A conference about the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 21st August 2008, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Glasgow. This conference will tell people:

What you need to know about the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007;
What is happening around implemrntation of the Act and;
How this new piece of law could impact on their lives.

The conference is for: People who use community care services, e.g. disabled people, people with mental health problems, older people, people with learning disabilities; Carers and family carers. Some places will be available to professionals working alongside people who might be affected by the Act, however priority will be given to people who use services and carers/family carers. The conference will use a mix of speakers, discussion groups and interactive sessions to explore some of the concerns people may have about the Act and how it might affect their lives. It will also be an opportunity to look at how people can be involved in the ongoing learning and development of good practice in implementing the act. The conference is free and is a full day event (10am-4pm). For more information on booking see the attached booking form or book online at: http://www.scld.org.uk/what-we-offer/training/calendar-of-courses-and-events/what-it-means-to-me.xhtml

Service User and Carer involvement in Further and Higher Education is of interest to many people.

Learning Networks South East and West commissioned research into how education establishments involve service users and carers in their Social Care courses and Social Work degree programmes. The following piece of research was carried out across both Learning Network areas; for additional information about the research or to comment please contact julie.thomson@westlearn.org.uk or W.Paterson@ed.ac.uk

On-line Survey - In response to requests from Local Learning Network members, Learning Network West is putting together a directory of services for the nine Local Learning Networks areas. The directories are for organisations, specifically service providers, involved in the Social Services sector. To ensure the directories are up to date, we are asking all relevant organisations to follow the link below and respond to the short questionnaire (7 questions), information will then be collated and posted onto our website.

The SSSC have issued an “Update on development of Mental Health Officer Award”, click here for further information.

Learning Network West - Training Facility - Are you aware Learning Network West have a training facility? Should you wish to run a one day event or use our premises over a longer period of time, why not come along and see our facilities. Our premises are located at the Abbey Mill Business Centre, Paisley.

Our main Training room can comfortably hold up to 35 delegates depending on layout. We also have 2 break out rooms which can hold 8 to 10 people for small discussions.

Lunches can be arranged at an extra cost. If you wish to enquiry about prices, dates etc. please contact denise.alexander@westlearn.org.uk. or call 0141 848 1500.

Opportunity to access Workplace Assessor Training and gain the A1 award in the Lanarkshire Area. Click here

Be a Leader Conference. Get involved in your local Social Services Leadership Community at the Scottish Youth Theatre. This event has now been postponed. Further detail to appear soon.

Professional Developmet Award in Practice Learning (SS). The new practice learning programme is still in its early stages of development. This means that all agencies can contribute to its shape and influence its design. The programme replaces the earlier Practice Teaching Award and has at its base eight units which have been approved by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). These units are then shaped into a Group Award and different centres can apply to host the programme. The Scottish Social Services Learning Network West is one centre approved by both the SQA and the SSSC to deliver this new programme. It is the first Professional Development Award at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Level 10. This is the academic equivalent of the final year of an Honours degree. For further information and application process click on the below links:

Our mission is to improve the quality of service to all users and carers by establishing a partnership which will make learning a high priority and to create an environment where learning needs are identified and learning is shared.

Increase the quality, quantity and diversity of learning opportunities Support registration of the workforce Embed continuous professional development across the entire workforce Establish workforce planning and development support as a priority for agencies Develop new approaches and systems to meet the changing demands upon social work services Increase the capacity of the workforce to deliver personalised services and sustain change
Promote a learning culture and support the development of learning organisations.

The Local Learning Networks are key to the establishment of collaborative working across the West of Scotland. These will be the gateway for many local and smaller agencies that presently are excluded from information and support networks for the registration and development of learning opportunities. The strategy will be to develop an active membership initially through local information workshops and by encouraging local partnerships to grow and become responsible for their representation on the Regional Learning Network and taking responsibility for coordinating and developing their own local learning arrangements.

Local Learning Network Forum will be chaired by a Learning Network Vice Chair and membership will be open to all agencies and education providers with an interest in local learning opportunities. The Local Learning Network Forum will have the authority to convene sub-groups as required.

our approach

Commitment to representation of all stakeholders Commitment to meaningful participation by service users and carers Commitment to equal opportunities Commitment to treat all members with respect and dignity at all times Commitment to quality assurance and the monitoring of Network activity to ensure value for money
Commitment of Board Members to the “Good Governance” code of practice.

Meeting national aims - the approach in the West:

The Network will build on tried and tested methods of collaborative working in relation to social work qualification and the provision of practice learning opportunities. The strategy will be to: a) maintain these processes; b) take on the issues relating to the new social work and social care education and training; c) to increase the participation of voluntary and independent sector agencies and representation from other professions; d) increase the quantity of learning opportunities available; e) and establish meaningful user and carer participation and representation. A Practice Learning forum will be chaired by a Learning Network Vice Chair and membership will be open to all agencies and education providers with an interest in practice learning. The Practice Learning Forum will have the authority to convene sub-groups as required. We envisage that agencies that provide practice learning opportunities will provide stability to this service through Service Level Agreements. Initially the main task will be to review current arrangements and make recommendations for changes and improvements in terms of quantity, quality and diversity of learning opportunities.

Establishing workforce planning and development support as a priority for agencies:

Workforce planning is a priority for the Network. Workforce planning will focus on two priorities: a) information required for practice learning planning; and b) information required to support registration of the workforce.

This work has started. A Practice Strategy Group (created by the Consortium) is actively researching PLO needs in 2006/07 and beyond. The Local Learning Network launch events have identified a willingness at a local level to engage in scoping workforce details and needs. A workforce planning sub-group has been established to take this work forward.

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The Network recognises that full stakeholder participation may not be achieved until 2008 and, in the meantime, decisions are being taken by a non-representative body which may not reflect the wishes of the future members. The present Learning Network members undertake to organise a review event which will allow the by then representative membership to reconsider decisions taken before this date.

At a glance - work in the West (PDF).Our business development plan, 2005-2008, will be online shortly.

Go to the events calendar to find out about forthcoming events in the west.

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mental health

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Scottish Social Services Learning Network West
Suite 49, 2nd Floor
Sir James Clark Building
Abbey Mill Business Centre
Seedhill
PAISLEY
PA1 1TJ