Midlothian Community Care Providers

Information Bank

Developing a Learning Culture: Contents

  1. Background
  2. Why develop learning plans? Regulations
  3. Why develop learning plans? Reports
  4. Why develop learning plans? Legislation
  5. Building from where you are now...
  6. Supporting training & learning with Supervision
  7. Recording and Monitoring Training & Learning
  8. Barriers to Training & Learning for Staff
  9. Barriers to Training & Learning for Organisations
  10. Motivation and Incentives for Staff to Take up Training & Learning
  11. Motivation and Incentives for Organisations to Offer Training & Learning
  12. Encouraging Training and Learning
  13. Finding out about relevant qualifications, courses and opportunities
  14. More ideas for developing a learning culture
  15. Things to consider
  16. Related Issues
  17. Reports, Resources & References (UPDATED)

1. Background

In National Strategy For The Development Of The Social Service Workforce In Scotland. A Plan for Action 2005 - 2010 the Scottish Executive emphasise the importance of each organisation developing a learning culture to encourage lifelong learning. The following illustration is used:

LifeLongLearningPic

(National Strategy for the Development of the Social Service Workforce in Scotland. A Plan for Action2005 – 2010, p23) Top

2. Why develop learning plans? Regulations

Employees Codes

3. Why develop learning plans? Reports

Offers advice and timeframes for employers: (Page 45 – 46)

Social work services must develop a learning culture that commits all individuals and organisations to lifelong learning and development. This requires:

  • full implementation of the National Strategy for the Development of the Social Service Workforce in Scotland: A Plan for Action 2005-2010;
  • further investment in lifelong learning across the social service workforce;
  • social service workers to maintain a personal portfolio as an up to date record of their skills and competence;
  • social service workers to have access to regular, quality professional support, challenge and consultation;” Top

4. Why develop learning plans? Legislation

For example the Health and Safety Act. Depending on the type of service other training and regular refreshers may be required such as

  • First aid
  • Moving and handling
  • Fire safety
  • Administration of medication
  • Environmental health
  • Risk management Top

5. Building from where you are now...

6. Supporting training & learning with Supervision

Supervision can be used to support learning and training by:

Things to consider:

What is the purpose of supervision? On The Informed Frontline Worker card SCIE explain the purpose of supervision is: “

7. Recording and Monitoring Training & Learning

8. Barriers to Training & Learning for Staff

9. Barriers to Training & Learning for Organisations

10. Motivation and Incentives for Staff to Take up Training & Learning

11. Motivation and Incentives for Organisations to Offer Training & Learning

12. Encouraging Training and Learning

How is training and learning recognised? Encouragement and recognition is vital. Different types of rewards motivate different people:

13. Finding out about relevant qualifications, courses and opportunities

14. More ideas for developing a learning culture

15. Things to consider

16. Related issues

Recognising Prior Learning - See notes from VSSS Workforce Unit Workforce Development Network December 2005 meeting.

Learning Cultures and Learning Logs - See notes from VSSS Workforce Unit Workforce Development Network March 2006 meeting

Options for providing SVQs to staff - See Training Options page of this site.

Providing joint multi-agency training - Watch this space - possible future subgroup of MCCP. Top

17. Reports, Resources & References

Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (The Care Commission). National Care Standards. Available online http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/care/17652/9328

Notes from Ellenor Currie’s session, 2 February 2006. Awareness Raising of Quality Improvement of Learning and Development for Staff providing Care. EVOC Care Learning.

Promoting Workplace Learning Evaluation Tool & DVD http://www.pwl.org.uk

Scottish Centre for Regeneration, 2005. The Learning in Regeneration Skills Pack. Glasgow: Scottish Centre for Regeneration. Available online from http://www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/webpages/cs_006288.hcsp [1 Aug 2006]

Scottish Executive, 2005. National Strategy For The Development Of The Social Service Workforce In Scotland. A Plan for Action 2005 - 2010. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive. Available online from http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/11/07104403/44040 [15 Nov 2005]

Scottish Executive, 2006. Changing Lives Report on the 21st Century Social Work Review. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive. Available online from http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/02/02094408/0 [22 Mar 2006]

Scottish Social Services Council http://www.sssc.uk.com/

  • Post Registration Training and Learning Guidance
  • September 2005 e-bulletin
  • Codes of Practice
  • PRTL Proforma

Scottish Social Services Council, October 2004. Continuing Professional Development for the Social Service Workforce. Dundee: Scottish Social Services Council. Available online from http://www.sssc.uk.com/education+and+training/continuing+professional+development.htm

Skinner , K., June 2005. Continuing Professional Development for the Social Services Workforce in Scotland. Developing Learning Organisations, Discussion Paper 1. Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education. Available online from http://www.sieswe.org/news/CPDDiscussionPaper.html

Social Care Institute for Excellence, 2004. Learning Organisations: A self-assessment resource pack. London: Social Care Institute for Excellence. Available online from http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/learningorgs/index.asp [22 Feb 2006]

These cards could be used for

  • Promoting professional discussion within teams
  • Developing organisational action plans and informing business plans
  • Auditing organisational policies
  • Creating/auditing staff and service user handbooks
  • Evaluating progress towards establishing a learning culture

Top

See also Legislation & Regulations on Post Registration Training and Learning.