News & Events
This service relies on colleagues sending news and information to the College Chief Executive at: anton.florek@virtualstaffcollege.co.uk or contacting him at the VSC office on a regular basis. Notification of national and regional events and activities will be updated regularly but how often depends on colleagues sending news of events in.
Development News
VSC Sponsors the ADCS Annual Conference
The Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) Annual Conference took place in Manchester on 7-9 July. The Virtual Staff College and VSC Plus (the consultancy and delivery arm of the VSC) were major sponsors of the event. The VSC was the main sponsor for the DCS only aspect of the conference . Anton Florek, Chief Executive said "Our support of this major event within the calendar for directors and senior managers in children's services underlines the commitment and dedication the VSC has to the sector and, of course, our continuing unique relationship with ADCS." VSC Plus sponsored the lunch on the final day. Pam Snowball, Director of Operations at the VSC was extremely pleased with the coverage that the VSC received, commenting "The presence of the VSC and its trading arm VSC Plus at the event enabled us to inform delegates regarding our offer and how we can support them and their staff, in delivering services to children, young people and families more effectively."
The VSC is also a sponsor of the National Children and Adult Services Conference which takes place in November 2010, ensuring that people from all over the children's services sector are aware of what the VSC has to offer. The College is also sponsoring the North of England Education Conference in January 2011.
New MDP starts in Wales
VSC Cymru has just launched a new cohort on the Leadership & Management Programme. The programme has proved very popular. Sioned Bowen, of VSC Cymru, said:
"The fact that all the places were taken for this programme shows that children's services staff in Wales are committed to continuous improvement of the services they work in. We at the VSC Cymru have worked hard to develop the programme to meet the ever changing needs within Wales and so we are pleased that the take up rate has been so good."
This course was oversubscribed. Please get in touch with us to register your interest for the next course which will start as soon as we have the first twelve names.
We are also providing bespoke training for some Local Authorities, linked with change management and School Effectiveness Framework developments in Wales. Again, please get in touch to discuss your requirements. VSC Cymru is ADEW's professional development arm and we are anxious that you make full use of the various opportunities.
Virtual Staff College and Deloitte
We would like to congratulate Deloitte in securing the tender to become the Long Term Strategic Partners for the Directors of Children’s Services provision at the National College.
Deloitte is noted for its commitment to working collaboratively, engaging with stakeholders and delivering high quality programmes. We are pleased that Deloitte have invited the Virtual Staff College to be an Expert Partner in their consortium and look forward to working with them.
Report to ADCS Council
To read or download the Chief Executive's latest report to the Council of the Association of Directors of Children's Services please click here.
Programmes and Events
Management Development Programme:
Services for Children, Young People and Families
***New dates announced. See flyer for details***
This is the first element of a three-stage programme, which can lead from Certificate to Diploma and on to a Masters Degree or Doctorate although formal qualification is optional.
The programme has been designed to meet the real need for significant changes in the
management of services for children and young people in the context of Local Authority and Children's Trust arrangements. Issues of general management are addressed with a particular focus on current challenges. It is anticipated that the study of successful integration of relevant activities in services for children and young people departments as well as other agencies, will produce considerable benefits to individual professionals, their local authorities and partner agencies, as well as to children and young people.
The programme content has been modified substantially in the past twelve months. It has been
designed around five full days of attendance, comprising taught elements and group work
elements.
The programme will be delivered in the North West and is due to start in September.
Click to download the information:
MDP: Managing School Organisation
For managers of school organisation arrangements in local authorities and their stakeholder partnerships.
It is the first element of an optional three stage programme leading from Certificate to Diploma and a Masters Degree awarded by the University of Cumbria.
The programme has been designed to help local authority officers meet the challenges of managing school organisation within a changing legal and policy context, so benefitting the individual professionals and their local authorities. The issues addressed will include the role of local authorities as commissioner of school places; the contribution of effective school organisation to planning locality services for children and young people; the legal and policy context for developing and implementing school reorganisation proposals including new academies and free schools; the use of data and information to define and support proposals; the project management of the different stages in school reorganisation; and supporting schools with change management.
Provisional dates are:
Days 1 & 2 - 21st & 22nd September 2010
Days 3 & 4 - 19th & 20th October 2010
Day 5 - 30th November
For more information about this 5 day programme, click here.
MDP: Data & Information Professionals
For data and information managers of services for children and young people working in local authorities and their Children’s Trust partners
This management development programme can be taken as a simple, stand alone course, or, for those that want to, it can include supported evaluation of a management issue faced by the participant, or it could be the first element of an optional three stage accreditation programme, which can lead from Certificate to Diploma and on to a Masters Degree or Doctorate
The programme content (originally based upon the “National Competences for Data and Information Professionals” jointly published by the VSC/CSN and the DfES) has recently been updated to reflects current issues faced by data and information professionals. It was designed to meet the need for significant change in the management of services for children and young people through local authorities and their strategic partners, and will review management issues faced by data and information managers.
Participants' knowledge and understanding will be enhanced through an exchange of ideas, experiences and opinions, by questioning assumptions, perceptions and expectations in the context of independent and collective study.
It is anticipated that the study of relevant activities in services for children and young people departments as well as other agencies, will produce considerable benefits to individual professionals and their local authorities, as well as to children, young people and families.
Provisional dates are:
Day 1 – 21st October 2010
Day 2 – 23rd November 2010
Day 3 – 14th January 2011
Day 4 – 9th March 2011
Plus 2 additional half days (one in Jan/Feb and one on 7th April 2011) - optional to complete project/continue to accreditation.
For more information about this programme, click here.
Coaching Programmes
Coaching Leadership
9th September (provisional)
Executive Coaching for Senior and Middle Managers in Children’s Trusts
WHAT IS THE OFFER?
• A one day seminar on coaching skills
• You will be able to use these immediately and see the results
• You will receive a copy of the “Developing a Coaching Culture Manual” that you can use with your team
• You will receive a copy of “The 7 great secrets of brilliant coaches”
• You will receive a copy of the “Developing a Coaching Culture CD” that provides further ongoing support.
Click here to download the flyer.
Personal Performance Coaching
WHAT IS THE OFFER?
• Six telephone coaching sessions generally spread over 12 weeks
• Weekly e-mail contact and support
• A “Personal Performance Success” final report
• A copy of the powerful “The 7 Cs of Successful Leaders” manual which includes 4 CDs
• A copy of the organisation-changing “Developing a Coaching Culture in Your Organisation” resource which includes a CD
Click here to download the flyer.
North of England Education Conference 2011 - Our World, Our Future
5 - 7 January 2011, Blackpool
Blackpool Council will host the 107th North of England Education Conference (NEEC) which will be held at the Hilton and Imperial Hotels from 5th to 7th January 2011. This unparalleled event is an outstanding opportunity for senior decision makers in education, Children’s Services, the public sector, associated agencies and organisations to meet.
- You will hear key national and international figures speak who are entertaining, cutting edge and inspirational!
- You will have the opportunity to follow your own professional interests from a diverse and exciting programme.
- You will meet others and share opinions, challenges and successes.
- You will visit the nation’s most popular beach resort – which attracts more than 10 million visitors a year! There will be opportunities to experience the traditional aspects of the town and also to see how we are transforming the nation’s premier resort into a world-class destination.
The conference is now aimed at:
- All the professions within Children’s Services
- Major partners who help deliver Every Child Matters – such as those who work in Health, Police, voluntary sector organisations and as school governors
- Key elected members
- Those engaged in research and higher education
For more information and to book your place, visit www.neec2011.co.uk
VSC SCOTLAND
Summer School
The VSCS Summer School takes place on 12th and 13th August at the Marine Hotel, North Berwick. The title for this year's event is Leadership for New Service Delivery. For more information, click here.
VSC WALES
Click here to see the latest information about programmes in Wales. For more information about our Welsh programmes, contact Sioned Bowen at mrs@sabowen.wanadoo.co.uk
CLICK HERE TO VIEW BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS