How does the VSC Work?
The College has only a very small central unit and operates through a network of partners. Its functions are:
- identifying professional development needs
- developing relevant programmes of professional development
- quality assuring provision
- providing information and guidance
- promoting professional development
A national board has been appointed which is comprised of members of education and children's services drawn from the Council of ADCS and its membership together with ADES and ADEW.
Currently membership of the College Board is:
- Eleni Ioannides (Chair)
- Anton Florek. VSC Chief Executive and company secretary
- Terry Piggott. Rochdale MBC
- Jane Carter. Warwickshire County Council
- Carol Chambers. Rutland Council
- Alan Blackie. East Lothian Council
- Mike Keating. RCT. Local Education Authority
- Vacancy
The College is 'virtual' in that it does not generally itself deliver professional development but instead works through other organisations to produce relevant, high quality and cost effective programmes to meet the needs of professionals working in the delivery and management of local authority services to children. young people and families.
During its first year of existance the Collegeg surveyed all local authorities in England and Wales and information gathered on:
- the workforce and supply of skills
- the supply of training
- the demand for skills and training
- the delivery of training
- evaluation and assessment of training
An executive summary of the findings was circulated to all chief education officers and the responses identified gaps in provision compared to need in the areas of strategic planning/management, quality improvement and performance monitoring.
Further regional surveys have been conducted since this national survey and the regional ADCS networks also assess needs at local level on a regular basis.
To support this a competence framework has been developed (originally in partnership with the Local Government National Training Organisation). The framework is made up of a map of the functions carried out in the sector together with external reference points (standards) describing what has to be done to demonstrate competence to carry out a particular function in real work situations.
COMPETENCE FRAMEWORK - summary
Key purpose: Create and maintain a framework and culture in which individual learners can strive to realise their full potential throughout their lives. This will be achieved by initiating and fostering active partnerships within a local democracy representing the interests of, and providing accountability to, local communities.
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The full map with far more detailed sub-divisions of role and functions
is available in the section devoted to it on this website. Work continues
on developing the standards which are reviewed regularly. The latest
revision will be available in the autumn of 2007 and will include new
competences for data and information professionals and reflect the change
from education to children's services. Two guides to help staff and their
managers use the competences for a wide range of personal and organisational
development purposes were published by LGNTO. Copies of these were sent
to all LAs in England and Wales. Further copies can be obtained from:
Publications Section, Layden House, 76-86 Turnmill Street, London EC1M
5LG
Tel: 0207 2966600 Fax: 0207 2966523
www.idea.gov.uk
