CWDC Level 1 2 Generic Induction Training Pilot Programme

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CWDC Level 1 / 2 Generic Induction Training
Pilot Programme

• Evaluation Report
• May 2009

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Background

• CWDCs induction training is designed to meet the
  broad initial training needs of newly appointed
  childrens workforce staff
• The training provides them with a shared
  understanding of the Every Child Matters Common
  Core of Knowledge and Understanding
• Demand was identified by CWDC for a level 1/2
  generic induction training programme for use with
  volunteer and paid workers new to the role of
  supporting parents and children and those
  aspiring to work with children and young people
• A new set of materials was developed in response
  to this demand which was piloted over the period
  December 2008 March 2009

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The Pilots

• The new Level 1/2 Generic Induction Training
  materials were field tested in pilots run in
  Bedfordshire, Devon, Lincolnshire, London
  (Barking and Dagenham, Newham and Redbridge) and
  Somerset
• Objectives
• To identify the target market for the training
• To establish whether the new course meets their
  needs
• To enable CWDC to refine the materials to ensure
  that they are fit for purpose
• To generate feedback on their value
• Evaluation learners, line managers, trainers and
  observers provided extensive statistical and
  qualitative data which was reviewed and endorsed
  at a full-day messaging meeting.

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Key findings 1

• 118 trainees attended the courses, from a wide
  and representative range of agencies and roles,
  full-time and part-time, young and older,
  employed and volunteers
• Trainees feedback was enthusiastic and showed
  that the training met their expectations very
  well
• They reported that
• the training was successful in helping them
  understand the issues they were encountering in
  their roles
• attending the training had helped to give them
  more confidence in their role
• many were stimulated to seek further training
• volunteers were prompted to consider a career
  working with children and young people

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Key Findings 2

• The field test confirmed a clear need for level
  1/2 generic induction training and endorsed the
  use of the multi-agency approach
• The materials were found to be relevant, useful
  and clear. Some work is needed to correct
  inaccuracies and improve the way the materials
  are organised
• Positioning the marketing and delivery of the
  course to ensure sufficient differentiation
  between level 1/2 and level 3/4 was a challenge
• Level 1/2 roles are being filled by people with a
  wide range of academic qualifications, including
  highly qualified people for whom this is a second
  career or voluntary role
• The course would ideally suit workers who were a
  few months in the role.

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Key Findings 3

• CWDCs objective to target this training at those
  aspiring to work with children and young people
  does not appear to be realistic
• The course would be better titled Introduction
  to working with young people and aimed at a)
  those working in roles with less responsibility
  and b) those with limited experience across the
  Local Authority and voluntary sectors
• The materials were found to be very similar to
  the Level 3/4 Generic Induction Training. This
  raised concerns that anyone progressing to a
  level 3/4 role would be attending virtually the
  same induction training
• There was no guidance in the trainers notes on
  how to treat the materials in a way more
  appropriate to level 1/2 roles ie lighter
  touch, less reference to policies etc

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Some statistics Age range
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Employed / Volunteers
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Time in role
10
Qualifications
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Motivation
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Some more statistics
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Did programme meet expectations?
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Delivery
15
Networking
16
Confidence
17
Usefulness/Clarity of materials
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Line Manager role
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Sustainability.. in doubt?

• The induction training course was recognised as
  important and meeting a real need
• Some Local Authorities are planning to offer it
  as part of their integrated induction training
  arrangements
• However others have no plans in place
• Some LAs are re-organising and cannot predict how
  induction training will be delivered in the
  future
• Commercial organisations depend on being
  commissioned to deliver the training by a local
  authority or selling places to cover costs
• Participants from the voluntary sector will not
  be able to afford the training without further
  funding

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Recommendations 1-5

• To include the revised level 1/2 generic
  induction training materials on CWDCs website
  and promote them for use with the target groups
• To communicate the training as an introductory
  element of the Integrated Qualifications
  Framework recommended in governments 2020
  strategy
• To re-title course Introduction to working with
  young people and aim it at a) those working in
  roles with less responsibility and b) those with
  limited experience across the Local Authority and
  voluntary sectors
• To make explicit in CWDCs website guidance that
  the ideal time for the induction training is 4-6
  months into the role
• To reduce or drop the emphasis on those aspiring
  to work with children and young people as the
  training is not realistic for them

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Recommendations 6-9

• 6. To recognise in positioning the training on
  CWDCs website that Level 1/2 roles are being
  filled by people with a wide range of academic
  qualifications, including many highly qualified
  people for whom this is a second or voluntary
  role
• 7. To consider how to ensure that profile forms
  prompt for learning difficulties and possible
  physical access difficulties
• To include some simple written exercises, for
  trainers to review during the course and use to
  correct any problems they reveal in trainees
  learning achievement
• 9. To recommend trainer pre-briefing to ensure
  that all trainers, including practitioner
  trainers involved in leading specialist modules,
  had a good understanding of the whole course

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Recommendations 10-15

• 10. To undertake work to assess the implications
  for other training, including level 3/4 generic
  induction, and modify materials, notes etc as
  required
• 11. To include guidance in the trainers notes on
  how to treat the materials in a way appropriate
  to level 1/2 roles
• 12. To explore the possibility of creating a
  trainer skills support package for the Level 1/2
  Generic Induction Training programme
• To provide learners with copies of their group
  exercise outputs
• To amend assumptions in Induction Plan and
  training materials that only apply to some
  trainees
• To recommend in trainer notes that line managers
  should be involved in a pre-course briefing with
  their trainees and should be provided copies of
  the materials or outlines of the course

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Recommendations 16-20

• 16. To make the final reflective module more like
  an Action Plan in focus and style
• 17. To ensure that the Handbook is better
  presented and cross-referenced to reduce
  confusion
• To include a Learning Record rather than the
  Induction Plan
• To work to make level 1/2 generic induction
  training generally available on a free to the
  learner basis to all workers with roles
  involving children and young people, as part of
  every local authoritys integrated training plans
• To identify funding avenues to enable voluntary
  sector workers to access the training