Children

1
Childrens Workforce Development in the
Voluntary Sector

• Current issues
• Di McNeish

2
Contents of presentation

• Interim findings from ongoing study based on
  information from range of Third Sector
  organisations on the workforce needs of staff and
  volunteers, including
• - recruitment retention
• - qualifications training
• - continuing professional development
• - access to training development provided by
  Childrens Trusts as part of integrated working
• - use of CWDC standards, materials and support

3
Approach

• Panel sample of 30 organisations
• Range of sizes, location focus of work
• Direct service providers, senior managers with
  workforce lead, umbrellas
• Phone interviews and follow up e-questionnaire

4
Context

• TSOs working in environment heavily influenced
  by
• Funding
• Commissioning
• Local priorities
• New regulation

5
Recruitment retention

• Pluses
• Attractive work
• Culture ethos
• CPD opportunities incl autonomy influence

• Minuses
• Insecurity
• Pay conditions
• Career advancement
• Some posts hard to recruit to

6
Qualifications skills

• Diverse and changing
• Experience aptitude often as important as
  qualification
• Debates about appropriateness of qualifications
  level, content, mode access

7
CPD progression

• Where CPD requirements exist, orgs report they
  are met otherwise variable
• Some excellent examples of well-embedded
  approaches to CPD
• Some excellent examples of opportunities for
  progression e.g. from volunteer to manager
• But challenges incl funding for release backfill

8
Training

• Many orgs feel well served by their LA, but
  varies by remit
• In-house provision also varies
• Some orgs developing reciprocal arrangements

9
Role of CWDC

• Limited understanding of CWDC role
• Some awareness use of materials e.g. induction
  standards
• Free events valued
• Regional staff valued
• Confusion over who does what
• Influence on LA priorities