SCQF and the Social Services Sector

The SCQF has been developed, implemented and continues to be promoted within the social services sector through the SCQF Co-ordination Group and work is being taken forward by Dr Alison Harold, SCQF Project Officer for the Scottish Social Services Council.

The SCQF Co-ordination Group consists of representatives from: the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC); the Scottish Executive; Quality Assurance Agency Scotland; Association of Directors of Social Work (ADSW); the Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education (SIESWE); the Association of Scotland’s Colleges (ASC); the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA); Voluntary Sector Social Services Workforce Unit; Care Scotland; the statutory, voluntary and private sectors; and the SCQF Early Education and Childcare Group.

The SCQF Project for Social Services aims to:

• map the existing range of qualifications onto the Framework and identify gaps;
• work in partnership with stakeholders to include appropriate learning and qualifications;
• enable the recognition of workbased learning, experiential learning and informal learning;
• promote the availability of affordable, widely accessible, and flexible training;
• incorporate Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for all workers across the range of levels;
• facilitate a dialogue between stakeholders in order to develop credit transfer and to clarify routes for access, progression and exit;
• promote agreements about credit transfer, progression and opportunities for bridging to avoid duplication of effort and unnecessary expense;
• develop links with and routes between related professions and sectors;
• incorporate European and international developments;
• publicise SCQF, its relevance and practical application for learners, service users, carers and employers;
• empower learners to make informal decisions about their career choices.

Since her appointment in 2004, Dr Alison Harold, SCQF Project Officer has continued work around the promotion, consultation and dissemination of information about the SCQF throughout the Social Services Sector. The SCQF Co-ordination Group continues to meet every two months to be advised on the SCQF developments within the Sector.

In April 2005, the conference ‘Leading the way in Europe – the SCQF in the Social Services Sector’, was held at the Edinburgh Conference Centre, Heriot Watt University on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) and its application within the Social Services Sector.

This very successful event, run under the auspices of the Scottish Social Services Council, was attended by 153 participants, from the statutory, voluntary and private sectors, ranging from training providers to learners, to representatives from further and higher education. The report on the conference, including keynote speeches and presentations is linked below:
http://www.sssc.uk.com/News+and+Events/Events/Leading+
the+way+in+Europe+conference+report.htm

Recognition of Prior Learning-SVQs

This aspect of work aims to recognise learning which has not previously been assessed and to enable learners to gain either SVQ2 or SVQ3 without duplicating effort. The materials to support this project were piloted in 2006 with groups of recently employed workers. Stage one of the pilot involved learners and mentors from Crossreach, ORCHA, Viewpoint, and Inclusion Glasgow. Their experiences of using the RPL materials and RPL tool were evaluated and suggestions for changes to the materials incorporated into the RPL pack. This evaluation of stage one has been produced as a report. Stage two involves the tracking of learners as they work towards their SVQ attainment. This will be evaluated in May 2007 using both quantitative and qualitative measures. Glasgow City Council has also joined the pilot and will be testing the materials with groups of learners working towards SVQ3, SVQ4-Registered Managers, and Learning and Development awards. Further refinements of the materials are currently being undertaken. These include the incorporation of sample reflective exercises, further commentary throughout the text, and explicit direct evidence from the RPL materials to core SVQ units. Future work for the project has been identified as additional support materials for mentors and the development of generic RPL materials for social services.

Recognition of Prior Learning & credit transfer - HEIs

Universities are at different stages in the development of advanced entry to the Degree in Social Work either through credit transfer from courses such as the HNC in Social Care or though informal-experiential learning. The SCQF project identified working with HEIs to promote advanced entry through RPL or credit transfer. The SCQF project commissioned an exercise to scope the interest in developing systems of RPL as advanced entry to the Degree in Social Work at Glasgow Caledonian University. It is proposed that stage 2 will track groups of experienced workers seconded from employment through programmes at Glasgow Caledonian University and the Open University which includes advanced entry using RPL. This project is at the planning stage, awaiting developments within the universities which will enable this articulation

Credit Rating Workbased Learning

A working group was set up to consider example programmes of learning which at present were not credit rated and to prepare them for credit rating in collaboration with the Scottish Qualifications Authority or a Scottish HEI. Scotland's Colleges have only recently been granted the autority to credit-rate by SCQF.

The objective of this pilot is to provide guidance for the preparation of programmes of learning for credit rating. The first programme is a Manger Induction Programme developed by South Lanarkshire Council. The Project commissioned the Unit for Workbased Learning, Glasgow Caledonian University to prepare this programme for credit rating. A draft report makes suggestions for notional levels and credit and the programme will now be credit-rated. The second programme of learning is Perth and Kinross Council’s Foundation Course on Child Protection which SQA are credit rating. Learning from these developments will be used to form guidelines and a template which can be used throughout the sector for preparing workbased learning for SCQF credit rating.

Working with Colleges

Working with colleges was identified as a key development in the implementation of the SCQF. SSSC invited college representatives to a workshop in February 2006. SFEU then held two college workshops with presentations by SCQF postholders. From this developed a collaborative initiative of the SCQF postholders in Social Services, SFEU, Health and Community Learning and Development.

The first two rounds of events in the North, Tayforth, South East and West have been held. There has been information sharing on recognition of prior learning and partnership activity, the work of the learning networks, and SCQF developments and events. These events have been very successful and have established the group remit as follows:

• Support developments which will advance the application of the SCQF:
  • recognition of prior learning;
  • credit transfer and articulation with college provision;
  • supporting the learner’s journey;
• Harmonise group objectives and Learning Network objectives;
• Inform and impact on the development of the Learning Networks; and
• Work in partnership to streamline activity and avoid duplication.

The Learning Network

The Scottish Social Services Learning Network is a new project designed to support the learning and development of Scotland’s social service workforce. Access to the Learning Networks website is www.learningnetworks.org.uk

SCQF-SSSC Newsletter

A newsletter has been developed in order to publicise the range of activities which use the SCQF currently being undertaken in the sector. The first issue includes contributions from: the SCQF Social Services project, Early Education and Child Care, Housing, Scottish Executive, Care Scotland, Scottish Practice Learning Project, and the Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education. It is proposed that the newsletter will be issued twice a year for the duration of the project.

Cross Sector Developments

The SCQF postholders are considering how they can collaborate on projects currently being undertaken or being planned. This discussion involves Social Services, Health, Community Learning, SQA, SFEU, the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Councils and the SCQF Manager, Development Officer and Administrator. Collaborative developments will focus on work already being undertaken on RPL, College-HEI access, and promotional materials. It is proposed that future developments will identify cross sector collaboration.

Other Developments

There has also been collaboration on the application of the SCQF with several organisations. This includes; Scottish Practice Learning Project, Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education, Children in Scotland , Scottish Executive, Camphill, Open University, Key Housing and Angus Council/Tayside Health Board.

Exemplars of Credit Rated Provision:

The Scottish Childminders' Association's (SCMA) Scheme of Excellence has been credit rated and levelled within the SCQF. This is a self-evaluation tool for registered childminders, which provides a stepping-stone to a more formal qualification by contributing towards underpinning knowledge. With supported study sessions and assignments, it has 10 credits at level 6. SCMA are now in the process of cross referencing the Scheme of Excellence to the new SVQ III award in Children's Care Learning and Development and also to the current Early Years Standards, with the intention of allowing those progressing to SVQ III to use the Scheme of Excellence as evidence. SCMA believe the process of crediting and levelling now gives the Scheme of Excellence a credibility that in turn will give more confidence to those funding the award. Credit rating workbased learning is a key development in the Social Services Sector. The work undertaken by SCMA will provide guidance for further developments in the sector. This strand will be piloted over this year and next.

2006 and Beyond:

The National Strategy for the Development of the Social Service Workforce: A Plan for Action 2005-2010 was launched by Robert Brown, Deputy Minister for Education and Young People at the SSSC conference "Building a confident social service workforce" on 9 November 2005. It will be of interest to everyone in the social service workforce - service providers, employers, managers, individuals as well as training providers and others. It aims to ensure that developing the workforce is placed centre stage and integral to the planning and delivery of social services. It is vital that the workforce are equipped with the right knowledge, skills and training they need to meet the changing and increasing demands now being made of them. The SCQF will have a vital part to play in the development of the Social Services Workforce.

Copies of the strategy can be found at www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/11/07104403/44040

Further information:

Further information on the work of the SSSC can be found on www.sssc.uk.com

For further information on the SCQF and Social Services sector, contact Dr Alison Harold – Alison.harold@sssc.uk.com