Children and Young People NW Network Group

Children and Young People NW Network Group 

15th September – Workforce Development session notes

 
Issues Identified
 
·        VCS organisations becoming stretched risk of serious incidents
·        VCS acting as businesses rather than charities
·        Volunteer’s qualifications and quality assurance – where it needs it, skills needed in risk management and TUPE. Infrastructure support for consortium building, worries about quality of delivery has to be a priority
·        Dumbing down of youth work, induction of volunteers and part time workers
·        What is a youth worker now
·        How do you plan and fund training
·        Blurred boundaries between professions/professionals
·        Lack of information about training funding
·        Organisations with no track record in work with young people
·        No legal or clear definition of volunteering
·        Paid work becoming voluntary
·        Enforced volunteering or lose benefits
·        Lobbying for youth work, increased PR and evidence based practice
·        Keep youth work on the agenda
·        Social return on investment at LA level not service level
·        Maintaining youth work as a profession
·        The value we place on young people
·        Differentiation of age groups
 
Potential Solutions 
 
·        VCS needs to be prepared in terms of training
·        Knowing what training, support, capacity building is available – role of infrastructure bodies in helping this
·        Gaining legal advice
·        HR and other skills in National Organisations
·        Undertake skills audits in organisations and networks it is amazing what you have already got
·        Regional planning and co-ordination of a training offer
·        Use of Common Core
·        The amount of free training materials available e.g. CWDC Leadership and Management materials
·        Collecting evidence of the impact of youth work locally and regionally
·        There is evidence of the impact of youth work but there is no coherent framework at national level

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Contact Us

Voluntary Sector North West
St. Thomas Centre
Ardwick Green North
Manchester
M12 6FZ
Tel: 0161 276 9300
Fax: 0161 276 9301
Email: info@vsnw.org.uk