Opportunities for LearningThe Society’s Education Programme

Elisabeth Skinner

Practitioners’ Conference: 2014

Stronger through Study

You might•Want to gain more confidence through learning•Be ready to help or encourage others to improve or develop•Be totally committed to professional development•Want to challenge the need for an education programme

•The ethos of professional development and the value of investing in learning

•The education programme from ILCA to Community Governance, touching on CiLCA and CPD

•Questions and discussion

•Is clerking a profession? If so, why?

Stronger through Study

The Institute for Learning (IfL) says probably ….. if it involves •specialist knowledge, skills and competence•evidence of competence demonstrated through practice and qualifications

A professional claims to be worthy of trust and confidence.

Professionalism

The Institute for Learning says it is more:

“a commitment beyond competence and a journey towards a declaration of high worth and esteem, pride in practice and commitment to continuous improvement and development in professional knowledge and practice”

Professionalism and the Role of Professional Bodies, IfL, 2009 page 4

Professionalism

Improvement and development through education costs money and time.

Is the investment worth it?

Do the benefits outweigh the costs?

The Investment

Learning

•motivates people

•increases commitment

•creates job satisfaction

But people must be motivated to learn so

•what does each individual need and want to learn?

The Investment

Eg: Colleges (ICT, book-keeping, NVQs), Association of AccountingTechnicians, Institute of Leadership and Management, CALCs/CTPs

The Society - a strong education programme:•ILCA (Introduction to Local Council Administration)•Step up to CiLCA•CPD courses•Community Governance

Opportunities

Based on Working with Your Council (1999), it introduces the knowledge in a clear and accessible way:

•Equivalent to Level 2 of NQF•Complies with occupational standards•Online to increase accessibility •Multiple choice activity tests knowledge•Designed to increase assessment uptake

ILCA

Who is it for?

•People new to the profession

•Aspiring clerks

•Administrative staff

•Councillors

•People preparing for CiLCA

ILCA

ILCA• Written for students in both England and Wales• Accessible for both officers and councillors• Encourages active thinking

5 modules to match occupational standards • Core Roles• Law & Procedures• Finance• Management• Community & Planning

The Law & Procedures Module

ILCA

ILCA

• Activity 1 is an online test of basic knowledge to pass at 80%

Certificate

To help prepare for CiLCA

• Activity 2 is discussion

• Activity 3 is a research and writing exercise reviewed by a trainer

Certificate

ILCA

Activity 2

•Discussion through SLCC webinars, the online forum, branch-led groups or the mentoring officer

Activity 3

•Write up discussions

•CiLCA-type exercises

•Researching your own council

CiLCA

• CiLCA is a qualification – not a training course; people still need a training course to prepare for CiLCA

• SLCC provides ILCA (2 & 3) and Step Up to CiLCA training events

Review of CiLCA due - to set it more firmly at Level 3

Community Governance

The process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented)” ……. in a community and in community organisations

UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific www.unescap.org/pdd/prs/ProjectActivities/Ongoing/gg/governance.asp

Community Governance

“ways in which agencies such as local councils, principal authorities, voluntary and community organisations, and other agencies deliver services, engage local communities and work in partnership”

CG programme specification available from

http://www.slcc.co.uk/content/higher-education-community-governance/39/

Community Governance

Established in 1987•Flexible modules and awards from Levels 4 and 5 (leading to Level 6)•Advanced learning (higher education)•Builds on ILCA and CiLCA; builds confidence and depth of knowledge•Qualified clerk status•Academic but practical and relevant•Validated by University of Gloucestershire (quality assurance, awards, rules)

For the CertHE Level 4: Community Governance: Local Council Management (all modules but one are 15 pts)

•Community Governance

•Local Council Law & Procedures (30 pts)

•Local Council Finance

One from

•Community Development

•Partnership Working

•Community Profile

Community Governance

Community Governance

One from

•Sustainable Development

•Community-led Planning

•The Planning System

One from

•Sustainable Development

•Community-led Planning

•The Planning System

Community Governance

One from

•Managing People

•Managing Projects

•Organisational Management

One from

•Learning at Work

•CPD

Community Governance

44 students taking Level 4 modules to in 2014 (Level 5 starts 2015)

Academic year from February to November (apply by Christmas)

Cost in 2014 is £450 per 15pts plus day schools

Learning at work and through assignments– reports,, booklets, presentation materials, workplace documents

Learning with support– tutors, mentors, day schools, self-help groups, online discussion

Action for Learning

• Encourage and facilitate

• Plan investment in learning and professionalism– CG January 2015

Your thoughts and questions welcome.

Stronger through Study