Article by First_Response
The Childrens Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has announced its intention to continue its work beyond March 2012, despite the fact that it will not receive funding from April 2012.
The Council have confirmed that they will provide substantial work on a project for the Department for Education (DfE) during 2011-12 with over £113 million being invested in workforce development. By March next year, however, much of it work will be taken over by the DfE, a new executive agency or be led by employers from within the workforce.
However, the CWDC, which was first established in 2005, will retain its sector skills responsibilities and says it will continue to work to support employers and employees within the childrens workforce from April 2012 onwards.
Jane Haywood, Chief Executive of the CWDC, explained: We have made the most positive impact on the lives of children and young people when we have listened and responded to the people who work with them. We know what works at the frontline, including the fact that when people work across professional boundaries they can make the largest difference to childrens lives. Supporting a child in every aspect of their life is more effective than focusing on their education or care alone.
At the moment, employers are making some tough frontline decisions. We want to support them in this role, and make sure we build on what we know works so we can continue to make a difference to children and young peoples lives.
Over the next 12 months the CWDC is aiming to hold discussions with employers and frontline workers to determine how they can best support them in their work beyond March 2012.
Perry Leeks, Managing Director at First Response Training, which provides a wide range of training for the childrens workforce, says: Frontline workers in the child care sector will always benefit from support from bodies such as the CWDC, whatever guise they may take in the future. It is great that their work will continue and the sector will receive ongoing support.
Training for the children and young peoples workforce will always be a key focus of any organisation working to help them. A well-trained workforce is much better able to give children the help and support they need as they go through life.
We offer a number of training courses for those who work with children, from Health and Safety in Child Care to Paediatric First Aid to Child Protection. We are currently working to expand and diversify our offering so that we can increase and improve our provision for this important and hard-working sector.
For more information, please call First Response today on free phone 0800 310 2300.
