The interim CLD Standards Council team are currently engaged in a series of information and discussion sessions around Scotland. The key comments and questions raised at these events so far are available below. These will be updated as other sessions take place.
Hopes and ambitions for the CLD Standards Council
The following hopes and ambitions for the Standards Council have been frequently expressed in sessions to date:
- That it will result in an agreed identity and consistent language to express who we are and what we do
- That it will bring about wider recognition of the impact and richness of CLD, parity of esteem with other professions and public recognition
- That it will be rigorous, credible and aspirational
- That there will be a focus on training for managers - it's a complex role and specific support is needed
- That there will be better career routes:
Ways into and through a career in CLD
Horizontal and vertical progression
Recognition of prior learning
Frequently asked questions
The following are questions frequently raised at the sessions along with comments from the interim Standards Council team:
In what ways will the Standards Council take full account of the richness and diversity of our sector?
The CLD Standards Council will cover all staff who use and develop CLD approaches, not just those in local authorities. One of the principal reasons that the Scottish Government supports this initiative is the recognition of the increasingly wide field of activity in community learning and development.
The Interim Standards Council is working hard to raise awareness of these considerations - each CLD partnership has been offered a session in their area, and there are additional sessions which include Learning Link, Youthlink, literacies key contacts and training providers to link into. Details of the sessions can be found on this website, and there is also an online questionnaire to feed back your views. This is the start of a long process, and it will take time for information to reach everyone so that they can join in the debates. The Standards Council will continue to offer a range of ways for people to state their views as and when they wish to do so.
If training is properly approved and accredited why would we need registration?
Registration with the Standards Council will offer benefits that we hope people will wish to access. It will give entry to a community of practice, a context within which to discuss developments across the country and access to information on ongoing training and development opportunities. It will discuss with employers the possibility of an entitlement to professional development time each year.
A membership body can make use of opportunities to express the views of those members into policy contexts or other debates. Membership gives a degree of ownership over what is said and helps to create a safe space for professional debates to be had in full.
What is the timescale for setting up the Standards Council?
The Interim Standards Council is expected to report to the Cabinet Secretary with a detailed proposal for the long-term establishment of the Standards Council by 31 March 2008.
How will the Standards Council be funded - will there be membership costs?
The Cabinet Secretary will decide the exact model and levels of funding for the Standards Council. This will include establishment costs, staffing, research and development, but primarily the three main strands of registration, approval of training and CPD. Once established, the Standards Council will consider whether a scale of charges for membership is appropriate.
Will the Standards Council "have teeth"?
The Standards Council will be clear about its responsibilities in raising the quality of support for staff and also the quality of debate on CLD matters. In its early days, it will agree relationships with both government and employers.
How will you make sure that the language used does not exclude certain groups of practitioners?
By the very nature of their work, CLD practitioners are alert to different meanings of language. This is a necessary part of critical awareness and something that the Standards Council will be keen to foster. At the same time, however, there is a need to settle on a shared understanding of a range of terms that the sector is comfortable using when talking to others. This is particularly important when discussing vision and aims with other partners in Scotland, the UK and internationally.
Will the Standards Council be looking at the expansion and development of training programmes?
The Standards Council will be working with training providers, LLUK and other interested parties as part of the approvals process. Its remit also includes the development of Continuous Professional Development for CLD practitioners, and it is highly likely that opportunities will be developed by training providers to complement existing programmes and respond to the anticipated increase in demand.