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Equipping staff to do the job well: CPD for support staff in FE and HE

– a new accredited qualification

Dr Jessica Lober Newsome, Laser Learning Awards

Sarah Roberts, Canterbury Christ Church University

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Workshop Aims

• To present a new qualification• To discuss how it will help DMS carry out their role

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Overview of the Session

Introduction to the Qualification 15 mins

Icebreaker 10 mins

Activity 1: DMS Role 10 mins

Feedback 15 mins

Activity 2: Case Studies 15 mins

Feedback 10 mins

Discussion 5 mins

Q&A 5 mins

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The Qualification

• Level 3 Award in Supporting Young People Leaving Care in Post-16 Education (QCF)

• Ofqual Qualification Number: 600/3710/6• Only available through one Awarding

Organisation - Laser Learning Awards• Developed out of 5 years of existing

training and good practice• Programme/delivery being piloted in Kent

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Acknowledgements

• YCL Strategy Group • Felicity Dunworth, Stuart Goodall and Lisa

Clements, Kent and Medway Progression Federation

• Rachel Calver, Sarah Hurrell and Graham Razey, Thanet College

• Isabelle Gill, University of Greenwich• Joanne Oliphant and Juliet Ward, Laser

Learning Awards• Skills for Care and Development

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The Awarding Organisation

• Previously known as ‘Open College Network South East Region’

• Long history of working with organisations catering for learners who traditionally may not remain in/return to education

• Other qualifications include ‘Progression’ qualifications and ‘Access to HE Diploma’

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Details of the Qualification• Level 3• 3 mandatory units, 6 credits

Title No. of Credits

Unit 1 Communication Skills in Helping Relationships

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Unit 2 Supporting Young People Who Are Looked After or Are Leaving Care

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Unit 3 Preparing for the Role of DMS for Young Care Leavers in Post-16 Education

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c. 45 Guided Learning Hours

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Aims of the Qualification• CPD - to enhance and recognise the skills

and knowledge of DMS• Covers:

• the role of the DMS• needs, issues and challenges• information and support• statutory and legal frameworks• communication skills

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Developing the Qualification• Why was/is this qualification needed?• Why Level 3?• Supported by 20 stakeholders• Approved by Ofqual and Skills for Care

and Development

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Important Info

• Centre must be ‘Recognised’ by Laser• Assessor and Internal Verifier must be suitably

qualified• Candidate must be 18+ and working at Level 3• Portfolio of evidence needed to achieve qual• Centre chooses assessment methods and devises

assessments (Laser can advise)• Quality assurance and record keeping paramount• Laser fee £20 per candidate (sole charge)

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Case Studies

FE Case Studies

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KatyKaty is one of your strongest BTEC National Diploma Health and Social Care students and would like to go to university next year. She is interested in some form of social care career, possibly as a social worker. Katy has been in care since she was 3, has had many different foster homes and lots of different schools, but now she is settled with a loving foster family who are encouraging her to stay at college and go onto higher level study.

You have been working with Katy for some time and know that she was anorexic for many years and still suffers from terrible panic attacks. To help Katy manage her anxiety she has one-to-one support in class, but today she comes to you in tears. She has just heard from her support worker that the college is going to withdraw her one-to –one support. Katy feels she cannot manage in class without help. She says no one understands how awful and frightened she feels and that she will have to leave college.

How can you help Katy?

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Ahmed

Ahmed has just arrived in the country and as an unaccompanied asylum seeker. He was found by Dover Customs in the back of a lorry delivering tomatoes to London. His foster Dad, Bob, brought him to college because, although his English is very poor, Ahmed’s maths skills seem excellent. He amazed everyone in the family by doing all of Bob’s son’s algebra maths homework in 5 minutes. Ahmed says he is 16 but he looks a lot younger; he is very nervous and he seems terrified of you.

Ahmed’s foster Dad asks if there are any courses Ahmed could take and would they be free?

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Jenny

Jenny is in foster care locally and has come to see you with her foster mum. Jenny was badly bullied at school and has been out of school since Year 7 but she has been working in a local hairdressing salon every weekend since Christmas and loves it. The owner of the salon has written you a note saying Jenny deserves a chance to go to college as all the customers love her. She now wants to do your hairdressing course. Jenny is bright, charming and motivated, but has no formal qualifications at all.

Can you help Jenny?

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Steve

Steve recently moved from foster care into supported lodgings as he wanted more independence. Steve is on your motor vehicle engineering course and his tutor has come to see you. In the last few weeks, Steve’s time keeping and attendance has gone from excellent to appalling. He is on a second warning for handing in his coursework late and he has not completed his big final year project. He has always been a chatty, cheerful student, but does not seem to be washing himself or his clothes very often and seems very quiet and depressed when he comes to class.

His tutor is really worried about Steve and asks you to find out what is going on…

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Tracey

Tracey is a star on your performing arts course. She sings, dances and acts in every performance the college puts on. Tracey is an out of county care leaver from a London Borough. She has settled well with her foster family but her social workers keep leaving and she now has no idea who to ask to find out if she can stay with her foster family for another year. She is 19 now and wants to do a Foundation Degree in Drama at your college.

Can you help Tracey find out if she can stay with her foster family and if she has any entitlements or special funding for this course?

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Case Studies

HE Case Studies

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Chris

Chris has been accepted onto the University of Greenwich Adult Nursing degree at Avery Hill. He is really looking forward to starting the course in September but knows he will have to work night shifts during his course. He accepts he will have to live nearer to London, but does not know if he can stay in a Hall of Residence on Avery Hill campus and still keep his flat in Folkestone. It has taken him years to get some decent belongings for his flat, including furniture, and he does not want to lose it. His room on campus will be tiny.

He wonders if you have any ideas that might help him?

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Janey

Janey has been invited to York University for an interview for a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. It is a very popular course and Janey has done very well to get an interview. She thinks her published stories and poems for the Who Cares? Trust helped her get the offer of an interview. Her local authority have asked her to pay for the train tickets and say they will refund her costs afterwards, on production of her receipts. However, she does not have enough money to buy the train ticket, let alone pay for the overnight accommodation required for the 9.30 am interview.

Janey is a bit tearful and is thinking of not going to her interview. Can you help?

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Michael

Michael has applied to the University of Kent for the LLB Law degree and received a conditional offer of 280 UCAS points. However, he has just had his results and only gained 220 UCAS points. Kent say they will not lower their offer. Michael is very worried. He wants to study locally so that he stays near his brother, who is still with a foster family in Thanet (Kent). Michael has done brilliantly to complete his A levels and get such good grades while working. Every week he has worked more than 40 hours in a supermarket so that he can keep his flat and pay his bills.

He is at his wits end, can you help him?

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Allie

Allie is keen to apply for a primary teaching course at Canterbury Christ Church University. She is currently studying a BTEC National Diploma in Health and Social Care. She loves the course and her tutor says she is doing really well. She is getting Distinctions and Merits for all her assignments. However, several years ago she got involved with a druggie crowd at a local pub and ended up with a police caution/warning for possession of cannabis. Allie is worried she will not be able to apply for teaching, even though she has not been in trouble for 3 years. She does not know what to put on her UCAS form.

Can you help Allie?

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Recap and Conclusions