Private Care Sector Workforce Initiative
Providers of Learning Opportunities
As indicated in the Introduction to Learning Opportunities, the links to organisations in this section should not be taken as an endorsement of the training provision as each care service provider must ensure that the learning opportunities offered meets their own individual needs and quality criteria.
We provide in this section a range of organisations which link to providers of vocational, FE and HEI programmes of learning; professional bodies; charitable/advocacy organisations; Centres for Excellence e.g. Dementia Services Development Centre, , Institute for Research & Innovation in Social Services, Scottish Training on Drugs & Alcohol, Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability, Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care); the member organisation for the independent training provider; and Learn Direct Scotland, the Scottish Government sponsored body which informs on training opportunities.
SQA approved providers for SVQ training
The Scottish Qualification Authority is the national body in Scotland responsible for the development, accreditation, assessment and certification of qualifications other than degrees. They have provided for us a list of those training providers who have Approved Centre Status for the delivery of the SVQ and HNC qualifications in Health & Social Care. This is the main SQA site www.sqa.org.uk. For information on all SQA approved centres (providing, for example, Health and Social Care Levels 2, 3 and 4; Leadership and Management Level 4; Supervision in Health and Social Care PDA; assessor and verifier awards) please phone SQA direct, to their Care Scotland Helpline at 0845 2135471
Further Education Colleges
The Local Further Education colleges provide a wide range of learning and development services in your area including health and social care. The link below allows you to visit the home page for each FE in Scotland.
http://www.ascol.org.uk/colleges.cfm
Universities in Scotland
The Universities provide a range of higher education programmes including nurse and social work training. The link below allows you to visit the home page for each University in Scotland.
http://scotlandinter.net/uni.htm
The Open University provides a range of courses tthat may meet the development needs of your staff. The distance learning approach supported by trained tutors has proved a most successful format. Scottish Care is currently working in conjunction with the OU on a number of initiatives.
Open University Website
Some Universities are recognised as Centres of Excellence such as the University Of Stirling, for its' work in the area of dementia, Dementia Services Development Centre), the University of Glasgow's Scottish Training on Drugs & Alcohol, Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care which is based within the University of Strathclyde and Institute for Research & Innovation in Social Services which was founded by all Scottish Universities that provide social work courses but which is now a charitable company in its own right. Another organisation which can be considered a centre of excellence is Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability which is also a charitable organisation that is a partnership of 12 different organisations including some universities.
Charities
Some of the major Charities e.g. Alzheimer Scotland, Help the Aged, Age Concern provide support and best practice advice in many areas. They can also provide toolkits and training aids. The links to some are below.
Alzheimer Scotland
Age Concern - Scotland
Help the Aged
Other Charities can provide support in more specific areas such as provision of First Aid Training
St Andrews Ambulance Association
Red Cross
Professional Bodies can provide invaluable support and advice in many areas
Royal College of Nursing
Learn Direct Scotland - is a useful resource to assist in identifying potential training providers
http://www.learndirectscotland.com/
Learning Networks
The four Scottish Social Services Learning Networks are an invaluable resource and the Workforce Initiative staff are committed to building on the work already commenced. Each Learning Network area develops learning opportunities, and fora exist to further grow the support and network in each area. It is planned to run joint events with the learning networks in 2009. The exact dates, venues and programme will be available via this web site.
http://www.learningnetworks.org.uk
Independent Training Providers
The Scottish Training Federation is the only member organisation for independent training providers. They have a list of members which might give some guidance when looking for training in your area.
http://www.stf.org.uk
