Induction Standards

Following extensive stakeholder consultations early in 2006, CWDC published a set of Induction Standards, together with supporting materials for those working with children, young people and families.

These standards set out what new workers should know, understand and be able to do within six months of starting work.

We are particularly pleased to have been able to reflect what children and young people have told us is most important to them about the people who work with them.

CWDC Induction Standards for Social Care Workers

The first set of these standards was aimed at the social care workforce and are called the CWDC Induction Standards for Social Care. It is mandatory that social care workers and social workers should use these. They also recommended for use in all other areas of the children's workforce but yet mandatory.

CWDC Training & Development Standards for Foster Carers

The Induction Standards were then further developed specifically for new workers in the foster care field becoming the Training & Development Standards for Foster Carers.

Induction Standards field testing

In 2007-08 CWDC piloted a roll-out of the Induction Standards across four additional occupations in the children's workforce:

• Early Years
• Connexions Personal Advisers
  
• Learning Mentors
• Educational Welfare Officers.

The Integrated Working and Social Care teams also worked together to support field testing of the CWDC Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Carers. Fifteen sites took part in the field testing, with three sites testing an integrated approach to Induction across more than one occupational area.

Plans for 08-09

The Induction Standards pilot reported back in March 2008 and CWDC are now looking at becoming the first, and currently only, Sector Skill Council to have a an integrated approach to induction across its footprint.

We are also looking at ways to ensure that these Standards are compatible with the Integrated Qualifications Framework (IQF), ensuring they are relevant and fit for purpose with other parts of the children's workforce.

All of our induction materials, including workbooks and training materials are currently being reviewed as a result of the field testing project. An updated version of the workbook will appear on this website in September 2008, and further training and guidance materials will follow during the autumn. If you require a back issue of one of our induction publications e.g workbooks or guidance please email us.

Researching induction arrangements across the children's workforce

Best Practice Network has been commissioned by Skills for Justice (on behalf of the CWN) to undertake research into the current arrangements for induction across the children's workforce. The research will focus on the aims of induction and the extent to which these are perceived as being achieved

The main areas for the research are to:

• survey current approaches to staff induction across the children's workforce
• identify different models of induction, their relationship to subsequent staff development and the extent to which they provide information, training and assessment
• identify ways different sectors can learn from each other's practice to support delivery of Every Child Matters
• identify gaps and possible activities for consideration by the CWN that will further improve staff skills and knowledge in line with ECM.

Best Practice will be contacting key personnel within CWN members to find out what forms of induction the organisations support and/or recommend and what their plans are for developing induction arrangements over the coming year.

If Reference Group members would like to contribute to the research, please contact Maureen Lee from Best Practice. For example, you may like to suggest areas for questioning or provide feedback from experience of induction programmes within your own organisation.