Self development may be key to improving services for children
VCF – The Victoria Climbié Foundation UK is particularly concerned that too many statutory practitioners do not have the capacity to benefit from allocated training budgets for continuing professional development (CPD). Leaving aside how this money is spent, who or what is driving this trend?
Reportedly, only “10% of social workers had met key requirements as of end of September 2023.” (Community Care) and “just over 10,000 practitioners had completed renewal form and met CPD requirements as of 30 September” (Social Work England).
Further reports state that 2,256 social workers have been removed from the Social Work England register (Schools Week).
And herein lies our concern…
Practitioners that lack a certain kind of knowledge, may not be best placed to protect and support the nation’s children – or indeed their rights.
Moreover, in our own training workshops for professionals working with children and their families in formal or informal societal systems, VCF repeatedly found that social workers that had booked, were failing to attend and benefit from practical training; either to appease management at short notice, or due to workload pressures.
Practitioners that attend our sessions are either well supported in their CPD goals or use annual leave to access training that offers differing perspectives for practice,
This was just one of the insights from our analysis of workshops in 2023.
‘Working from a culturally competent perspective’ is a prerequisite for all VCF training across cultures and faiths – in collaboration with accredited trainers from the New African Family Service National and International Network (NAFSNIN).
Individuals must demonstrate a willingness to become culturally competent or we will continue to see financial (or other) implications for services that continue to deliver non-inclusive practice for children, in opposition of their rights…
2024 workshops are planned for May, June, September, and October.
Workshops for small groups can also be booked on-request. Do contact us for details training@vcf-uk.org
See also
VCF calls for cultural competency across all children’s services