Training for potential LSC contract holders and/or providers

Norfolk Unites is arranging training to support organisations becoming contract holders or providers on LSC contracts

Responding to needs identified by the work so far, Norfolk Unites is arranging training for a) potential contract holders and b) providers.  Ahead of the upcoming Autumm LSC ESF round and Spring LSC mainstream round, these issues are seen to be even more pertinent.

a) Potential contract holders

Through the work of Norfolk Unites, a model has been explored whereby the most appropriate organisation will lead on a contract.  Obviously there is no guarantee of success, so what we are trying to do is increase the chances of this success and to support organisations as much as possible upon any achieving of contracts.  To do so, we are buying in the expertise of an established learning consortium (discussions underway as we speak) to share in their considerable experience regarding 'Quality Management'.  The training will encompass, amongst others: lesson observation; contract management and monitoring; provider eligibility assessment.  At this stage, details are still being worked on, but we envisage the training taking place in early/mid September, to be 1 or 2 days.

To benefit from this training, organisations must:

• Have/intend to have PQQ (Pre Qualification Questionnaire - a checklist that organisations must pass in order to prove their suitability to the LSC of being a contract holder)
• Be willing to manage other providers in their contract
• Be a positive contibutor to Norfolk Unites

In this initial run, we shall be looking to support organisations who have been involved in the Norfolk Unites work, although there may be opportunities in the future for organisations not previously engaging.

b) Providers

We are preparing a 1 day workshop where organisations will be supported in becoming providers for the LSC.  Training will cover: knowledge of the Common Inspection Framework; preparing Individual Learner Plans (ILPs); inspections; record keeping.  If it is that you currently deliver training and are interested in delivering on LSC contracts but are not quite sure how to do that, how exactly you could meet the Common Inspection Framework, this training will support you in that and also demonstrate to any contract holders that you have that competence.

If you are an organisation/individual who has experience of providing on such contracts, we would be very happy to have your input.  The ideal scenario would be where someone identifies themselves as having expert knowledge of how to put together an ILP, they will deliver a part of the session in this; where someone else has a good understanding of the overall Common Inspection Framework, they would lead on that bit, and so on.  This would encapsulate the consortium spirit we are trying to engender at Norfolk Unites, here seeking to contribute to the learning and support of peers in their progression through this subject area.

Using the PAAVS programme also delivered by the Norfolk Unites Development Co-ordinator, we are working on getting this programme  accredited by the National Open College Network.  So, we already have that contribution of expertise to the programme there, to give people a nationally accredited certificate at the end of that training - we are now looking for contributions from other people in other areas.

Places will be limited, especially in this proposed pilot run, so, again, places will be allocated first to organisations who have been positive contributors to Norfolk Unites.   There would also need to be an awareness of the type of training you feel you could deliver and whether this is an activity that could be funded by the LSC - places will therefore also be judged upon those organisations perceived to most able to deliver to those needs.

Please contact us if either you are interested in this training opportunity or if you feel you have the expertise/experience to contribute to this training.

In both instances, final details, to include dates, venues and booking forms, will be available before the end of July.

Please contact us ASAP if you are interested in/able to contribute to any of these training opportunities.

Date Added: July 8th 2008