Scottish Government Training Project Update - 20 April 2011

The Scottish Government demonstrated its support to the field of Self Directed Support by commissioning SPAEN and SDSS to deliver training to Local Authorities and Health Boards in Scotland. SPAEN are delighted to report that this project is near its conclusion (May 2011) and has been extremely successful prompting new business oportunities. 

SPAEN’s approach to assist in the uptake of SDS is to give Local Authorities information on the topics which, from our experience, will be of benefit to their staff by hopefully making their jobs less complicated and releasing any anxiety they may have in approaching the topic, particularly when the SDS recipient intends to become an employer. 

SPAEN recognised the need to change our approach to the delivery of this information, having consulted with various Local Authorities. We found that the off the shelf approach to modular training did not fit easily with the specific policies and procedures of each Local Authority. We then had to rethink our methodology. In order to tailor the sessions to help show participants how to recognise where employment law fitted with their individual policies and procedures SPAEN extracted information from these documents and incorporated this information into the sessions. We have found using procedures staff are familiar with helped to make our delivery far more effective and understandable.   The complexities of marrying National Guidance with Local Authority interpretation with European and UK legislation are considerable but worthwhile when explaining the contradicting elements of each legislative group. 

Having worked in collaboration with Social Work Departments we have found that our suggestions including amendments to their policies and procedures were well received. These then fit more comfortably with Employment legislation improving service delivery.  A detailed report is being compiled for submission to the Scottish Government.