Author: Margaret Simms
Do you know that the Children’s Workforce is made up of people working with children, young people and families Health, Education, Social Care, Voluntary and Community related jobs, and that the Early Years Workforce is just one part of the Children’s Workforce?
Have you heard about the Children’s Workforce Strategy? This is all about giving children and young people a fair chance to improve their chances in life. Every Child Matters is a key foundation for this work because it has set out a new way of working.
Do you know that the Children’s Workforce Strategy is being updated, or ‘refreshed’, and the government have been asking for our opinions as to how best to do this? What we tell them is then turned in to a plan of action and published for the whole Children’s Workforce to follow over the next 12 months. That is why taking part is this kind of consultation is so important. The publication is due out in Autumn 2007; it was to be called Children’s Workforce Strategy Refresh, but the name has been changed to Strategy Action Plan. (I don't think the Children's Workforce were happy with the original title).
Have you heard that almost 100 people participated in the ‘Refresh of the Children's Workforce Strategy conference in London organised by the Children’s Workforce Network in JUNE 2007 – and they had a LOT to say!
Did you go to the conference? If you were there you will recognise the list of themes under discussion. For the rest of us, here is what we missed:
• Professional Development
• Integrated Working
• Influencing National Policy
• Challenges of Delivery
Do you know that all of this is linked in to achieving the five aims of Every Child Matters to make sure that every child BEAMS:
• Be healthy
• Enjoy and achieve
• Achieve economic well-being.
• Make a positive contribution
• Stay safe
Have you heard that the Children’s Workforce do not just discuss issues, they also come up with solutions based on what they do - and would like to do at work!
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