Shaping the Future

Launch event for the SLCVS Partnership Workforce Development Strategy and Capacity Check Framework.

The South London CVS Partnership report documents, Workforce Development Strategy and Capacity Checking Framework were launched at the prestigious National Film Theatre on 10th June 2005. Over ninety delegates attended this highly successful event which took place in the impressive, “state-of-the-art” NFT auditorium.

Chris Frost (Chair, SLCVS Partnership) welcomed guests who included representatives from voluntary and community sector organisations from London and nationally, key people from the six SLCVS Partnership Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts, The Strategic Health Authority, the Learning and Skills Council and Government Office for London.

Stuart Etherington (Chief Executive, National Council for Voluntary Organisations) was the keynote speaker and set the background for the morning’s presentations by placing the two pieces of work together within the broader context of the government’s agenda of working with the voluntary and community sector (VCS).

Research for the development of both these reports was funded by the London Development Agency and Diane Burridge (Regeneration Project Manager, LDA) gave a brief address to the audience as to why these two pieces of work were allocated funding and how the VCS can play an important contribution to the successful delivery of the LDA’s plan for London.

Chris Whelan (CEO, Richmond Council for Voluntary Service) outlined the Workforce Development Strategy and highlighted the key recommendations:

“Publication of our Workforce Development Strategy provides the basis for beginning a necessary process of change and renewal in our approach to learning and development…..”

The need for a workforce development strategy for the VCS is highly indicated whilst simultaneously infrastructure to support workforce development fits with the government’s agenda, not only in pursuit of a better educated and highly trained workforce, but also in enabling the VCS to play a more significant part in the delivery of high quality public services.

The Capacity Checking Framework was introduced by Steve Phaure (Director, Croydon Voluntary Action). This toolkit has been produced for CVS development workers to use with their local voluntary & community organisations (VCO’s) to assess the impact and quality of their services for their users and the wider community. With its strong emphasis on frontline delivery and service-user perspectives, the Capacity Checking Framework examines to what extent the VCO is making a measurable difference to the lives of people using its services. One of the key features of the Framework is in its flexible design, enabling it to be responsive to the individual VCO.

The Framework facilitates a three-way contract between the CVS, the VCO and the local statutory commissioner. In applying the framework CVS staff use their experience and training to support VCOs in developing action plans for making service improvements. By implementing its action plan, the VCO demonstrates to the local commissioner its fitness for purpose.

Following the presentations guests were invited to the NFT Delegate Centre for refreshments and the opportunity to discuss the reports. Complimentary copies of the workforce development document were distributed to all guests. Samples of the capacity checking framework toolkit were available for viewing in both ring binder format and on compact disk.

To download the Workforce Development Strategy document click here... (pdf 1,037 kb)

To download the Capacity Checking Framework Overview click here... (pdf 557 kb)

To download a copy of Stuart Etherington's presentation click here... (ms word 62 kb)

To download a copy of the Workforce Development presentation click here... (ms word 35 kb)

For further information about these report documents contact Michelle or Tracey

 : 0208 7715

 :  info@slcvspartnership.org.uk

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