Tools to support skills development

The Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has developed three tools which help to improve the skills and knowledge of those working with children, young people and families. These tools may be of interest to managers, workforce development staff and trainers:

• Common Core of Skills and Knowledge

• Induction Standards

• Skills Development Framework

Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Children’s Workforce

The Common Core of Skills and Knowledge sets out the basic skills and knowledge deemed to be needed by people (including volunteers) whose work brings them into regular contact with children, young people and families.

All training and development programmes wherever possible should be based on the Common Core.

For more information >> CWDC web pages (external website)

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Induction Standards

The Standards set out what any new worker should know, understand and be able to do within six months of starting work. Orginally the standards were used by the children’s social care sector and are being implemented across other occupational areas.It is good practice for ANY organisation working with children and young people to use the standards.

Potential usage by the voluntary and comunity youth sector can include: to help create an induction programme; to benchmark current induction programme to the standards; to use in probation reviews; and to help design role descriptions and training needs analysis for new workers.

For more information >>CWDC web pages (external website)

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Skills Development Framework

The Skills Development Framework (SDF) describes the skills and competences needed by everyone working within integrated settings at different levels of the young people's workforce. NCVYS is encouraging its members to use the framework, which could help to support: planning training needs, identifying skills gaps, creating a personal development plan, to contribute content to an in-house competency framework etc. CWDC is seeking feedback regarding current and potential usage and is reviewing the first edition of the framework.

The framework is divided in to sections referenced to the QCF levels.  If you are not familiar with these, you may wish to use the table on the Direct Gov web site.  

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