ACHIEVING QUALITY SCOTLAND
ACHIEVING QUALITY SCOTLAND UPDATE
We have been delighted to award 4 more services their Achieving Quality Scotland award. All services demonstrated high levels of quality across their practice.
- Hyndland After School Club “The Afty”, Glasgow, was awarded a GOLD star award
- Broomhill Out of School Care Association (BOSCA), Glasgow, was awarded a GOLD star award
- Steel Rings Centre, Paisley, was awarded a SILVER star award
- Williamsburgh OSC, Paisley, was awarded a SILVER star award
These are fantastic achievements and we wish to thank all the staff and everyone else involved for their hard work.
“Thank you for our AQS report we were all thrilled.
We all learned a lot about ourselves and found out a lot about others.
We did a great spring clean of our policies, our procedures, our practice and our premises. Working towards the award was a great way for everyone, children, new staff and parents to become more involved, to gain a better understanding of what we do and what we are trying to achieve.
There is always room for improvement and when we reviewed our practice with a more critical eye and combined this with the AQS criteria we added and changed things in our service. The children did the bits they wanted to do and to them it was just fun.
I would again like to thank you for the experience that was AQS.”
Broomhill Out School Care Association - AQS Gold Star Award
“Doing AQS gave us the focus we needed to revise our policies and ensure we had all our 'essential' documents up to date and relevant. Staff, parents and children became more aware of what we do and began to understand that evidencing what we do can have a positive and worthwhile outcome. We know we are doing a good job, but to have our service put under scrutiny and then come out with the award is the perfect affirmation. Also, undertaking AQS also made us realise how important it is to get involved in projects out with our service.
We are very proud to have achieved this at long last and, to get the 'Gold Award' on this our 25th Anniversary year was a bonus!
Hyndland After School Club, “The Afty” - AQS Gold Star Award
We now have 80 out of school care services registered for AQS over 15 local authority areas. If you are interested in finding out more, then please get in touch.
SOSCN NEWS
Aberdeen City Council - Out of School Care Policy and Good Practice Guidelines
On Monday 5th June Andrew Shoolbread and Irene Audain from SOSCN attended Aberdeen City Council's Conference for Out of School Care. At the event, the council's new Out of School Care Policy and Good Practice Guidelines were launched.
The policy aims to promote the value of high quality out of school care provision to all stakeholders. Delegates at the event were also entertained by a fantastic rap from the children of St Joseph's Out of School Club, Aberdeen.
Here's the children from St Joseph's Out of School Club with their copies of the policy. Also pictured are Irene Audain, Chief Executive, SOSCN (left) and Gayle Gorman, Director of Education and Children's Services, Aberdeen City Council (right).
You can download a copy of their policy here:
ACC OSC Policy
Grub4Life - New SOSCN nutrition partner
SOSCN is pleased to introduce a new nutrition partner: Grub4Life, and together we aim to provide training, support and nutrition solutions for our members.
Grub4life are recognised across the UK as being leading experts, trainers and resource providers for children's nutrition. Nigel Denby, Registered Dietitian and Head of Nutrition for Grub4life told us “it's so exciting to be working with SOSCN and out of school care services in Scotland. We're looking forward to understanding the specific nutritional needs of services and how we can best enhance their standards of excellence. We've already seen some terrific work that SOSCN members are involved with in helping children get interested in eating well. We hope we can expand on this.”
Grub4life have worked throughout Great Britain, supporting Local Authorities, Professional Bodies, large commercial childcare groups and individual providers. They bring with them experience of nutrition training, menu planning, recipe development and a wide range of 'pick up and use' resources. More recently their work has expanded to the out of school care sector.
One of Grub4Life's first aims is to offer any SOSCN member a free food allergy review. As SOSCN has previously highlighted, OSC services must now comply with The Food Information Regulation (December 2014) which requires services to highlight any of the 14 recognised allergens in food served. Services should know what food allergies children have by clearly defining them on registration forms and asking parents to select which apply, if any, and of course, not serving children food containing these ingredients if they have an allergy. To find out more about Grub4Life's allergy review contact: feedback@grub4life.com
Nutrition Training
Grub4life have developed a range of face to face and on-line training modules covering all aspects of children's nutrition.
Grub4Life can help fulfil a variety of needs: refresh your understanding of the differences between good nutrition for children and adults; go more in depth to become an in-house Food and Nutrition Ambassador or develop your own activities and modules for staff and children. Although there is a cost attached to this, Grub4Life will help access funding to cover the cost of this training where possible.
Practical menus and recipes
Grub4Life can help ensure the nutritional quality, portion size guidance and food allergy compliance for Clubs serving light meals and snacks. Grub4Life have hundreds of tried and tested recipes. You too can develop your own bespoke, balanced menu or use recipes for special nutrition events and cooking classes.
Special projects
Some SOSCN members are already working with Grub4life to apply for funding for bespoke nutrition projects- one club plans to develop their own holiday cooking club where children will learn about nutrition while cooking recipes to take home for the family to enjoy. Another wants to fill the nutrition gap they see for the primary 6&7 children with a specially created cooking course to tie in with a vegetable growing project. Grub4Life are supporting these groups to apply for funding for their nutrition projects and training.
Get in touch
Grub4life are keen to hear from local OSC networks and forums who would like to develop OSC Nutrition projects in their area. So, if you want to find out about FREE resources to support your food allergy management or to enquire about developing your own nutrition and healthy eating project contact the team at Grub4life: feedback@grub4life.com
Website: http://grub4life.org.uk/
TRAINING
PUTTING THE SHANARRI WELLBEING INDICATORS INTO PRACTICE - FREE TRAINING
Wellbeing and the associated SHANARRI (safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, respected, responsible, included) indicators are central to the Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) approach.
Aims of the training session:
By the end of the session participants will have a clear understanding of what wellbeing is and how they can achieve better outcomes for the children in their care using reflexive practice based upon the SHANARRI wellbeing indicators.
Course descriptor:
This training session will look at how to successfully implement the SHANARRI wellbeing indicators within daily out of school care practice, and how to evidence this, including the creation of children's personal development plans. We shall look at each wellbeing indicator and what this means in terms of developing good practice, how this relates to the UNCRC and also signpost to additional resources.
Practical Information:
The sessions last 2 - 2.5 hours and are suitable for a maximum of 20 participants and a minimum of 5 services. Please note that this training is not designed to train whole (or nearly entire) staff teams unless the service operates a minimum of 5 services. SOSCN can deliver the training for free but interested individuals will need to organise the venue and bookings for other services. This is ideal for local out of school care networks or groups of local out of school care services which would like to undertake collective training.
Booking:
If you are interested in booking a session, then please email info@soscn.org
Here are some pictures from Andrew's most recent session at Little Flyers Broxburn, including a SHANARRI Star developed by The Club, Whitburn, as part of the training:
ACTIVITY AND WELLBEING | THE NEXT STEPS - FREE TRAINING
The Scottish out of School Care Network is currently taking bookings for FREE Activity & Wellbeing: the next Steps training to out of School Care Services across Scotland. The training follows on from the Activity & Wellbeing: the first steps training and allows staff to further develop their knowledge and experiences on physical activity. The training uses Education Scotland's Physical Activity resources Better Movers and Thinkers which is designed to develop the ability of all children and young people to move and think in a more cohesive way i.e. memory, planning and goal-directed behaviour. The training also uses Education Scotland's Significant Aspects of Learning which promotes the development of activities to challenge children and promote inclusion.
The training reinforces the experiences and outcomes children and young people should be introduced to whilst being active, for example participating in a wide range of activities which promote a healthy lifestyle, develop self-awareness and respect for others.
Staff members who have already taken part in the first step training are welcome to return and further develop their knowledge using BMT (Better Movers and Thinkers) and Significant Aspects of Learning. In order to attend the next steps training staff do not have to have attended the first steps training.
During the training staff will have the opportunity to experience the theory behind both resources through discussion and practical group activities. This will be an invaluable experience to staff in enhancing knowledge and understanding of the theory behind wellbeing and play activities within their service.
Here are some pictures from Greig's most recent sessions:
Holmston OSC, Doonfoot ASC & Prestwick ASC
Clydesdale OSC in Wishaw, Motherwell & Coatbrige
Barlanark OSC, Auchinairn ASC, Dennistoun OSC & Connect2 OSC
Booking:
If you are interested in booking a session, please email Greig Cavanagh - greig.cavanagh@soscn.org - to request a booking form.
NATIONAL NEWS
NEW CARE STANDARDS
Health and Social Care Standards: My support, my life
These Health and Social Care Standards set out what we should expect when using health, social care or social work services in Scotland. They seek to provide better outcomes for everyone; to ensure that individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and that the basic human rights we are all entitled to are upheld.
Executive Summary
The Standards are underpinned by five principles; dignity and respect, compassion, be included, responsive care and support and wellbeing.
The Standards are based on five headline outcomes:
- I experience high quality care and support that is right for me.
- I am fully involved in all decisions about my care and support.
- I have confidence in the people who support and care for me.
- I have confidence in the organisation providing my care and support.
- I experience a high quality environment if the organisation provides the premises.
Principles
Dignity and respect
- My human rights are respected and promoted.
- I am respected and treated with dignity as an individual.
- I am treated fairly and do not experience discrimination.
- My privacy is respected.
Compassion
- I experience warm, compassionate and nurturing care and support.
- My care is provided by people who understand and are sensitive to my needs and my wishes.
Be included
- I receive the right information, at the right time and in a way that I can understand.
- I am supported to make informed choices, so that I can control my care and support.
- I am included in wider decisions about the way the service is provided, and my suggestions, feedback and concerns are considered.
- I am supported to participate fully and actively in my community.
Responsive care and support
- My health and social care needs are assessed and reviewed to ensure I receive the right support and care at the right time.
- My care and support adapts when my needs, choices and decisions change.
- I experience consistency in who provides my care and support and in how it is provided.
- If I make a complaint it is acted on.
Wellbeing
- I am asked about my lifestyle preferences and aspirations and I am supported to achieve these.
- I am encouraged and helped to achieve my full potential.
- I am supported to make informed choices, even if this means I might be taking personal risks.
- I feel safe and I am protected from neglect, abuse or avoidable harm.
Download a copy
To download a full copy of the standards and a full break down of the five headline outcomes, please see this link: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0052/00520693.pdf
Kidscene After School Club (Royal Blind)
Congratulations to Kidscene for winning a silver award for their enchanted pallet garden at Gardening Scotland.
Funding Sources
Community Food and Health (Scotland)'s capacity building fund is now open. Applicants can apply for up to £500 worth of funding. An opportunity for OSC services which want to deliver food related projects.
“The capacity building fund aims to support groups and agencies running food and health activities to build the knowledge, skills and expertise they need to help deliver these better. Groups can apply for funding for training or learning opportunities for staff, volunteers, or management committee or board members.”
Deadline for applications Friday 8th December.
For further information: www.communityfoodandhealth.org.uk
More funding opportunities
Community Food and Health have produced a useful list of funding opportunies from funders such as the Co-operative, Awards for All, Changing Lives, and Woodland Trust.
For further information please see this link: www.communityfoodandhealth.org.uk
Supporting Children and Young People
Police Scotland have produced an information page for children and their online safety:
“Most children today use the internet - at home, at school and when they're out and about. But how can you be sure that they are surfing safely?”
Contained within the resource is information on social media, illegal images, tips for children to help themselves, as well as a guide to safe web-surfing for young people, extract below:
Steps to safe surfing for young people
Follow these steps to ensure your child is safe online:
- Make sure you have a secure internet connection.
- Write down a list of rules and position it in a place close to the computer where they can be easily read. Talk through the rules with your child so they understand why they're there.
- Don't site computers in places where it is difficult to monitor what your child is viewing.
- Show an interest in what they're accessing/doing online. If possible get to know your child's online friends.
- Reinforce the message about safety considerations to your children when they are chatting with people online.
- Online webcam extortion is serious issue which affects all people - young and old. Find out how to protect your child and report webcam extortion in our general Keep Safe Online advice.
- Urge them not to give out their home address, e-mail address or personal information (school, home town, areas where they play or meet with friends) to people they meet on the internet.
- Make sure your child knows not to arrange to meet someone they have met over the internet without adult supervision taking place in the first instance.
- Make sure your child is aware that they shouldn't open e-mail attachments from senders that they do not know or addresses they are unfamiliar with.
- Encourage your child to tell you about anything they think is inappropriate and reassure them it is not their fault. Make sure they know you will support them.
- If they report anything to you, contact the police by dialling 101. You can also report abuse online to the Virtual Global Taskforce and report illegal images to the Internet Watch Foundation (see below).
Source: Police Scotland
Please see this link for further information: www.scotland.police.uk
New Publication from Play Scotland - Experimental PLay
Play Scotland have a new booklet out that explores the fun, thrills, science and wonderful world of messy play! They are giving this resource away for free in pdf copy if you get in touch by email - info@playscotland.org
For further information please see this link: www.playscotland.org
Infographic. Physical activity for children and young people
Follow this link to download a great infographic about the benefits of physical activity for children aged 5 - 18 and the different ways that children can be active- doesn't just have to be sport! Download the pdf here: Be Physically Active (pdf)
POLICY AND UPDATES FOR SERVICES
The Children and Young People (Information Sharing) (Scotland) Bill
On Tuesday 20 June 2017, the Children and Young People (Information Sharing) (Scotland) Bill and accompanying documents were published.
The Bill will introduce a duty on public and other services to consider if the sharing of information will promote, support or safeguard the wellbeing of a child or young person. It will also ensure that the sharing is compatible with current law.
The Bill specifically makes changes to the information sharing provisions in Part 4 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 in response to the Supreme Court's finding and intensive engagement with stakeholders which took place in 2016. The Bill also makes changes to Part 5 of the 2014 Act in order to keep the information sharing provisions of Parts 4 and 5 in alignment.
The aim of the Bill is to bring consistency, clarity and coherence to the practice of sharing information about children's and young people's wellbeing across Scotland. It ensures that the rights of children, young people and parents are respected when information is shared under Part 4 (Provision of Named Persons) and Part 5 (Child's Plan) for the purpose of promoting, supporting or safeguarding children's or young people's wellbeing.
The Bill process will be followed by a formal public consultation on the revised statutory guidance for Parts 4 and 5 of the Act and the Code of Practice on information sharing. The Scottish Government will work with Parliament to agree a timetable to enable commencement in 2018.
John Swinney, Deputy First Minister, said:
“Earlier this year I outlined the next steps for the Named Person service, following the Supreme Court judgment which required changes to the provisions relating to information sharing in the 2014 Act. I am therefore very pleased to bring forward the Children and Young People (Information Sharing) (Scotland) Bill.
“The new provisions require Named Person service providers and other responsible authorities to consider whether sharing information is likely to promote, support or safeguard the wellbeing of the child or young person. They must also then consider whether sharing that information would be compatible with data protection law, human rights law and the law of confidentiality. Only if information can be shared consistent with these legal constraints will there be a power to share it.
“The Supreme Court ruled definitively that the intention of providing a Named Person for every child to promote and safeguard their wellbeing was 'unquestionably legitimate and benign' but young people and families must have confidence that information will be shared only where their rights can be respected.
“The Bill being published today will bring consistency, clarity and coherence to the practice of sharing information about children and young people's wellbeing across Scotland. We must ensure that we get it right for every child, but in a way that respects the rights of families fully.”
Further information:
For further information from the government website please see this link: cyp information sharing bill 2017
New Commisioner for Children and Young People in Scotland
Mid-May, Bruce Adamson took over from Tam Baillie to become the third Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland, this post is a 6-year term.
Bruce is originally from New Zealand but has lived in Scotland since 2002 and he is a lawyer with over 20 years of experience in children's rights. We would like to wish him all the best in his new post and look forward to working with him in the future.
Website: https://www.cypcs.org.uk
The Social Security (Scotland) Bill 2017
The Social Security (Scotland) Bill 2017 has now been published on the Scottish Parliament website and is available to view, along with its accompanying documents at this link: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/105267.aspx
You can see the Scottish Government's news release to the Bill introduction here: https://news.gov.scot/news/social-security-bill
Enabling leadership
Research to identify what good leadership looks like in Scotland's social services
Useful for managers and students on the Childhood Practice course- SSSC publication “Enabling leadership. Research to identify what good leadership looks like in Scotland's social services.”
Of particular interest is the Logic Model on page 12 which considers things such as What do good leaders need? What do good leaders bring? What do good leaders do?
See this link to download a copy of the research: Enabling Leadership (pdf)
HOLIDAY PAY GUIDANCE FROM ACAS
Many employees will be planning and booking time off for holidays over the coming months. Acas has guidance and advice to help:
Research Report
For those of you currently undertaking the Childhood Practice, this research may be of use:
BERA- TACTYC Early Childhood Research Review 2003-2017
This review looks at Early Childhood (0-7) practice research and literature published from 2003 - 2017, and how this relates to the policy context within the UK. The review has 6 themes:
- Theme 1: Professionalism: early years as a career
- Theme 2: Parents and families
- Theme 3: Play and pedagogy
- Theme 4: Learning, development and the curriculum
- Theme 5: Assessment, transitions and school readiness
- Theme 6: Broader policy issues
For further information and to download both the summary and the full report, visit: https://www.bera.ac.uk/project/bera-tactyc-early-childhood-research-review-2003-2017
OSCR - A Guide to Incorporation
OSCR has produced a range of guidance for charities considering changing from one structure to another that is incorporated - most often a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). This guide does not however cover charitable companies who want to convert to a SCIO. If this applies to you then they also have information guidance on this process here: SCIOs: A Guide.
A Guide to Incorporation is for:
- Anyone who is a charity trustee of an unincorporated charity registered in Scotland.
- Anyone who runs an unincorporated organisation (not a charity) that wants to become an incorporated charity.
- People working with or advising charities and other third sector organisations.
Access the guide here: www.oscr.org.uk
NATIONAL LIVING WAGE AND NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES APRIL 2017
The National Living Wage went up to £7.50 an hour on 1st April 2017. There were also increases to the minumum wage for workers under age 25.
- Year
- 25 and over
- 21 to 24
- 18 to 20
- Under 18
- Apprentice
- From April 2017
- £7.50
- £7.05
- £5.60
- £4.05
- £3.50
This is not to be confused with the offical Living Wage movement, livingwage.org.uk, which is independently-calculated each year based on what employees and their families need to live. The UK Living Wage, as set by the living wage fondation, currently sits at £8.45 an hour