Workforce Survey 2022

The SOSCN workforce survey 2022 is now live and we would encourage you and your colleagues to participate as this is the only national survey which covers all aspects of what it means to be a school age childcare professional. You can complete the survey online here:

https://freeonlinesurveys.com/s/w989fQlQ

Or if you wish to download a paper copy of the survey this can be accessed here:

https://soscn.org/downloads/surveys/workforce-survey-2022.pdf

Please note, paper copies of the survey have also been posted out to all our OSC service members and these should be with you within the next two weeks.

We have been conducting this survey since 2008 and all the previous reports can be accessed here: https://soscn.org/policy/research

The deadline for completed returns is Friday 20th January 2023.

Completed hardcopies can either be scanned and emailed to research@soscn.org or posted to: SOSCN, 4th Floor, 41 St Vincent Place, Glasgow G1 2EH. It is also possible to complete the survey online. Please note, complete either the hardcopy or the online version, not both.

New SOSCN Blogs

There are 2 new blogs on the website, you can read these at the links below.

Access to Childcare Fund - the learning so far

https://soscn.org/blog/access-to-childcare-fund-learning-so-far

Reconnecting - to care for others you need to care for yourself

https://soscn.org/blog/reconnecting-to-care-for-others-you-need-to-care-for-yourself

School Age Childcare Discussion Papers

We have recently produced three discussion papers focussing on different important topics relating to the delivery of school age childcare; for each of the subject areas they highlight issues which need to be addressed as well as possible solutions. These papers have already been shared with government, as well as other national bodies and agencies. Please feel free to share.

School Age Childcare Workforce Discussion Paper

https://soscn.org/downloads/news/sac-childcare-workforce-discussion-paper.pdf

Specialist school-age childcare services supporting children with disabilities, complex needs and additional support needs

https://soscn.org/downloads/news/soscn-specialist-services-discussion-paper.pdf

Background and discussion of regulated school age childcare

https://soscn.org/downloads/news/background-and-discussion-of-regulated-school-age-childcare-final.pdf

Social Care: Independent Review of Inspection, Scrutiny and Regulation in Scotland- call for evidence

The Independent Review of Inspection, Scrutiny and Regulation (IRISR) was announced on 23rd September. The IRISR will make recommendations to ensure that social care support services are the best that they can be for those that use them and work within them. IRISR will ensure a human rights and person-centred approach is central to the inspection and regulation of social care and will consider how this can be applied across linked services.

In order to support the Review the government has launched a Call for Evidence where you can share your written views on how you think inspection and regulation can ensure social care support services can continually improve now and in the future.

Your views are essential to the success of the IRISR and to ensure the government get the widest possible range of views, they are also hosting a range of in person and virtual engagement events alongside the Call for Evidence.

Below are the themes and key questions that are being considered in the review- you will see that they not only relate to out of school care but also any social care services that you, your relatives or friends may use. We would encourage you to respond to this consultation.

SOSCN has already shared our thoughts at an in-person event and we shall also be submitting written evidence in advance of the deadline on 23rd December 2022. If you do submit evidence please remember you do not necessarily have to answer all the questions- you may choose to answer only those which you feel are most relevant.

Theme 1 - A Person Centred Approach

• How can we ensure that people with lived and living experience of care and support services are able/supported to contribute to inspection, scrutiny and regulation processes?

Theme 2 - What needs to be inspected, scrutinised and regulated

• Do you feel there are services that are not currently subject to inspection, scrutiny and regulation that should be? If yes, please tell us:
• a) which type of services?
• b) why you think they should be inspected/scrutinised/regulated?
• c) who should be responsible for this?

Theme 3 - How should inspection scrutiny and regulation be carried out

• Would a system work where the same regulator inspected all services? If yes, why? And if no, why not?
• Should there be different regulators for inspection (the organisation that looks at how things are working) and improvement (the organisation that supports things getting better). If yes, why? If no, why not?
• How can we ensure that regulation and inspection processes are underpinned by a commitment to improving services?
• Should regulation, inspection and scrutiny have an emphasis on services continually improving? What might that look like?
• What should happen if something goes wrong in a service?
• Who should be responsible for making improvements to services?
• How do we make sure regulatory bodies are doing a good job?

Theme 4 - How will we know systems are working

• How can we ensure that people and their families who require care and support, have the information they need about how providers are performing to support their decisions about care and support?
• What information might that be?

Theme 5 - How will systems of inspection scrutiny and regulation support the workforce

• How do we ensure there is compliance and consistency with workforce registration requirements?
• How can we ensure that people who work in care and support services are able to contribute to inspection, scrutiny and regulation processes?

For further information about the review as well as events and how to submit evidence, please go to:

https://consult.gov.scot/health-and-social-care/inspection-scrutiny-and-regulation-of-social-care/

Funding Opportunities

Please see information below for a number of funding opportunities. Please note that although some of these funding sources may not be applicable to service directly, they may be of interest to staff members or parents.

Household Hardship Fund

https://www.corra.scot/grants/household-hardship-fund/

The Household Hardship Fund is a £1 million fund provided by The National Lottery Community Fund and administered by Corra Foundation. The purpose of the Household Hardship Fund is to provide small grants to charities and community groups across Scotland who can pass the funding on directly to families and individuals on low incomes.

Transport Scotland

https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/grants-and-loans/ebike-grant-fund/

Transport Scotland has committed a further £900,000 towards the eBike Grant Fund in 2022/23. Local authorities, public sector agencies, further and higher education institutions, active travel hubs and community groups are invited to apply for funding to adopt ebikes, etrikes, ecargo bikes, cargo bikes and trailers, tandems, adapted cycles and trikes towards projects that will provide opportunities to trial ebikes.

Devices

https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/news/2022/chromebooks-for-voluntary-and-charitable-organisations

As part of the legacy of Scotland's Census 2022 we have decided to donate up to 400 Chromebooks and some of the Mobile phones used by the Census Field officers this year to voluntary and charitable organisations across Scotland to further benefit their work in this sector

TNL Community Fund

https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/cost-of-living-support-fund

More people than ever before are likely to face severe challenges as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. Through this programme we aim to fund activity that reduces the impact of, or prevents financial insecurity. We want to fund activity that means people:

• have more resilience and are more able to identify ways to deal with the impact of increased cost of living in their lives
• are able to shape activity in their community to address the increased cost-of-living
• have more access to support and services that will help them to deal with the increased cost of living

New Scots Fund

https://www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/working-for-change/reaching_new_scots/

The Reaching New Scots Fund is designed and managed by people from refugee backgrounds in partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund.

The project aims to create a fairer and more accessible approach to funding, making it easier for refugee-led community groups to successfully apply for grants. With the support of funding officers from The National Lottery Community Fund, our panel of refugee volunteers will award £700,000 in grants to groups and organisations that support New Scots communities.

Women's Fund

https://www.foundationscotland.org.uk/apply-for-funding/funding-available/womens-fund-for-scotland

The Women's Fund for Scotland (WFS) aims to promote systemic change in Scotland to empower women, and to help overcome the multiple disadvantages and discriminatory practices that females experience throughout their lives. WFS has a vision of a Scotland in which women participate equally at all levels of society, free from any barriers to full and equal engagement in political, institutional, economic, and cultural life, including freedom from the fear of sex-based violence. To date the Fund has distributed over £3m in grants to over 640 community groups and local charities. All members of the community will benefit from the empowerment the Fund brings to women.

Community Benefit

https://www.nss.nhs.scot/procurement-and-logistics/sustainability/access-our-community-benefit-gateway/

Community Benefit Gateway (CBG) is a free and easy to use online service that connects NHSScotland suppliers with third sector community organisations within Scotland. It supports community initiatives such as:

• Work placement opportunities
• Volunteering projects
• The provision of professional advice
• Assistance with building community facilities
• Environmental proposals
• Improving and promoting biodiversity
• Lifelong learning projects (this list is not exhaustive)

Asda Foundation - Cost of Living Grant

https://www.asdafoundation.org/how-to-apply

This grant is designed to support the increased running costs groups will face between September 2022 and February 2023, including rent increases and electricity cost rises. There are two options within this grant. Groups must be clear from the outset which option they intend to apply for (you can apply for a combination):

• Increased rent and utility bill support: support with increases in bills, and to stay open longer to help people with 'warm spaces'.
• Increased food costs support enables groups to support those impacted by increased food costs.

John Watson's Trust

https://www.wssociety.co.uk/charities/jwt/

Awards grants for educational purposes to children and young people under the age of 21 who have a physical or learning disability, or who are socially disadvantaged. Grants are available to individuals or organisations working with eligible children and young people. Funding includes support for school and youth trips and residential experiences.

NHS Forth Valley - Investing In Health Small Grants

https://nhsforthvalley.com/get-involved/donations-and-fundraising/investing-in-health-grants/

Investing In Health supports charitable activities and services which improve the overall patient experience with a focus on reducing health inequalities amongst priority and vulnerable groups.

Stirling Council - Community Grants scheme

https://www.stirling.gov.uk/community-life-and-leisure/community-development-and-support/support-for-communities/community-grants-and-funding/

Funds are given for a variety of projects which benefit residents within the Stirling Council area and help to develop vibrant, resilient communities. The Community Grant Scheme supports projects which benefit residents within Stirling Council area, whether within a single community or widely across Stirling Council area, or which benefit communities of interest (including hobby/sports groups).

Robertson Trust funding

https://www.surf.scot/cost-of-living-crisis-robertson-trust/

The Robertson Trust are now launching our first open call for proposals through a new set of funds focused on long-term change, what we're calling Programme Awards. Our Programme Awards will be focused squarely on delivering big change that lasts on poverty and trauma and will allow us to work alongside some of the organisations best placed to achieve impact on poverty and trauma in Scotland, allowing us to learn from them and them from us as we go.