CLDSC Member Bulletin – 24 March 2021

CLDSC Alumni of previous members

The CLD Standards Council is delighted to announce that we will be offering members the option to become part of our Alumni if they end their membership of the CLD Standards Council due to retirement or change of career.

Being part of the Alumni means you would continue to receive the weekly newsletter, take part in meet-ups and could volunteer to be a buddy for a newer member. 
Alumni will be required to confirm their ongoing commitment to the CLD values and code of Ethics.

We will invite resigning members to join the Alumni and we hope that they will take up the offer and continue to support the CLD Standards Council and CLD profession by sharing their skills, knowledge and expertise.


CLDSC Practice Placement Guidance Academic Year 2020/21

Due to the continuing Covid-19 situation, we have updated our Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions documents relating to CLD Practice Placements in Academic Year 2020/21.  This Guidance relates to placements for those studying CLDSC approved qualifications through the Professional or Developmental Approvals routes.   For the 2020-21 academic year, in order to avoid compounding disadvantage for students, it has been agreed through the Joint Education Training Standards (JETS) Approvals group that a flexible reduction of up to 25% in placement hours be granted across the full length of any programme provided that students have gained a consistent pass in previous practice assessments (where applicable) and are considered fit to continue practising. As well as a flexible reduction in placement hours, flexibility has also been built into what constitutes placement activities. The aim is still for students to complete 100% of required placement hours and activities as normal.  

Please see the Placement Guidance webpage for more details.


Members meet-up Monday 29th March – what are your current Community Development practice issues?

There’s still time to book to attend the next members’ meet-up on Monday 29th March from 1 till 2 p.m. Share your experiences of CD practice over the last year, your ideas on what we can learn from these, and your ambitions as more space for community activities opens up. Discuss what support for CD practice is needed and where the CLD Standards Council fits into that. Book your place on Eventbrite

Kathleen Glazik, Community Empowerment Team Leader in the Scottish Government, and Colette McGarva, Co-ordinator of the Community Development Alliance Scotland, will be taking part in the discussion and responding to issues raised.


Children’s Parliament Panel Event – 30th March

Join our Director Marion Allison on 30th March 11am-12noon at the Children’s Parliament Panel Event to explore the links between Scotland’s Children’s Human Rights and CLD. Two weeks after MSPs voted to make children’s rights law in Scotland, this event is the first of its kind. Register on Eventbrite


National Occupational Standards Reviews – Consultations now open

Are you involved in delivering/managing Career Development/Guidance and/or Learning & Development?  If so, we want your views!

We are carrying out a review of two National Occupational Standards (NOS) suites –  Career Development/Guidance and Learning & Development.  NOS specify the standard of performance an individual must achieve when carrying out a function in the workplace, together with the knowledge and understanding they need to meet that standard consistently. Essentially NOS are benchmarks of good practice with each NOS defining one key function in a job role.  NOS also influence the design and content of training programmes.

The standards are applicable across the United Kingdom, we are working with a range of national and local organisations from Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales during the review process.

An initial review has now been undertaken and we would like your input on the proposed changes.  If you have an interest in the delivery of either of these areas, please complete the relevant survey.  We are seeking views from employers, training organisations and practitioners, so please circulate to your networks.

Learning & Development NOS Review Survey
Career Development NOS Review Survey

The surveys will be open until Monday 19 April 2021.


Accessible Messages about Cyber Resilience – Lead Scotland survey and support programme

Technology has never been more essential and equally it is ever more important to learn how to stay safe online. Lead Scotland highlight that many of the key messages about cyber resilience such as internet scams and creating strong passwords presume that we are confident readers who will be able to understand abstract concepts and relate them to our own experience. Some people need this critical information in more accessible formats, and some staff and volunteers want to feel knowledgeable and confident to be able to support others to stay safe online. 

Richard Lochhead MSP, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science commented on Lead’s work, highlighting the role of CLD: “The Scottish Government’s Strategic Framework for a Cyber Resilient Scotland commits us to supporting people to know the cyber risks they face and be well prepared to manage them. Guidance must be accessible to all so I am pleased that Scottish Government funding will help Lead Scotland to coordinate this important work. I ask that community learning and development partners play their part in ensuring that these materials reach as many people as possible.”

To help the planning of a programme of work to meet these needs, Lead Scotland is working with partners to produce a range of alternative formats and a programme of training sessions for 2021-22. You can help Lead understand how they could support your staff and the people you work with to stay safe online by responding to their Accessible Messages Survey before 31 March.


Interesting articles from the latest Times Educational Supplement

How to use body language when delivering learning in a mask  – when facial expressions are obscured and your voice is muted by a covering, other body language becomes key, find some tips on using it well. 

As the world reacted to Harry and Meghan’s explosive interview about racism in the Royal Family, this might be a good moment for us to explore our own work around racial equality.

Your CLDSC membership provides you access to the full stories on TES. 
You will find the access details on the Members Benefits area of i-develop.
You will need to login to access this information as it is a member only benefit.

If you have any problems accessing please email contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk And remember reading and reflecting on what you might take from an article can count towards your Professional Learning hours!