This guidance has been updated – please see UPDATED Guidance as of March 2021
The following guidance and Frequently Asked Questions has been prepared by CLD Standards Council in relation to the impact of COVID-19 on practice placements for CLD students at Higher Education Institutes or Further Education Institutes. Due to the evolving nature of the current situation, these documents may be updated, so please check back regularly to ensure you are referring to the latest version.
In an alternative world I am in Edinburgh. At the John McIntyre conference centre to be precise. I am with 200 members of the CLD Standards Council Scotland, sharing in our professional pride. I am inspired by Gavin Oattes, Director of the Tree of Knowledge, sharing his enthusiasm for youth and community work. I am reminded of the power of Paulo Friere’s works on community empowerment by Andy Turner from Goldsmiths, University of London; and I am revelling in the excellent work of Members whose every day professional practice supports learners, communities and young people to transform their lives through collaborative educational programmes, learning opportunities and action for change.
Instead, I am part of the matrix, connected to society via the computers and ‘phones that have become our lifelines. For years we’ve talked about Digital CLD. What system best meets our needs? Are we confident in using it? Are the young people or our learners ahead of us? What about ethics and safeguarding whilst online? In the space of one week our sector is responding rapidly to these questions and many more. No longer can we rely on our teams’ digital champions. Now we are all digital champions. Whilst conquering our fears and developing our technical skills and knowledge, we are managing a deluge of online information and mastering a multitude of digital platforms to provide community information, online learning programmes, drop in chat rooms and coffee breaks for Scotland’s young people, learners and communities. This support by our Members is crucial to so many at this time.
Never before has CLD leadership been so visible. Leading and contributing to board and executive meetings to ensure service continuity across the third and local authority sectors, driving partnerships to ensure CLD students meet their assessment requirements and engaging with people face to face to bring local solutions with, and for, learners and communities facing the consequences of social distancing and self-isolation. As our Chair Alan Sherry OBE writes in his current article for TES, “the ongoing role of CLD workers has been essential in developing the capacity of groups and in the creation of such local network structures across Scotland.”
By maintaining CLD competences and ethics, members are responding to these and other professional demands whilst juggling personal, family and neighbourhood circumstances. Working from home, home schooling, house-work, shopping for food and medical supplies, helping parents and neighbours is challenging on many levels. Central to CLD practice, now more than ever, Ethic number 12 guides us to “ensure CLD practice is consistent with the safety, health and wellbeing of CLD practitioners.” So, with that in mind I hope you all go well, keep safe and thank you for your dedication.
Dr Marion Allison
#BecauseOfCLD
This guidance has been updated – please see UPDATED Guidance as of March 2021
Colleagues
Please see the following advice from the CLD Standards Council Scotland (CLDSC) in response to the disruption to delivery of CLDSC approved programmes caused by the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak. Due to these exceptional and rapidly changing circumstances, this guidance is intended to manage and minimise disruption to CLD students attending Scottish Further Education Institutions (FEIs) and Higher Education institutions (HEIs) whilst seeking to ensure that the quality of CLD learning programmes is not compromised.
This guidance has been designed to provide clarity and consistency to educational providers, students, practice supervisors and employers and aligns with the Joint Education and Training Standards Group that oversees the mutual recognition process across the UK and Ireland. Application of these guidelines will ensure that mutual recognition remains in place.
The Professional Practice Panel of the CLD Standards Council agreed to recognise that all CLD placements ended on the 17th March 2020 and will remain closed for the remainder of this academic session (2019-20).
This has been agreed in the context of CLD learning providers moving to alternative methods of programme delivery. Programmes approved via the Professional or Developmental approval routes require a minimum percentage of the CLD programme to have supervised practice, with awards contingent upon the practice being completed to a required standard. The necessity of supervised practice is a core element of the CLD learning that prepares students for CLD practice. The standards for Professional and Developmental Approvals state the following:
Supervised Practice:
Guidance on how to evidence this percentage can be found within Professional Guidelines, Annex 3 page 29 within this Approval Process Page
It is recognised that the potential consequences of COVID-19 (including the temporary closure of practice agencies/activities) are that some students may be prevented from completing the required assessed supervised professional practice.
The assumption is that programme design will not change as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19 but that FEIs and HEIs will use the available flexibility as to how practice is embedded in the curriculum over the duration of a programme. In applying this flexibility, FEIs and HEIs will wish to ensure that no students are put at risk of not achieving the standards as a result of insufficient time being afforded to them in practice, whilst ensuring due care to students’ wellbeing and safety. The following guidance is issued for FEIs and HEIs to help plan for any scenarios where planned practice hours may be impacted adversely with particular reference to students who would have anticipated completing their awards in academic year 2019/20:
Guidance for non-final year students
For students at Year 1 or Year 2 of their programme (likely to be SCQF 7 or 8) whose practice is disrupted, the CLDSC would advise that universities progress them to the next year/level without having undertaken all the required supervised practice. This is on the condition that they undertake additional supervised practice to make up the hours, and the learning outcomes associated with them, at a later stage in their programme. Individual educational providers should work with placement providers and the student to best identify when this will be possible. Consideration should be given to the use of time outside typical University/College teaching terms/semesters.
Guidance for final year students
Year 3 or 4 students (BA/BA(Hons) (SCQF 9/10) are more likely to have completed most of their practice hours but will also face the greatest interruption. Due to the exceptional circumstances presented by COVID-19, the CLDSC is proposing that a revised total of 35 – 44% of assessed supervised professional practice is accepted as a qualifying standard, rather than 40 – 50%, providing students have demonstrated a consistent pass in previous practice assessments and there are no concerns about their CLD practice or conduct. These percentages reflect the calculations taken by the National Youth Agency England on their hours of practice standards and ensures alignment with our JETS colleagues and maintains our mutual recognition agreement. This allowance would not apply for students on the pass/fail borderline where the provider would require to find alternative practice evidence in order to support a pass and/or defer a programme pass. CLDSC staff will provide advice on what alternative evidence is appropriate should that be required.
Guidance for post-graduate students
The CLDSC recognises that postgraduate students have a more compact timescale and a disruption of 2-3 months could risk the non-completion of their programme. However, in this case we consider the required 40 – 50% placement practice as the absolute minimum requirement for a pass in CLD supervised practice. Therefore, if a student is on a one-year programme, HEIs may require to consider extending the programme and, if necessary, revise the graduation date to ensure students have time to complete assessed professional practice.
As with BA students, individual universities should work with placement providers and the student to best identify when this could be possible, extending into university holiday periods if necessary.
Guidance on individual circumstances
Where a student has the necessary experience from wider evidence of supervised practice (for example, if a student is also employed in an appropriate CLD setting/organisation), an exemption to the requirements may be possible providing a case is made that compensatory practice hours provide relevant evidence. However, the learning outcomes of supervised practice will require to be clearly evidenced and any decision should be taken with approval from the appointed External Examiner for CLD practice.
Note on wider impact of University/College closures or travel restrictions
The CLDSC recognise there may also be a wider impact on the development and approval of programmes during any closure of Universities/Colleges/other educational providers or travel restrictions imposed as a result of the continued outbreak of COVID-19. Further guidance is detailed below, concerning scheduled approval and/or re-approval activities:
Guidance on scheduled re-approvals
If an HEI, FEI or other educational provider is closed when a scheduled approval is due to take place, CLDSC will consider extending the existing validation period for a maximum of a year at the HEIs, FEIs or other educational providers request. In these exceptional circumstances, a request for extension must be put in writing at the earliest opportunity and addressed to: contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk and cc to susan.bisset@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk
Guidance on new programmes in the Professional Approvals route
For new programmes the CLDSC Approvals Panel considers it a necessity to meet with the relevant HEI personnel and stakeholders to inform them of the outcome. If a scheduled panel cannot take place because the HEI is closed (or travel is prohibited) or the Approval Panel is prohibited from convening, a postponement to the approval will be required until a date can be rescheduled and the proposal will remain subject to approval until full approval sign off by CLDSC Approvals Committee has been gained. The CLDSC Approval panel will make every effort to schedule this event prior to commencement of the new academic year. Use of digital technology communication methods for undertaking panel visits will be explored with each individual institution.
The issue of further guidance
The CLDSC recognises that there is continuing uncertainty with regards to the situation that is developing as COVID-19 spreads. With the situation being fluid and contingent upon official guidance from Scottish Government, UK Government and Public Health Scotland, this guidance will be reviewed periodically and if required any updated information will be issued in a timely manner.
Further information and guidance can be found via the web-links to the following organisations.
With thanks and best wishes
Dr Marion Allison
Director
For most up to date versions see the Updated Guidance
From Wednesday 18 March 2020, the CLDSC staff team will be home-working in accordance with recent COVID-19 advice.
CLDSC is still operational but please be patient as the tech systems settle in! Our main phone number and direct staff land line numbers will be unavailable. The best modes of contact are staff mobiles and emails. Please email any general enquiries to contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk and a member of the team will respond.
Following the most recent advice and guidance, the annual Members’ Lecture and Conference due to take place on 24 and 25 March 2020 have been postponed until further notice.
We will be in touch regarding revised dates. We very much hope to see you then and look forward to celebrating CLD, our fantastic Standards Council Membership and taking part in some exciting professional learning discussions!
CLD Standards Council is operating in line with Health Protection Scotland and Scottish Government guidance on the Corona Virus COVID 19 situation. See links for further information:
https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/wuhan-novel-coronavirus/
https://www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus
The CLDSC submitted a response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on a replacement funding vehicle for the current EU “Structural funds” – the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund. Scotland benefits from over £780m under the current 2014-2020 programme, and key aspects of both the existing EU priorities and those that the Scottish Government is considering relate closely to CLD interests and activities.
The CLDSC response benefited from contributions by members with direct experience of applying for and using the Structural Funds. It argued that a future funding programme should:
Information on the use of structural funds in Scotland, and issues on post-Brexit replacement funding, is available in this SPICe (Scottish Parliament Information Centre) briefing: https://sp-bpr-en-prod-cdnep.azureedge.net/published/2019/4/10/EU-Structural-Funds-in-Scotland/SB%2019-19.pdf
Information about the consultation (which is now closed) is available on the Scottish Government website – https://consult.gov.scot/economic-development/replacement-of-european-structural-funds/
CLD Standards Council Members’ Annual Lecture and Conference 2020 Registration is now OPEN!
The Lecture and conference will take place on Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 March 2020 respectively, and will be held at the John McIntyre Centre, Edinburgh.
Having taken account of feedback from previous events, we have extended the Conference experience with the option for members to attend a CLD Values in Theory Lecture the evening before. You can choose to attend either the Lecture OR the Conference OR BOTH!
We have packed agendas at both events. Key highlights include:
This is a members only conference. An email has been sent to members with the lecture and conference booking link.
If you are a member but have not received the email, please contact us on contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk for the conference booking link.
The conference was over-subscribed last year so do book early to avoid disappointment.
GTC Scotland invited views from anyone with an interest in education on a refreshed set of Professional Standards for teachers as well as a new Professional Code for teachers.
The Professional Standards and Professional Code are integral to the working lives of teachers. These documents guide teachers through their careers, ensuring high standards and encouraging professional learning in order to continually update and develop skills
The Professional Standards have been refreshed and the Code revised to reflect the changing educational landscape and the needs of teachers and, importantly, children and young people.
The consultation opened on 30 September 2019 and closed 20 December 2019.
See further details on the GTC website
The GTC will publish their response in April 2020.
The latest thinking on adult learning looking forward to the development of a new national strategy from Richard Lochhead, Mhairi Harrington OBE and our own Dr Marion Allison.
Read at – https://www.cdn.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Reach-2020-FINAL-compressed.pdf
Article in Reach the College Development Network magazine
There is still time to get your adult learners to contribute to the development of the National Strategy by completing the Adult Learning Survey https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/AdultLearningSurvey2019/
Now in our 11th year, the CLD Standards Council continues to go from strength to strength. Our partnerships with organisations such as Education Scotland, COSLA, TES, ACOSVO and SCURL are strengthening our Membership Offer and our numbers are steadily growing. We now have a public register meaning that anyone can enquire by name to check the registration status and region of our 2500 practitioners. We are delighted to hear from our international partners that our public register is the first of its kind and hope that we inspire many other countries to follow suit. We have more than 5000 Twitter followers across our accounts and between launching “Working with Scotland’s Communities”, welcoming our new Chair, Mr Alan Sherry at our Annual Members’ Conference in March, it has been a busy year. This work, together with on-going Approvals, Registration and Professional Learning activities would not be possible without the dedication and support of our members and I would like to thank you all for your continued contributions.
So, here’s to a well-earned rest over the Christmas holidays and here’s to the coming of age of CLD in the new decade ahead.
Best wishes
Marion
The CLD Standards Council 2020 conference will be on the theme of CLD – Values in Action. Registration will open soon – the last conference was heavily over-subscribed, so keep an eye on your inbox. As an added bonus, the CLDSC annual lecture on the theme of Theory in Action, will be on the evening of 24th March.
The register of members of the CLD Standards Council is now public. Any interested person can now enquire online by name to find the membership status and geographical region the member predominantly works in.
The online enquiry function can be found on i-develop –
http://www.i-develop-cld.org.uk/blocks/membersearch/index.php
See full information on the website.
The CLD Standards Council and the Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL) are delighted to have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding to support CLD professional learning and promote inclusive access to lifelong learning.
For details of free access to university and research libraries now available for members of the CLD Standards Council, go to http://cldstandardscouncil.org.uk/memorandum-of-understanding-with-scurl/
Requests for members to renew their registration are being rolled out. Please don’t worry if you have not received your request yet – we have quite a backlog to get through – back to registrations in 2013 – so it may take us a few months to get through all outstanding renewals.
Please do make sure you keep us up to date with your contact details so we can reach you for renewal.
Also if you have any colleagues who are members but have not been getting updates from us please encourage them to make sure we have up to date contact information.
Please email any queries to contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk or phone 0131 244 3444.
Adult Learning Survey
The Adult Learning Survey, which is being conducted by the Scottish Government in partnership with Education Scotland and the CLD Standards Council, will be open until the 17th January.
It is designed to capture the views of all adult learners and in particular those who have faced barriers whilst trying to access and progress through learning. Information from the survey will be used to develop the Adult Learning Strategy for Scotland.
Please highlight this survey to adult learners to help build the future strategy to meet their needs.
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/AdultLearningSurvey2019/
Survey on the Future of Youth Work in Scotland –
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NationalYouthWorkStrategy2020-2025SurveyforYoungPeople
A survey by young people for young people to help to shape a renewed National Youth Work Strategy.
Survey closes on 24 December.
The CLD Standards Council continually promotes the essential role of professional CLD practitioners, and this is all the more important as resources get ever-scarcer.
The Why Employers need professional CLD practitioners paper sets out the ways in which professional CLD practitioners are not just valuable but indispensable.
The paper and further information are available on the website.
The CLD Standards Council is delighted to once again sponsor the National Youth Work Award for Team of the Year. Nominations are now closed and we look forward to the awards ceremony in March 2020.
The CLDSC raised the profile of CLD at the SERA conference held in November, with Marion Allison presenting on the role of social capital practices in professional learning, and Colin Ross, together with John Galt of Education Scotland and Shannon Anderson of Rocket Science UK, presenting on the issues raised by the Working with Scotland’s Communities research.
Scotland receives over £780 million of funding through the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund under the current 2014-2020 programmes. The Scottish Government is consulting on a replacement funding vehicle.
Major elements of the European Structural Funds’ objectives align closely with the role of CLD. Can the potential replacement programme be designed to meet the needs of, and create opportunities for, communities, more effectively by utilising CLD?
The consultation paper is available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/replacement-european-structural-funds-scotland-post-eu-exit/pages/1/. The closing date for responses is 12 February 2020.
Please share your thoughts and comments, including any experience you have of using or engaging with the European Structural Funds, to inform the CLD Standards Council’s response by emailing us a contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk, and encourage your CLD colleagues and partners to feed in their views.
Anthony Beekman, Theresa Marsili, and Evelyn Scanlan (who work for Falkirk, Stirling and Angus Councils) were among members who benefited from passes, which the CLDSC offered to each CLD Professional Learning Network area, to attend the World Community Development Conference, held in Dundee in June.
They were impressed with a “particularly inspiring workshop on community development from the perspective of indigenous people combating the legacy of colonialism” and the “similarities of work done in other countries and how we are all tackling similar problems”; and commented that in the current “trying times” it was “excellent; eye opening, mind broadening, inspiring and engaging”, with “such a friendly and captivating atmosphere,” “a truly world conference with perspectives on community development from people around the globe”.
Ever wondered what goes on over in the Twitter-sphere? Here’s a selection of #BecauseOfCLD tweets from the last few months. See if you can spot anyone you know! If you want to find out more, why not follow us @cldstandards
Open University Roadshows
Awards Network
Gift Tech – Giving the Gift of Technology
North Lanarkshire Carers Celebrating Success
Adult Education 100
Happy Birthday Lead Scotland!
Video – See Jamie talk about a life in care and his move to a career in CLD
Life after Graduating in CLD
A history of CLD? There’s a book for that!
Best wishes from the CLD Standards Council
