- Call 0131 244 3444
- Email contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk
The Standards Council for Community Learning and Development Scotland is the body responsible for the registration of CLD practitioners, the approval of training courses, and the continuing professional development of the sector workforce. The Standards Council was established by the Scottish Government in 2009.
When the CLD Standards Council was established by the Scottish Government one of the things it was tasked with was to “consider and establish a registration system available to practitioners delivering and active in CLD practice.” The CLD Standards Council believes that Registration is an individual commitment to professional practice that will be recognised and valued by practitioners, partners, employers and training providers and that registration will strengthen the ability of the CLD Standards Council to speak as the voice of the sector.
The CLD Standards Council is a body of practitioners, managers and academics from the voluntary and public community learning and development sector. These individuals give of their time to drive the work of the CLD Standards Council through four committees: Approvals, CPD, Registration and Membership and the Executive Committee. The development of the registration system as it is followed from a consultation exercise with over 120 practitioners across Scotland through 13 consultation events. There followed further discussion at the Registration and Membership Committee and with members of the Executive Committee.
Consultations on the draft registration system showed a range of different views. There was roughly a two thirds/ one third split in favour of a voluntary system. The majority of those in favour of a compulsory system were public sector employees. There was also a groundswell to establish a voluntary system with a view to moving towards a compulsory system, and this possibility will be re-considered once the current system is firmly established. Decisions on the future direction of the CLD Standards Council, and the registration system, will be taken by members.
The Associate Member category reflects the desire to be inclusive of practitioners across the sector, in particular those employed by voluntary sector organisations, those in part time posts, volunteers and students.
The Member category with its requirement for a CLD Standards Council approved degree level qualification and 1 years full-time equivalent practice experience, (gained largely after qualification) is to help establish the credibility of community learning and development as an area of professional practice and its parity of esteem with other professions. This will also reflect on the credibility of the CLD Standards Council as a representative body for practising community learning and development professionals.
If you are registered as an Associate Member and have now obtained a recognised qualification and have the required experience, you can apply to become a registered member following the application guidance.
The system is registering practitioners not qualifications therefore there must be evidence of a practice element in the requirement for registration in the Member category. However the CLD Standards Council is convinced that learning and professional development does not stop with the achievement of an approved degree level qualification. Professional community learning and development practitioners will grow in skills, confidence and understanding as they practice their craft and reflect on that practice with the underpinning knowledge that they have and within the developmental frameworks of the competences for community learning and development, the values and principles, the ethical standards and a commitment to professional learning.
This is particularly important in the practitioner’s first post graduate position, whether paid or voluntary. This is where supported induction, professional challenge and exposure to continuing professional development opportunities will support how the practitioner approaches their work and represents their profession and will provide the opportunity to evidence the practitioner’s competence in real time, real world situations. This is why the Registered Member category of the registration system requires the practice element, to evidence the demonstration of competence and in particular the commitment to professional learning.
The bar for Membership of this professional organisation has been set clearly – and set high from the outset. We recognise that this means that the process for registration will be somewhat more complex in that it will require verification of those commitments, but in our view, supporting people through the process is preferable to lowering the bar. This is a long term consideration and relates to the issue of parity of esteem with other professions as described below. The CLD Standards Council, through the development of this registration system, the competences for CLD, the code of ethics, the professional learning strategy and the i-develop service is actively putting in place the building blocks of a CLD profession that will be recognised for the value base and commitment of practitioners and for the delivery of high quality learning and development opportunities.
Parity of esteem with other professions was one of the main reasons people said they would support a registration system for CLD practitioners when we carried out our consultation. The examples most often quoted were those of teachers and social workers. The category of Associate member will be available to all practitioners, and the degree is already largely recognised as the licence to practice. The requirement for the Registered Member has been deliberately set higher than possession of the degree level qualification, so that it will demonstrate more than the achievement of an HE qualification -not just in experience but in professional identity, commitment and engagement.
There is already an existing group of qualified and experienced staff. This model of Membership will affirm their qualified, and experienced, status.
Learning and professional development doesn’t stop with the achievement of an approved degree level qualification – arguably that’s where it starts. Professional community learning and development practitioners will grow in skills, confidence and understanding as they practice their craft. The one year professional practice requirement provides the practitioner with opportunity to evidence their commitment and competence in real time, real world, real responsibility situations and in particular evidence the commitment to professional learning.
Review and removal of the Individual Recognition Process (IRP):
The Registration and Membership Committee has established a dedicated working group to conduct a comprehensive review of the Individual Recognition Process (IRP). This initiative aligns with the operational delivery of our registration system and aims to:
Following extensive research and review of options, the working group made a recommendation regarding changes to the requirements for registered membership with the Standards Council. The CLD Standards Council Executive Committee approved the recommendation that registered membership should require:
As part of this decision, the IRP process has been discontinued.
Furthermore, it was acknowledged that between 2013 and 2016, practitioners were able to obtain registered membership through a “Sunset Clause,” which permitted individuals with ten or more years of experience in CLD practice to become registered without holding a recognised or endorsed degree-level CLD qualification. Considerable effort has been dedicated to identifying those members who, through either the Sunset Clause or IRP, are affected by the changes to the registered membership requirements. These individuals have been contacted directly to provide support and guidance. All affected members are strongly encouraged to access the support and guidance which is being offered alongside this change.
This review and subsequent revised membership criteria helps address key issues within the Independent Review of CLD, aiming to support the inclusivity, professionalism, and future development of the CLD workforce. It provides clarity around what we mean by a professional CLD practitioner and will help create parity of esteem with other statutory professions.
“The bar for Membership of this professional organisation has been set clearly – and set high….in our view, supporting people through the process is preferable to lowering the bar.” CLD Standards Council website- Common questions about registration.
Recommendation 5: Still Report, Learning: For All. For Life calls for recognition of the workforce as well as development of the CLD workforce and standards.
“The CLD professionals and volunteers, working with people facing the biggest challenges, deserve better recognition than they currently enjoy. For those who are qualified CLD professionals, there is a pressing need to ensure parity of esteem with similarly qualified professionals in related fields. As Scotland’s population continues to change, there is a need for the CLD workforce to change with it”.
The revised requirements for registered membership of the CLD Standards Council serve to clarify the criteria applied to all current and prospective members. Consequently, the introduction of an individual appeals process is not deemed appropriate. CLD practitioners may retain their membership with the CLD Standards Council without any change to their associated member benefits. No members will be removed from the Register; however, adjustments to individual membership categories may occur based on the level of recognised CLD qualifications held. All members will continue to have full access to the CLD Standards Council’s professional learning opportunities, support services, and associated member benefits.
If you have any queries regarding your membership status or wish to review and update your contact details, please access your personal membership information via your i-develop account using the following link: i-develop.
If you have forgotten your login credentials, we can reset your password for you. Simply contact us at registration@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk
A recommended figure of 35 hours professional learning per year for those in full time CLD occupations has been set, and is considered both realistic and achievable, pro rata for part time staff or volunteers. It is also consistent with the professional learning requirements of similar professional areas. The professional learning requirement is in addition to any induction or required or regulatory training.
Benefits of registration will include:
This is an opportunity to be a part of and to shape the development of a body that will represent the community learning and development sector and will support the recognition of CLD as a professional approach that has a committed and professional staff cohort.
Professional learning is a combination of approaches, ideas and techniques that help individuals manage their own learning and growth. Within a learning culture it can include any event, formal or informal, that increases knowledge, experience and understanding, improves performance and contributes to lifelong learning.
You can access the CLD Standards Council’s Professional Development Strategy – Growing the learning Culture in CLD
And the Professional Learning and Development Review process which is a key requirement of registration.
Registration is currently free of charge (as at February 2024). Registration has been free of charge since it became available in 2013. We will consult with our growing membership if this position changes.
The registration system was revised in September 2016 to remove the 10 years experience route to registration.
See the Registration System Information page for full details of the Registration system.