Employer support network

SkillsActive is the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning - which includes Playwork - and is anxious that employers across the Playwork sector should be fully consulted with in relation to their future skills requirements to assist them in the development of their business and being able to provide quality play opportunities for children and young people.

A steering group has been set up that will consist of 2 representatives from each of the 6 counties of the east region and they will meet quarterly and in addition I would set up County Focus Groups with the 2 representatives in each County, to feed local input into the overall east region Steering Group. These County Focus Groups would also meet quarterly.

See the Terms of Reference below. 

The main purpose of the County Focus Groups would be:

• To represent the Playwork employers in their County
• To explain the context and developments to employers in each County
• To get employers views in each County on what their issues are and what should be the focus and priorities for the Network - both overall and for the individual counties

The broad remit of both the overall Employers Support Network Steering Group and the County Focus Groups is to link together employers in the Playwork sector - whether in the public, private or voluntary sector - and link them in turn into SkillsActive in the east region to provide a focus on engaging employers on key issues of skills and learning, qualifications, workforce development and contributing generally to the development of the Playwork sector in the region.

The County Focus Groups will provide an opportunity for employers to share best practice, identify issues of common concern, support each other and contribute to establishing the Network.

There will be opportunities for round table discussion on ways forward so we can ensure your experiences and daily business challenges help shape the industry of the future.

If you are unable to attend a meeting in your county or if it is more convenient for you to attend a adjacent county meeting please feel free to attend whichever suits you best.

Dates ot next meetings are:

• 21 April 08  - Beds The Pilgrim Centre, Brickhill Drive, Bedford MK41 7PZ from 10.30 -1.00pm
• 23 April 08 - Norfolk will be held at The Cottage, 148 Thunder Road, Norwich NR7 0JD from 10.30am-1.00pm
• 9 May 08 - Essex will be held at 4Children, Broomfield Place, Chelmsford, CM1 7EQ from 10.30am -1.00pm
• 21 May 08 - Suffolk will be held at IP City Bath Street, Ipswich IP2 8SD  from 10.30am-1.00pm
• 23 May 08 – Cambs will be held at Huntingdon Regional College, California Road, Huntingdon PE29 1BL from 10.30am-1.00pm

SkillsActive Playwork Employers Support Network

Terms of reference

Aim and purpose

The aims of the Network will be

1. To support employers in the play sector in the East of England to develop the skills of their staff and address workforce issues in their organisations
2. To raise the profile of playwork and playwork qualifications and careers, in order to promulgate understanding of the special role of playwork and strengthen the sector
3. To support the SkillsActive Playwork East Region - Regional Development Manager’s work plan

Functions

The Network will aim:

1        To enable employers to access training and funding including through advice and guidance

2        To represent, lobby, influence and advocate on behalf of employers in the play sector in the region

3        To enable employers to network, learn from each other, and solve problems

4        To have members represent the Network externally

5        To feed in to SkillsActive nationally on employer issues

Powers

The Network will have a supporting and advisory function

Steering group

The Steering Group will be made up of two representatives for each of the six counties drawn from SkillsActive member employers in the private, public or voluntary sectors or representative bodies

The steering group will meet quarterly

Chair:  Laurie Coppersmith (for an initial one-year term) 

Consultative groups

This wider network is made up of playwork employers or employer representatives of SkillsActive in the East of England, meeting through county-based Focus Groups.  10-20 participants will be invited to take part in each group. Participants will need to become members of SkillsActive East Region.

Their role will be

1. To represent the Playwork employers in the east region
2. To explain the context and development to employers in the six counties
3. To get their views on what should be the focus and priorities for the network

The Focus Groups will meet quarterly - prior to the Steering Group meetings.