SkillsActive is proud to launch the pilot of the Register of Playwork Professionals.
The Register of Playwork Professionals has been developed by SkillsActive in partnership with employers, playworkers and representatives from key national organisations involved in the development, delivery and support for children’s play. The Register will ensure that standards within the Playwork industry are kept to a high level through annual Continued Professional Development (CPD) for all members.
Successful applicants during the pilot will be given membership for one year free of charge and, in addition, the first 100 members to sign up to the Register of Playwork Professionals will also receive one year’s free subscription to the forthcoming Journal of Playwork Practice.
“Having worked in children’s services for over 20 years, I am very pleased that the Register of Playwork Professionals has been established by SkillsActive. Playwork professionals can now be qualified at various levels up to and including Foundation Degree, Honours Degree and Postgraduate Qualification; this recognition helps the hard working individuals and also the workforce in our contribution to helping children live satisfying and enjoyable lives.” Prof Perry Else, Course Leader BA (Hons) Children and Playwork,
Using the expertise gained from the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs), the Register of Playwork Professionals is looking to build on this success within the playwork industry.
Driving a high standard of professionalism in the sector, the establishment of the Register of Playwork Professionals will:
- Recognise the importance of the role playworkers perform in the provision of play opportunities
- Offer much needed re-assurance to parents or carers that staff working with their children (aged 4 - 16 years old) are appropriately qualified
- Provide a system of regulation to ensure that individuals meet agreed National Occupational Standards, which describe the knowledge, competence and skills of good practice.
The entry levels and categories for the Register of Playwork Professionals will be based on the job roles and related qualifications held by each individual. The framework provided by the Register will offer verification that those working in the sector are fully qualified.
To ensure that members of the Register of Playwork Professional maintain skills in line with industry standards, they will be required to complete annual Continued Professional Development (CPD), which will be tracked by the activepassport system.
“We’re delighted to be launching the pilot of the Register of Playwork Professionals. It's important that the playwork sector is recognised for the very valuable contributions playworkers make to the lives of our children. I believe the establishment of the Register will really put playwork on the map and raise the profile of playwork within the children's workforce. The Register will also ensure high quality throughout the industry and drive professionalisation throughout the playwork sector”
For further information about the Register of Playwork Professionals, please visit our website www.playworkregister.org
For further information or comment about these issues and the wider issues of skills and employment, or to arrange interviews please contact Sharon Colligan ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 0207 632 2000).
Salary: Circa £35,000 per annum, dependent on experience.
Based: Head Office, Central London
Full time, 37.5 Hours per week
The Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) is seeking to recruit a high quality Compliance and Standards Manager, to further enhance and develop the technical expertise within the Registers team.
This is a new and exciting role which is integral to ensuring compliance of our application processes and adherence to operating procedures alongside supporting the Registrar. This role will support from a technical perspective, the continued work of SkillsActive to grow the status of REPs, build on its reputation and enhance the value it offers to employers, employees and the public.
You will be largely stakeholder facing and will be the operational expert in all components relating to fitness professionals standards and qualifications. You will be required to attend and present at conferences, technical expert groups and stakeholder meetings with the ability to disseminate technical information in layman's terms to the wider business.
Your experience of working within the Health and Fitness industry alongside your ability to confidently solve problems whilst working and communicating effectively with all staff and client groups to achieve positive results will ensure success in this role.
For more information on this role see the: Job Description and Person Specification
To apply for this role
Please submit the following:-
1. Comprehensive curriculum vitae.
2. Covering letter setting out how you meet the job and person specification and clearly stating your expected salary. (2 pages maximum).
PLEASE NOTE - Applications without covering letter supporting application will not be reviewed.
3. Please complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Forms. Information given on this form will not be used as part of the selection process and will be treated as strictly confidential.
Email application to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Closing Date: Midday, 20th May 2013
Unfortunately we are not able to respond to all applicants, if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date please assume your application was not successful.
Independent Member of the Audit Governance and Risk Committee
Non-remunerate (Reasonable expenses paid)
Based: Head Office, Central London (occasional travel out of london may be required)
SkillsActive are looking to recruit Independent Member of the Audit Governance and Risk Committee.
The Audit Governance and Risk Committee is the principal sub-committee of the Board of Trustees. Independent members are required to provide the Committee with a mix of accounting, financial, risk management, information assurance, audit and corporate governance advice to enable the Committee to provide appropriate scrutiny and advice to the Board.
The Audit Committee operates under specific terms of reference authorised by the Board and meets 4 times a year to monitor and offer advice on appropriate standards for risk management and internal control and to review matters connected with audit and the provision of internal controls assurance. Meetings are usually held in London.
An independent member is required to provide the committee with a mix of specialist accounting, financial, risk management, information assurance, audit and corporate governance advice to enable the committee to provide appropriate scrutiny and advice to the Council.
For more information on this role see the: Job Description and Person Specification
To apply for this role
Please submit the following:-
1. Comprehensive curriculum vitae.
2. Covering letter setting out how you meet the job and person specification and clearly stating your expected salary. (2 pages maximum).
Email application to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Circa £60,000 per annum
Permanent
Based - Central London
In this challenging role you will lead on the delivery of SkillsActives Standards and Qualifications across our 7 sectors.
The NOS form the 'building blocks' for the sector and are used in employment practices in the industry, in the development of qualifications and training and in national structures and registers.
The development and maintenance of National Occupational Standards (NOS), Apprenticeships and the submission and upkeep of the qualifications and credit framework (QCF) alongside building and maintaining partnerships with awarding organisations is an integral function within the organisation and to our sectors.
You will have knowledge and experience of the current employment and skills agenda, knowledge of developing National Occupational Standards and qualification structures alongside effective people management experience will ensure your successful delivery in this role.
For more information on this role see the: Job Description and Person Specification
To apply for this role:
Please submit the following:-
Please submit your CV with a supporting document highlighting how you meet the job and person specification (no more than 2 sides of A4).
PLEASE NOTE - CV's without supporting statements will not be reviewed. .
Please complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Forms. Information given on this form will not be used as part of the selection process and will be treated as strictly confidential.
Email application to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Unfortunately we are not able to respond to all applicants, if you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of the closing date please assume your application was not successful.
SkillsActive Wales has agreed a mutual programme of work with Sport Wales which will enable the delivery of an extensive programme over the coming year. SkillsActive Wales is also happy to have secured funding from the Welsh Government Sector Priorities Fund Pilot (SPFP) to develop innovative learning and teaching materials for the level 3 Playwork Principles into Practice (P3) qualification.
The investment from Sport Wales will have a positive impact on the delivery of the SkillsActive Wales Business Plan 2012-13 and will ensure the full involvement of Welsh employers across the Active Leisure, Learning and Well-being sector.
The Sport Wales funding will go towards a number of initiatives which SkillsActive Wales has already begun to implement. These include:
• The production of an Annual State of the Industry Report for Wales, exploring sector specific gaps and shortages
• The development of a Single Qualification Framework, produced and agreed with key stakeholders in Wales
• An increase in REPs Wales members from 1000 to 1100, plus a 10% increase in the number of Welsh employers registering with REPs and a 5% increase in the number of instructors holding a level 3 qualification
• Promoting the importance of Active Passports across the sector.
In relation to the Sport Wales investment, SkillsActive Manager Richard Tobutt commented:
"SkillsActive Wales has maintained a healthy working relationship with Sport Wales for around 10 years. The activities agreed as part of this programme will positively impact on both the Sport Wales Vision for Sport, and particularly the 'skilled and passionate workforce strand', and the strategic context outlined in the Welsh Government 'Creating an Active Wales' document."
The Welsh Government Sector Priorities Fund Pilot also secured by SkillsActive Wales will massively assist playwork training delivery across Wales, by ensuring that the workforce is adequately skilled, trained and possesses the correct resources.
The project aims to develop and finalise bilingual learning and teaching materials for the recently developed Level 3 qualification entitled 'Playwork Principles into Practice' (P3).
The funding will allow SkillsActive Wales to lead the development of a full suite of resources for the Award, Certificate and Diploma which will promote high quality learning. Trainers currently delivering level 2 Playwork qualifications will also be upskilled, allowing them to progress the wide scale delivery of level 3 across Wales.
Concerning playwork funding, SkillsActive Technical Manager, Home Countries, Debbie Willets comments:
"The Children and Families (Wales) Measure places a duty on each local authority to provide sufficient play opportunities for children and young people and will increase the demand for qualifications within the playwork sector. Therefore, this project will have a positive impact on this strategic development and will go some of the way to address the skills shortages that exist across Wales."
Playwork qualification delivery is in its infancy in Wales, therefore the production of these resources will have a positive impact on the development of the playwork infrastructure. Ultimately, learners will benefit from these developments and will be able to further develop their playwork skills.
The investments will bring a whole range of benefits to the sport, fitness and playwork sectors in Wales, benefitting both the workforce and the general public.
This initiative carries the full support of Sport England and ukactive who can both see the considerable benefits the partnership will offer the sport and physical activity sector as a whole.
We plan to conclude these discussions early in the New Year, including full consultation with employers and members.
Miles Templeman – Chair CIMSPA
Peter Rowley – Chair SkillsActive
December 2012
The closer collaboration will be subject to due diligence, and involve the joining up of the two organisations' offers in relation to:
1. Registered professionals
2. Management professionals
3. The single qualification framework (sqf)
4. Endorsed training provision
5. The skills passport - activepassport
6. Skills funding bids and a new 'industrial partnership' between CIMSPA/SkillsActive and the sector's leading employers.
SkillsActive led a delegation of fourteen sport and education professionals, to TURF 2012 in New Delhi – India's largest convention on business of sports. The conference aimed to look at the challenges facing India in creating a successful sporting system for 1.2 billion people in a developing nation. The conference was organised by the sports division of the Federation of India Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
SkillsActive was represented by Head of Operations David Henwood who was accompanied by EOSE Director and Consultant and former SkillsActive Senior Programme Manager for Qualifications and Standards at SkillsActive Ben Gittus.
David Henwood Operations Director who led the delegation from SkillsActive commented:
"This was a fantastic opportunity for SkillsActive to share our experiences and knowledge with a developing nation to introduce a successful sporting system. The future of sport looks bright for India, with the country possessing a great of deal potential to make significant gains in the development of its sporting infrastructure."
Similarities between UK and Indian sport were observed with Ben Gittus commenting:
"There are three main pillars which make up sport policy across the world: school sport, participation and elite sport. These are the same in the UK as they are in India. Familiar themes such as: legacy, infrastructure, coach education, capacity building, investment, athlete support and skills development were also addressed. It is recognised that no country will ever have the perfect system, but it has been the bringing together and development of these elements that has contributed to the improvements and successes which have occurred in British sport. There was a view amongst the delegates that India is still right at the start of the process of indentifying and developing all the components which will produce a system which will ultimately take Indian sport forward."
Although India only gained 6 medals at London 2012 the two words which summed up the findings of the conference were "potential" and "opportunity".
It was also noted that foreign investment in Indian sport is increasing every year. If increased interest and popularity of sports can be coupled with improved organisation, coordination and some semblance of a 'system' there is no reason why India can't gain the societal, economic and health benefits of sport, whilst rising up the medals and ranking tables.
Some of the specific challenges for Indian sport discussed at the conference included:
• Changing mindset and attitude to sports - so that participation in sports or aiming for a career in sports is not looked down on by parents or society.
• Institutional capacity building and skill development - so a wider range of courses can be offered in institutions and there is a qualified and skilled workforce (the formation of a sector skills council is a possibility)
• Data collection – more information is needed on the baseline position of sport in the country
Some of the most interesting sessions at the conference were:
• Infrastructure and legacy planning – where Scott Hartley from Press Red sat on the panel and received some tough questioning from the audience
• Institutional capacity building – SkillsActive's Ben Gittus outlined the components of a skills system in sport and promoted "global knowledge partnerships" between UK and Indian institutions
• Mission Rank 100 – where the aim to move from position 169 in the FIFA soccer rankings to enter the top 100 was debated with insights from organisations including Barcelona FC who have opened an academy in New Delhi
• Focus on Punjab State – who are making major investment to become a powerhouse in Indian sport (the delegation were kindly invited to the Kabaddi World Cup in Punjab in December)
• Finally SkillsActive's David Henwood summed up the international perspectives of the conference as part of the valedictory session.
One of the successful outcomes of the conference were the arrangement of several dedicated B2B meetings between the seven UK universities with Indian institutions – Glamorgan, UCP MARJON, Liverpool John Moores, Chester, Chichester, Birmingham and Bournemouth. It is hoped that these will result in ongoing work and partnerships. Positive links were also established between the school sector and Sports Global training provider. Furthermore, SkillsActive is currently in the process of delivering a programme of support which will enable the establishment of a "SkillsActive India".
There is enormous potential in Indian sport and many possibilities for the UK delegates to remain involved and provide support to the process of development and improvement in Indian sport, particularly around sport education, and possibly help with the nascent development of an Indian sport system.
1/5/12
Adam has made a massive impact in his local community in Haringey through three key projects.
First, Adam played a key role in the complete regeneration of Fairlands Park, which resulted in a new play and sports area. He was then successful in securing funding to run regular tennis sessions at the facility.
His second project was to develop a primary schools cricket programme, which involved a series of cricket coaching sessions and a primary schools Cricket tournament.
His final project has been the establishment of a Sunday ‘Family Activities Programme’, resulting in regular family events and activities, such as cycle rides, family days out, cycle workshops and training courses.
Head of National Partnerships Stephen Mitchell says: “Whether they be a coach, official or club treasurer, volunteers play a vital role in encouraging and supporting people to get involved, and stay involved, in sport and active leisure. SkillsActive is really pleased to acknowledge Adam's wide ranging efforts in his community.”
Over 500 nominations were received for the PRO-ACTIVE London 2012 awards on 27 April - the only regional awards which celebrate the contribution of thousands of people, the majority of whom are volunteers, who make it possible for so many people to take part. Other winners include:
• Outstanding Contribution to Sport – Alex Welsh (Multi boroughs)
• Young Volunteer of the Year - Jordan Sargeant (Havering)
• Coach / Instructor of the Year – Pierre Aghabala (Croydon/Wandsworth)
• Project of the Year – BMX Legacy Project (Greenwich, Newham, Waltham Forest, Hackney, Tower Hamlets)
• Club of the Year - Waltham Forest Hockey Club (Waltham Forest)
For more information on the past and present awards and the nominations please visit www.pro-activelondonawards.org
1/5/12
The 'Moving The Nation: Working Together To Get More People Active' event in Craigavon aimed to bring together a number of key experts and agencies to share information relevant to the promotion of physical activity and a healthier lifestyle among the local population, during this summer of sport.
SkillsActive Northern Ireland manager Siobhan Weir (pictured with other delegates) says: “This event was an excellent example of private and public sector organisations coming together to explore how they can all work better together to stop the obesity epidemic. This is a particular issue for NI where one in five adults classified as obese.”
Health Minister Edwin Poots told the conference: “All Departments, agencies, groups and individuals have a responsibility to ensure that the decisions which are made and the actions taken, work in the best interests of the population of Northern Ireland. We cannot work in isolation. Physical activity is a vital part of maintaining and promoting good personal health. Being active is as important as having a nutritious diet when it comes to helping maintain a healthy weight. Participating in physical activity, either for sport or a leisure activity, such as walking or gardening, can also help promote good mental health and wellbeing.”
Dr Hassan from the Ulster Sports Academy discussed the defining features of the Games, a critical interpretation of the much-vaunted concept of ‘legacy’ and the political implication of hosting the summer Olympics in the UK for the first time in over 60 years.
Dr Conor McClean spoke about modern trends in public health such as the increase in chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. The development of these conditions is, in many cases, linked to lifestyle factors as poor diet and physical inactivity.
Conference organiser, Richie Smith of Unify Global Sport, an organisation specialising in community sport festivals, added: “Increased levels of physical activity of the population will not only relieve the financial burden on the health service, but it will also increase and maximise productivity and the performance of Northern Ireland’s workforce. In this Olympic year we have a great opportunity to encourage more people to engage in physical exercise which will enhance the local economy and the life of local communities.”
20/4/12
British Water Ski & Wakeboard is the National Governing Body for water skiing and wakeboarding in Great Britain and, as such, is responsible for developing the sport throughout Britain from grassroots level to elite for its 10,000 + members.
National Development Officer Rachel Tallon says the NGB is a strong advocate of providing CPD for staff, but recording and verifying this can be a challenge. It was therefore quick to join the trial for SkillsActive’s activepassport, a verified online record of an individual's training, qualifications and personal and professional achievements, when approached in mid-2011.
Rachel says: “The activepassport appealed to us because it gives individuals the power to log their qualifications, and coaching and volunteering hours, and communicate them to us quickly and efficiently.”
The NGB trialled the technology with 11 coaches; they were provided with an activepassport to log their new and exiting qualifications and coaching hours after successfully completing their level 2 coaching qualification. The NGB was so impressed with the technology that, following the trial, it incorporated the activepassport into its volunteer recognition scheme.
Contact SkillsActive | Work for SkillsActive | Our Board | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Accessibility
SkillsActive UK is a registered charity no. 1098336 and a company limited by guarantee registered in
England and Wales no. 4661021, registered office Castlewood House, 77-91 New Oxford Street, London, WC1A 1DG.
© 2013 SkillsActive
