Training and Implementation Support Offer  Introduction for Commissioners and Service Managers

The Academy invites you to a series of regional events to learn more about its training and implementation offer and discuss how you can apply for places in the period 2008 – 10.

Over 4,000 free training places are being offered on a range of courses running from December 2008 to March 2010, all to improve practice based on evidence of what works.

Places will be available in every English region; the majority will be in proven parenting programmes and a limited number in modular units at QCF level 3. The Academy will also provide post training support in evidence based programmes.

Who is invited?

Local Parenting Commissioners, as we want them to co-ordinate one application from across their local area, but we also welcome service managers, and others who are interested and will be involved in deciding locally how to respond and plan to use the training. For example you may wish to involve coordinators of children’s centres, extended schools, youth offending teams or voluntary sector partners.

We are also inviting GO Parenting Leads. Key Academy staff including Regional Network Managers will be present. However, if more convenient, please come to a meeting outside your region.

Where and when?

• York 19th September
  
• Birmingham 22nd  September
  
• Leicester 23rd  September
  
• Cambridge 26th  September
  
• London 3rd  October
  
• Exeter 7th  October
  
• Guildford 10th October
  
• Manchester 13th  October
  
• Newcastle 14th  October

Each event will run from 10.30 until 1pm followed by lunch

Topics will cover:

• Overview of the Academy’s plans for training and research
• Details of the range of the free training and post-training support offer
• Guidance on how to respond and apply for the offer to best meet your local needs

Afternoon surgeries will be available from 2-4pm for representatives from Parenting Early Intervention Pathfinders (PEIPs) and to explore your application with Academy staff.

Further information:

The events aim to help you start a practical action plan for your application to reflect the priorities of your local parenting services and your workforce development needs.

Why are these events being held in addition to the planned Government Office Meeting?
Whilst considering already busy agendas and existing autumn GO meetings we want to give enough time to share information and for discussion. We are extending our invitation more widely than solely Parenting Commissioners – though they will coordinate local responses to our offer.

We want to ensure our proposed arrangements best suit your needs and that you understand how applications can be made to the Academy. Further detail will be on our website shortly here which may lead to questions, comments and revisions.

Further information on the event and an agenda for your region will be circulated closer to the time.

Please register your interest for a place at your regional event as soon as possible with Rebecca Pollock rpollock@parentingacademy.org

Summary of key criteria for application process:

• Application forms will be available on the Academy website from September, with more detail on the different aspects of the offer. The first deadline for applications for the first tranche of evidence based training, (December 08 – February 09) is 30 October 2008.
  
• We are expecting one coordinated application from each local area usually from the Parenting Commissioner to contribute to the delivery of local parenting strategies. We expect local proposals will involve the voluntary sector. We want to know how our training will be used to meet local service needs and deliver improved services to parents.*
  
• We will need an outline of your service and training plan to show your local parenting specific programmes, priorities and workforce needs. We need this to plan post training support.
  
• Applications should be discussed with the Academy's local Regional Network Manager, (or our Head of Regional Networks where an RNM position is currently vacant) who will provide advice and support to commissioners in developing applications.
  
• We will ensure all authorities have training places on the evidence-based programme across the two years, so authorities can plan and agree a timescale for training. There will not be a strict allocation for each local authority but we will indicate a range.
  
• We will redirect any enquiries from individual practitioners to the local Parenting Commissioner.
  
• We will consider proposals from voluntary sector organisations who work across local areas and can identify that they meet our criteria. We will expect them to identify how they will deliver improved services to parents and show how they support local parenting strategies.