Developing a Whole Organisation Approach
to Skills for Life in Local Authorities and Health Authorities

Radisson Edwardian Marlborough Hotel, London

27th June 2007

Funded by Skills for Life Improvement Programme

This was a FREE dissemination event, the second of two, organised by The Network and funded by the Skills for Life Improvement Programme, to share our experiences in pilot projects in partnerships with local authorities and health authorities in developing a Whole Organisation Approach to Skills for Life. Keynote speakers explored the significance of Skills for Life in these key public sector areas and a range of optional workshops explored different aspects of implementing activities to integrate Skills for Life into organisational planning and workforce development. There was also an opportunity to discuss the successes and challenges.

Keynote Speakers:

- Sue Batt, Director of Regional Development, The Network for workplace language, literacy and numeracy
Introduction to Skills for Life Improvement Programme and the pilot projects

- Professor Bob Fryer CBE,
National Director for Widening Participation in Learning, Department of Health
The importance of Skills for Life in the public sector with particular reference to the health sector

- Les Perkins, UNISON Regional Officer Education
The role of unions in developing Skills for Life in the public sector with a focus on local government

Health Sector Workshops:

• Margaret Kelvey, Project Manager, Extending Participation and Employability, Skills for Health, Rosemarie Simpson, Programme Manager, Extending Participation and Employability, Skills for Health and Martyn Roads, DfES Consultant, Skills for Health

- Supporting the Heath Sector to embed Literacy, Language and Numeracy

As a Sector Skills Council, Skills for Health aims to help employers to develop solutions leading to the development of a flexible, competent workforce which can contribute towards meeting the goals of better patient care, greater productivity and improved services. Having the appropriate literacy. language and numeracy skills is essential if staff are to be most effective in their roles and fulfill their potential.

At Skills for Health,we think organisations can address this with the right tools, support and advice and we aim to assist employers in raising awareness and addressing literacy, language and numeracy as part of a whole organisational approach. This workshop provided information on the strategic approach taken by Skills for Health, the tools, materials and resources developed to support Skills for Life in the sector and explored some of the successes and challenges to date.

• Jan Ryan, Training Manager, Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch NHS Foundation Trust and Kim Hailstone, Development Adviser - Skills for Life Improvement Programme, The Network for workplace language, literacy and numeracy

- Developing a strategy for a Whole Organisation Approach to Skills for Life

This workshop provides an opportunity to consider the components of a Whole Organisation Approach in an NHS Trust. Delegates will hear the experiences of a NHS Training Manager, a NHS employee learner and a SfLIP Development Adviser.

• Sheila Bull, Lifelong Learning Adviser for Kent and Medway NHS Partnership Trust and East Kent and Coastal PCT, and Glenys Lake, Development Adviser - Skills for Life Improvement Programme, The Network for workplace language, literacy and numeracy

- Turning Skills for Life Action into Skills for Life strategy

This interactive workshop was led by the two Lifelong Learning Advisors in Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust, whose roles are dedicated to the strategic and operational implementation of Skills for Life within the Trust.

The workshop aimed to give a snapshot of the innovative bottom-up approach to Skills for Life development to date.

There was input from a modern matron and a union representative.

The session included feedback on the lessons learned from a recently conducted Skills for Life pilot (May 07). This involved taking a whole department approach within a dedicated area of the Trust, in order to explore the emergent issues and how these will impact on taking a whole organisation approach in the long term.

The findings from the pilot will inform the development of the Trust’s Skills for Life strategic plan and action plan, supported by the Skills for Life Improvement Programme.

• Sandi Pennington, Team manager Vocational Awards Team, Salford City Council

- Successes and Solutions in developing a Whole Organisation Approach: lessons from the Salford Pathfinder

An overview of the work undertaken with KPMG Pathfinder and Health and Social Care organisations in Salford.

- Salford Council Community, Health and Social Care Directorate,
- North West Ambulance,
- Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health Trust, Salford PCT,
- Salford Royal Hospital Trust (Hope Hospital)
all came together to share experiences of implementing WOA within their individual organisations and to promote WOA across the health and social care sector in Salford.
This presentation provide d information on the barriers overcome and those that still are being worked on by Lead Officers to achieve this.

Local government Workshops:

• Michelle Johnson, Improvement and Development Agency

- The role of the GO Award in developing Skills for Life in Local Authorities

This workshop is aimed predominately at Local Authorities that have not yet engaged with the GO Local Government Award.

The workshop gave background to the award; discussed the process of gaining the award and examined key strategic drivers that help enable the process.

• Ann Howe and Isabel White, Development Advisers – Skills for Life Improvement Programme, The Network for workplace language, literacy and numeracy

Whole Organisation Approach – Starting the Journey

This workshop aims to:
- Present an overview of the work with LAs to embed SfL within the WOA
- Summarise the business case
- Identify key policy drivers (CPA etc)
- Identify key personnel required to support WOA
- Look at barriers and enablers: what helps and hinders progress

• Heather Johnston, Cambridgeshire County Council

- Gaining Senior Management Team buy-in to the development of a Whole Organisation Approach to Skills for Life

Drawing upon work undertaken within Cambridgeshire County Council to gain senior management support, the workshop provided an opportunity for participants to:-
- consider who is key within their organisation and how best to secure their support,
- share ideas and practice and reflect upon how these could support work within their own organisation,
- identify potential difficulties and strategic opportunities ,
- pick up tips on securing the right response from senior management and
- explore how to further develop work within their own organisations.

• Alison Noel, Director, Skills for Work

- Lessons learned from the LDA Embedding SfL In London Local Authorities project, including Successes and Challenges at Southwark Council

The London Development Agency, London Councils and the London LSC have been providing intensive support to London local authorities to develop workforce SfL levels since 2003. This workshop described what has made it possible for the 14 participating authorities to begin to embed SfL learning across the organisation. Monique Dall’Occo also talked about the successes and challenges of the initiative for Southwark Council. Workshop participants werel then invited to discuss issues that arise, and share their own experiences.

Panel

Speakers and workshop presenters provided an opportunity for delegates to comment and ask questions and explore lessons learned.