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SOCIAL SERVICES NORTH WEST (NWASSA)
MEETING ON 16 MARCH 2001 AT HALTON
REPORT OF THE CO-ORDINATOR
TOPSS ENGLAND -
ADMINISTRATION OF NORTH WEST REGIONAL TRAINING FORUM
1. Matter for Consideration:
To consider whether Social Services North West should offer to continue the administration of the TOPSS England
North West Regional Training Forum for the year 2001-02.
2. Introduction:
Members will be aware that TOPSS England launched last year a network of Regional Training Forums, in which employer,
educational and service user interests come together to steer the development of staff training across the region.
The forum for the North West was launched in November 2000, and Social Services North West was asked to undertake
the administration.
3. Information:
3.1 After consultation with the Chair and Deputy Chair, proposals were made to TOPSS England of how the task could
be carried out for a trial period from November 2000 to March 2000 in the first instance:
· We would service the quarterly meeting of the TOPSS Regional Forum, comprising some 20-25 members
· Duties would include: gathering, copying and sending out the necessary papers in advance of the meeting; arrangements re venue, refreshments etc; minuting the meeting and submitting draft to yourself and Vic Citarella as Chair; copying and circulating the final version to members
· In relation to sub-groups, we would maintain liaison with Convenors of these in relation to items for the Forum itself, but could not undertake their servicing. This will need to be arranged by the sub-groups themselves.
· If you wish us to undertake the provision of expenses for service users, we will need to arrange this specifically.
· Equally, the extent to which we could take on any other duties would have to be discussed in relation to available time, once priority has been given to the core tasks listed above.
· Meetings timed to avoid conflict (through work overload) with our core business for Social Services North West
3.2 These proposals, together with the financial details also submitted, were acceptable to TOPSS England Chief
Executive Andrea Rowe. The December 2000 meeting of Social Services North West endorsed the decision of the Chair
and Deputy Chair to support the provision of administrative support to the TOPSS England North West Regional Training
Forum, for a trial period until 31 March 2001. TOPSS England have now requested that this arrangement continue
for the forthcoming year. The December meeting also appointed Councillor Jim Middleton (Tameside) to represent
Social Services North West on the Forum.
3.3 Two meetings of the Forum have now been held. At the first meeting on 15 November 2000, those present endorsed
Vic Citarella as Chair for the first year, and Social Services North West as administrators until March 2001. TOPSS
England Chief Executive Andrea Rowe and Regional Development Officer Annette Baines set out the agenda for the
organisation both nationally and regionally, and the group began to map out the priorities for the next twelve
months.
3.4 At the second meeting on 24 January, the need was identified to produce a Regional Workforce Development Plan,
by collecting workforce information from across the region, setting regional targets and identifying funding. Following
this, regional commissioning and monitoring processes will be necessary. This work must be backed by effective
working arrangements for the Forum itself, and for Communications and Promotion. A working group of members was
established to begin the tasks of data collection, beginning with a full database of social care employers in the
North West, for communication and planning purposes. Social Services North West is playing a key role in this.
Another group is beginning to plan the operational strategy for the Forum, and its partnerships with related organisations.
The Forum is also keen to promote communication and partnership with all social care employers and the many organisations
with related tasks. The Forum's website, hosted by SSNWeb, is also playing a key role.
3.5 It can now be seen that the work of the North West Regional Training Forum is manageable at present within
the terms originally set out, and that it is appropriate for Social Services North West as an organisation representing
employers in the region to be actively involved. The proposed financial terms for the continuation of the arrangement
through 2001-02 will be reported to the meeting.
4. Recommendation:
That, if the request is confirmed by TOPSS England and the Regional Training Forum, Social Services North West
should continue to provide administrative to the Forum during 2001-02, subject to satisfactory agreement on the
terms.
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