CHARMS Social Care Community Newsroom

ELCVS Publicity event – On 15th March 2006 an event took place to further publicise and promote the work being done on developing a Workforce Development Strategy for the VCS across East London. Held at Thames Gateway London Partnership (TGLP)East India Dock it was divided into two sessions: The first - from 10.00 am to 12.00 noon [ending with the networking lunch] - focused on the project and CD-ROM produced by CHL which is being used to undertake the training audits. This session let CVS Directors, senior managers of VCOS, potential ‘auditors’ and funders learn more about the tool and how it is being used. The second session - from 12.00 noon to 2.00 pm - provided training for volunteers to undertake the audits. ELCVS is looking to recruit volunteers to take part in this training - no previous experience will be necessary just the willingness to undertake the training and provide time for installing the software (£20 per install) and assisting organisations in entering data. It was a hugely successful day, with very positive responses, and a number of volunteers came forward. If you want to find out more please contact Stephanie Lane / Josephine Mason at the ELN office on: Telephone: 01708 778060 WfD@elcvsnetwork.org.uk / Josephine.mason@elcvsnetwork.org.uk

Exciting opportunity for VCOs: East London Voluntary and Community Sector Workforce Development Pilot Project1 The East London CVS Network [ELN] is facilitating the development of a Workforce Development Strategy for the Voluntary and Community Sector in East London. Initial investment has been through ChangeUp – but additional funding has been secured from a number of sources, including the Skills for Care London, North East London Strategic Health Authority, the Thames Gateway London Partnership Third Sector Steering Group, and the Learning and Skills Council. As the first stage they are collecting information about the workforce development needs of Voluntary and Community Organisations in the sub-region. To do this they are using a CD-rom which collate information on staff within organisations, including:  Post held  Qualifications  Training needs  Information on staff movements They therefore need to recruit 500 organisations that are willing to take part in the data gathering pilot project. Those willing to be part of this pilot will receive:  receive free training in using the CD-rom  the license fee paid for the initial 12 months [normally £25 per annum]  the basis for an organisational training and development strategy  individual training records showing when training is due  organisational training records showing when training such as first aid updates are required The ability to hold and use this information will help to manage staff development by recording Appraisals/Supervisions. The system also helps prove commitment to Investment in People and PQASSO for those organisations developing quality standards. This information will then be placed anonymously on a central database which will be used to inform future investment for skills and workforce development. It will show that the sector needs to have a workforce which is recognised as having the skills and abilities needed to provide quality services. The centralised data will show the extent of the voluntary and community sector in East London and the sheer amount of work which is undertaken by organisations. Voluntary and community organisations will also be able to access this information to use in research and funding applications. For further information and/or to get involved in this exciting pilot project contact: Alice Wallace, Co-ordinator, East London CVS Network T: 01708 77 8060 E: alice.wallace@elcvsnetwork.org.uk W: www.elcvsnetwork.org.uk

In a unique initiative CHL pulled out all the stops to help Trafford MBC electonically store all of their staff's Personal Development Plans (PDPs) in ETC - CHL's acclaimed Enrolment, Training ad Certification system. With a deadline of only two weeks, CHL put a number of key staff on the project and ensured that Trafford MBC had all of the 6,000+ returns entered onto ETC and that the management team were able to report on the workforce's development needs. Because ETC was used, we were also able to identify which development needs had been met and where the unmet needs were. Trafford's innovative approach to the use of IT has also led them to take up ETC's online Staff Development Module which will allow all Managers to update their staff development needs through Trafford's intranet. ETCOnline will be implemented by 1 January 2006. There can be no doubt that ETC and WAN - the Workforce Analysis module - is breaking new ground in training and staff development in the UK. For more information or to arrange a free demonstration please call 0870 112 0421 and ask for Jim or Chris; or email info@chl-system.co.uk.”

Craig Barrie, CHARMS Project Manager and CHL Director, announced today that Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council contacted CHL to confirm that they have got the go ahead to implement CHARMS for their Fostering and Adoption team. The first project meeting will take place in October 2005 and dates have been proposed for full implementation in November. Jim Moores, CHL’s MD, said “This is great news for CHL and for the Fostering and Adoption Team at Blackburn with Darwen. With the help of Craig and his implementation team, CHARMS will be fully operational before the end of the year. CHARMS is fast becoming the foremost system for the UK’s fostering and adoption community. For more information or to arrange a free demonstration please call 0870 112 0421 and ask for Craig or Clare; or email charms@chl-system.co.uk.”

Well done to Pete and all the Team at Salford Supported Employment. We have had a great week updating the training in ASSET and, for those who got the benefit, the Chinese buffet lunch was good...

"After careful deliberation, and assessment of all the systems on the market, GIS Healthcare this month announced that they are to proceed with ASSET. They are looking to implement ASSET early in the new year (2006). GIS Healthcare is part of Gloucestershire County Council Social Services, and is dedicated to the employment and training of people with disabilities. Part of their business is the supply of aids and appliances, at sensible prices. Contact details are : Phone: 01452-520438 ex 201 Fax: 0800-214490 / 01452- 300850 Contact name: Toni Snarey Address: Sudmeadow Road, Hempsted, Gloucester, GL2 5HS Great news for CHL - and ASSET becomes even more firmly established as the software of choice for Supported Employment and Workstep providers. For a free demonstration of ASSET or for further information please call 0870 112 0421 and ask for Christine or Karen; or email asset@chl-system.co.uk."

"CHL is very pleased to announce that CHARMS - the most recognisable name in adoption and fostering software – is now being installed in St Andrew’s Children’s Society’s Edinburgh office. Craig Barrie, CHL Director and CHARMS Project Leader, said ‘We are delighted that St Andrew’s Children’s Society has made the decision to buy CHARMS. They join the fastest growing adoption and fostering software community and will, from 7th September 2005, see the immediate benefits of having all their records in one place.’ For further information, or a free demonstration of CHARMS please call 0161 237 1872 and ask for Christine or Karen; or email charms@chl-system.co.uk."

"Jim Moores, CHL’s MD, took the call from TiE and, with Mike Barlow - CHL Director and ASSET Project Manager – is looking forward to installation as soon as possible. ASSET is used in more than 55 sites around the UK, from Elgin to Bournemouth, and is fast becoming the de facto standard for software in Supported Employment. Many of the sites are Workstep providers. The Training into Employment scheme (TiE) is an employment service, which has been specially designed to help people with disabilities to find work. Contact Information : Telephone: 0161 911 4799 Fax: 0161 911 3803 E-mail: psd@oldham.gov.uk Address: Physical and Sensory Disability Services, The Link Centre, 140 Union Street, Oldham, OL1 1DZ Opening Hours: 8.40am to 5.00pm Mon-Fri For a free demonstration of ASSET or for further information please call 0870 112 0421 and ask for Christine or Karen; or email asset@chl-system.co.uk."

ETC’s popularity is growing. Recognised as one of the most user-friendly Training Management Systems in Social Services it is now installed at Rochdale MBC’s , Social Services Training Section. This takes our list of users to 16. Thank you to Carol and the Training Team at Foxholes House, and see you again soon… ETC now includes Finance Tracking, NVQ monitoring, Practice Placement management (including outcomes/assessments), Resource Loans, Workforce Development and links to HR systems. For further information please call our office on 0161 237 1872 and ask for Jim Moores.

Thanks to the training team and to Phillip (IT) for making our lives very easy for the installation in December 2004. In January 2005 we paid another visit to pick up on issues and to load the latest version. On 18 April 2005 we will be on site again to see how the Team have been getting on and to make sure everyone is happy. Once again, thank you to Debbie, Carol and the Team for all their help, Jim, Chris and Lorna – CHL For further information please call our office on 0161 237 1872 and ask for Jim Moores.