Careers and Training
Work Matters: Continuing Professional Development - Connect with parents
Two new qualifications focus on working with parents and leadership roles. Karen Faux reports.
City & Guilds is launching an award to help practitioners work effectively with parents. The QCF Award/Certificate in Work with Parents is designed to assist mobility across the children's workforce.
The awarding body's community and society advisor, Gill Mason, says, 'The certificate at level 3 will enable practitioners to support parents to improve understanding of their own role and their children's social, emotional, intellectual and physical needs in the context of family life.'
Practitioners can choose a combination of level 2 and 3 units from a range of 23, such as building and maintaining relationships with parents and communities, engaging young parents and fathers with their children's development, working with groups of parents and effective communication.
The range of qualifications consist of flexible routes at levels 2 and 3. Candidates may choose to progress from the award to the certificate or may just want to top up with units to support their CPD. The qualifications complement the TDA's Support Work in Schools and Parent Support Pathway, and will be available from 1 April 2009.
Meanwhile City & Guilds is experiencing healthy uptake for its new Level 4 Higher Professional Diploma in Early Years. The qualification is equivalent to the first year of a foundation degree.
Ms Mason says, 'It is aimed at people who aspire to higher roles in childcare and education, assisting career mobility by focusing on skills needed to progress. It is also a unique CPD opportunity for those involved in the delivery of programmes, such as CCLD tutors and assessors.'
Candidates can either study the 12 units needed to gain the full diploma or select one or more units to achieve a certificate. Mandatory units include: reflective practice; values and principles; safeguarding the health and safety of children; working with families; managing and leading an integrated setting. Assessment is by means of unit assignments and the course is compatible with part-time, evening or day release study.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For more on Working with Parents email haedish.khera-white@cityandguilds.com. For information on the Level 4 Higher Professional Diploma e-mail hlq@cityandguilds.com
