How does your organisation create the culture and conditions in the workplace that enable social service workers to learn, develop and improve their practice throughout their careers?  The CLF Audit tool will help you assess your organisation’s performance against the organisational capabilities of the Continuous Learning Framework, and create an action plan for further development.

The Audit tool, developed by the SSSC, is now available in two formats:

1.       An interactive version which you can download and view using Adobe Air

2.       A standard Word version.

The audit involves both self assessment against the organisational capabilities, and a survey to gain insight into how employees feel they are being supported.

If you’d like any help or advice about carrying out a CLF audit, please contact the CLF team.

This document provides explanation, case studies and analysis to facilitate the use of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) and the Continuous Learning Framework (CLF) in combination to promote learning and development in the social services sector in Scotland.  The work has been undertaken by Neil Henery (Henery Consulting), Jan Miller (Workforce Matters) and Perth and Kinross Council, on behalf of Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).  The project has been funded by the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework and Sector Skills Alliance Partnership.   View the guidance here

The SSSC has developed a practical guide for using the Continuous Learning Framework and the leadership model developed by the Changing Lives workforce development group to develop leadership in social services.  The guidance demonstrates the alignment between the CLF and the four Ps of the Changing Lives leadership model and suggests ways in which individuals and organisations can use the model and CLF to develop leadership in the sector.  We hope to add more illustrations to the guidance as we hear of progress from the sector.

Similarly, the Changing Lives User and Carer Forum were asked by the SSSC, as part of the University of Stirling leadership research partnership, to explore the connections between the CLF and the principles of Citizen Leadership.  This work has now been completed and a copy of their final report is attached.  The report demonstrates how the CLF can support the principles of Citizen Leadership, focussing in particular on the personal and organisational capabilities.  It also starts to suggest how users of services and carers might be more involved in the implementation of the CLF and its use in developing leadership throughout the social services sector.

We hope you find both guidance documents useful for developing leadership skills and capability.  If you have used the CLF and/or the 4Ps model to develop leadership skills, have experience of working with the Principles of Citizen Leadership and CLF together, and would be willing to share your story with others, please contact Jess Alexander, Education and Workforce Development Adviser at the SSSC at jess.alexander@sssc.uk.com.  If you have any feedback, please contact Jess Alexander directly.

View our video below featuring staff from Angus Council talking about their trial of the CLF and reactions of delegates at the launch of the CLF.

You can view and follow a workbook developed by Angus Council

Angus Council Example

View a workbook developed by Key Housing to support their staff to identify their learning needs and provide evidence or their progress.