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Making it Happen: Mainstreaming & embedding the unionlearn* strategy for Supporting Learners (IAG)17 December 2007 Lesley Haughton - NICEC Fellow 1. Introduction:This report is a summary of the activities undertaken and the progress made during this final phase of an Equal* High Road project to mainstream and embed the unionlearn model and strategy for Supporting Learners (IAG). A summary publication covering all aspects of this project, which has had a number of phases, can be downloaded from the Supporting Learners area of the unionlearn website http://www.unionlearn.org.uk/advice/index.cfm as can the unionlearn Supporting Learners strategy document and the various project papers and reports produced. 2. Purpose:The purpose of the final phase of this work has been to: Mainstream and embed the unionlearn Supporting Learners strategy at a national and regional level and that it becomes a feature of good practice in unions By:
3. The unionlearn model for Supporting Learners:ULRs carry out an important role in supporting union members in making choices about learning and taking up learning opportunities that are right for them. The activities that most ULRs are engaged in, on a voluntary basis, to support learners are best described as identifying needs, mentoring, coaching and signposting both to opportunities and to other services. They have a major role to play in building confidence and promoting access. It has become evident during this project that the term Supporting Learners, rather than Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG), is more meaningful and understandable when describing the activities of most ULRs unless ULRs have undertaken NVQs* and are working in a matrix accredited situation. The unionlearn model for Supporting Learners - Central role of the ULR*, in supporting, coaching, mentoring and signposting - Working with a range of agencies who can offer services to union learners - Agreements and joint actions for working together with the network - Standards of service that union learners can expect of these partners - Access to information and advice and resources for union reps, ULRs and union learners through the unionlearn learning & careers advice service The unionlearn strategy for Supporting Learners is based on the 'network' model which builds on active working relationships with IAG providers and recognises that ULRs need to engage with other agencies in order to find the information they to help their members, and to broker workplace opportunities effectively. The model builds on existing good practice in unions and unionlearn regions. The network - The ULR and other union reps - The unionlearn learning and careers advice service - Unionlearn and other workplace learning centres - Other learning and training providers (Adult Further and Higher Education) - Nextstep* face to face services - Employers - Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) 4. Key achievements:During this final phase of the project there have been a number of activities undertaken that have contributed to the mainstreaming and embedding of the unionlearn Supporting Learners strategy at both a national and regional level. Summary of key achievements: - Setting up the unionlearn learning and careers advice service - Tailored backup and support for union reps from learndirect* Careers Advice - The inclusion of Supporting Learners theme, with suggested projects, in the Union Learning Fund (ULF) criteria - Improved union rep training through providing revised training materials and activities - Improved resources for union reps and ULRs - A Supporting Learners area on the unionlearn website - Strong and active links with the national 'network' of IAG providers - A range of effective practice case studies - The convening of a Working Group of unionlearn IAG specialists from the regions - Examples of how the strategy works with disadvantaged groups - Attracted attention in EU and national conferences and provided an inspiration to unions in other countries The unionlearn learning and careers advice service: Following a period of planning that involved input from a small union-based advisory group, the unionlearn learning and careers advice service was launched in June 2007. The service is operated by learndirect Careers Advice to support ULRs. ULRs and other reps can call a freephone number (from landlines) 08000 92 91 90 to access the full range of services offered by learndirect Careers Advice, tailored to the needs of unions. Course searches and other enquiries can be made via the unionlearn website and there is a range of free resources to help, guide and support others including a CV Builder and Skills Inventory. This service will ensure that reps can easily find all the information they need without having to build their own information bases. They can also signpost their learners directly to the service so they can use it themselves. The service can be accessed in nine languages for migrant workers and others whose first language is not English. A range of posters are available from the unionlearn website for display in the workplace. Contributions to other areas of unionlearn work: To ensure the Supporting Learners strategy is mainstreamed it has been important to ensure that the project has not sat in isolation and has been integrated into as many areas of work relating to union learning as possible. To achieve this we have:
Improved training for union reps and ULRs: New skills based training modules and materials including draft learning outcomes have been developed. It is intended that these replace the existing IAG Module that is available to ULRs. These will be delivered by TUC Education or adapted by unions, and offered as options to accompany the five day basic ULR training. These new NOCN* accredited training modules that cover Supporting Learners, Mentoring and Recording progress with Learners are currently being piloted by TUC Education tutors and selected unions. Resources developed for union reps and ULRs: A Supporting Learners series of guides for ULRs and other reps has been developed and these are now available following a period of consultation with union reps and a Regional Working Group of unionlearn IAG specialists. Copies of the guides, which can be customised by unions, can be ordered or downloaded from the unionlearn website. It is intended that new ULRs will receive a copy of the guides during their basic training. The guides include: Why and how union reps should support learners - includes information about why it is important to support learners, interviewing members, finding and giving information and keeping records Sources of help for union reps - has information about local network organisations, the services they offer and ways of working together Role and skills of the union rep - is about the skills needed to support learners, how to develop new skills and quality assurance Useful extras for union reps - includes information about how and where to find learning opportunities, a list of useful websites and a glossary of terms The website link: The Information, Advice and Guidance area on the website was replaced with a Supporting Learners area in September. Union reps and ULRs can now access to a range of information and free downloadable resources including:
Case studies Information and a guide about the matrix quality standard Developing the network: During the final phase of the project relationships between unionlearn and IAG network providers have been strengthened both nationally and regionally. Memorandums of Understanding and joint agreements and action plans are being maintained and progressed with learndirect Careers Advice, nextstep services (both nationally and regionally) and the Sector Skills Councils, who, with the relevant unions, are exploring effective ways of providing Labour Market Information and careers advice. Other partners include local IAG and learning providers, including those who have achieved the unionlearn Quality Award* for some of their programmes. In this way unionlearn and unions are actively networking on behalf of union members. In looking to address the local and regional differences in terms of how nextstep services and unions are working together to the benefit of union learners, workshops with nextstep services in the Midlands and in Suffolk have taken place. Further work is required to make sure that nextstep contractors are fully aware of the best ways of working with unions and with unionlearn. ULRs also need to be clear about the support that nextstep can offer them and union learners. Case studies: The links that have been established with unions, ULRs and IAG providers has encouraged the development of a number of effective practice case studies that can be found in the Supporting Learners area of the unionlearn website. They also appear in the unionlearn database of case studies. The case studies are from a range of sectors and cover a variety of situations including:
Regional developments: An internal Regional Working Group was convened in May to help embed and mainstream the unionlearn strategy for Supporting Learners (IAG) in the regions for the benefit of unions, ULRs and union learners. The group is comprises of unionlearn staff with an interest in supporting union learners through information, advice and guidance (IAG) both nationally and regionally. At the bi-monthly meetings of the group they have:
Disadvantaged groups: Refugees and migrant workers - Following discussions with the unionlearn Regional Manager in the Midlands and the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) about migrant workers it was agreed that it would be of mutual benefit to co-host a conference. The EQUAL funded event 'Routes to integration and inclusion: new approaches to enable refugees and migrant workers to progress in the labour market' took place in the Congress Centre on the 26th November and provided a valuable dissemination opportunity for six Progress GB partners and six unionlearn projects. The afternoon workshops provided an opportunity to explore constructive ways of working together to help refugees and migrants. Older workers - A workshop on the role of unions in supporting older learners was presented at the CRAC 'Decisions at Forty Eight' Conference held in London in October. Wider dissemination: The positive and enthusiastic response of unions, IAG providers and other agencies to this project has been maintained with more than 50 meetings taking place (see Appendix 1) through this phase of the project. We have continued to attend and offer workshops at a range of regional, national and European events and conferences (see Appendix 2) in order to promote and disseminate the work of the project. In addition c ontributions have been made to copy, articles and publications on the topic of Supporting Learners (see Appendix 3). 5. Future plans:Although the EQUAL funding is ending we will be involved in further embedding activity during the early part of 2008: The production of guidelines for IAG providers and practitioners for working with unions for both LSC* national/nextstep and Ufi/learndirect A contribution to a joint project with Skills for Health to make Labour Market Information accessible of ULRs 6. Summary: There is no doubt that the project has set out what it intended to achieve. There is now a unionlearn strategy and model for Supporting Learners in place. Good progress has been made to develop and maintain the IAG provider network at a national and a regional level, new resources for union reps supporting union learners are available and new accredited training modules are also available. An active Regional Working Group has been established and there is union-based advisory group available to comment on future materials and resources for supporting learners. The project has provided an opportunity to promote unionlearn to a range of external organisations and encourage joint working with unions. It has attracted attention in EU and at national conferences and provided an inspiration to unions in other countries. Looking to the future it is important that the momentum built as a result of this project is maintained. The challenge now is to sustain and further develop of this important area of work now that EQUAL funding has ceased. Whilst t he internal Regional Working Group will play a key role in the future embedding of the unionlearn Supporting Learners strategy in the regions, t here will remain a need for some expert input to take the work forward in the following areas:
The TUC is keen to have a strategic role in the development and implementation of the new Adult Careers Service that is due to be fully operational by 2010. There is potential for the TUC through unionlearn to contribute to the piloting of the new service and it is recommended that support from an expert is sought to ensure that unionlearn, unions and ULRs have a clear role in delivering the new service. Appendix 1 Meetings with Key Stakeholders and Partners: The following is a record of the meetings that have taken place between April and December 2007.
Bob Blyth and Nicola Smith, TUC - vulnerable workers project (30th August)
Appendix 2 Events and Workshops attended: The following is a record of activities undertaken between April and December 2007 to embed the unionlearn Supporting Learners strategy.
Appendix 3 Copy/articles/publications prepared: We have commented on or contributed to the following copy, articles and publications:
(July 2007)
Conference (Nov 2007) A paper will be produced for CEDEFOP about the unionlearn Supporting Learners work (Feb 2008) Briefing document (3,700 words) issued 5 Mar 2008 |
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