Following the development of a new and exciting joint venture with Walsall College, WVA can provide a gateway to specialist skills and link in with willing students that have a lot to ofer the sector in Walsall.

Could your organisation  benefit from some specialist expertise then email Ian Willetts CEO at Walsall Voluntary Action now to express an interest.  email ianw@walsallva.org.uk  It’s as simple as that.

Take a loook below at two of the winning poster designs that Walsall College HND students created, volunteering their own time to support this scheme. There is a wealth of skills on offer and your organisation could benefit from then so get in touch today. 

 Click on the thumbnail images below to enlarge.

OCR Level 3 – This course is for those learners working in more senior roles who support pupils’ learning in primary, secondary or special schools. The areas covered include safeguarding, welfare and child development. A minimum of one day per week within a school setting. Candidates must have previous experience of working in a school.

Both Levels are subject to CRB Enhanced disclosures being undertaken.

Open Day Monday 9 January 2012 8.30am – 2.30pm with Jane Lee, Tutor.

Classes start week commencing 16 January 2012.

9.30 – 11.30am for OCR Level 2 and 12.30 – 2.30pm for Level 3.  Courses will be completed by the end of June 2012.

Please telephone Park Hall CA on 01922 720866 to register your interest or email us on reception @parkhallca.co.uk

The food hygiene training course at level 2 is designed for anyone working in a catering, manufacturing, retail or community based setting where food is prepared, cooked and handled.

Outline of Food Safety Level 2 Programme
The food hygiene level 2 qualifications cover the following topics:

• Legislation
• Food safety and hygiene hazards
• Temperature control
• Refrigeration, chilling and cold holding
• Cooking, hot holding and reheating
• Food handling
• Principles of safe food storage
• Food premises and equipment

Assessment method:
Multiple choice examination.

The dates for the course are:

Friday 18^th November 9.15 – 11.15am

Friday 25^th November 9.15 – 11.15am

Friday 2^nd December 9.15  –  11.15am

All three sessions need to be attended to gain qualification and certification.

The cost of the course is £55 to include registration and certification. Payment is requested on booking either by cash or cheque.

To register your interest, please call on 01922 720866.

The course aims to raise awareness of specific needs of disabled children in relation to their vulnerability and communication and covers a wide range of key topics.

The training is available via the internet, which means you can access the course at any time and complete it at a pace to suit your needs.  The course is accredited and a certificate is provided upon completion.

If you would like to register for this training, or require further information, please contact Georgina Atkins on 01922 709189 or email atkinsg@walsall.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can download a booking form by clicking here.

The session will run from 9:30am to 12:30pm and covers issues that will be of particular use to managers.  More details of this and other courses organised by the Safeguarding Children Board can be found at www.wlscb.org.uk.

To book a place on this course, please call 01922 655 656.

WVA are working with service commissioners and managers to discuss the support needed by local organisations to respond to personaisation and how the sector can be engaged to discuss avenues as described in the article below such as:

• Working with local authorities to influence and shape their strategic approach and policies on personalisation.
• Working with local authorities to decide what local services are needed.
• Providing information to provider organisations to inform and help them understand the changes.
• Working with local authorities to help them ‘develop the market’.
• Supporting the future development of third sector organisations as providers, including working out new funding models.
• Voice and representation work – providing a mechanism for third sector organisations and commissioners to communicate.
• Providing information/advice/brokerage services.
• Consultancy or training for the third sector social care workforce.

This should lead to better working and a greater understanding of the opportunities and an appreciation of the challenges faced by organisations.

We are keen to see that local networks in this area are built upon and fully engaged with this work eg. Disability Service Providers Forum and are encouraging further joint Council / WVA events to be held similar to the large event earlier in the year which promoted the Personalisation work in Walsall.

It is important that every organisation understands what Personalisation may mean for their organisation and has the opportunity to engage with influencing the developing agenda.

Please see the article below for further information on Personalisation.

Personalisation Article

www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/recession

and

http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/recessionresources/index.asp?id=13256