10 - Celebration ending for Caring 4 Kids Project

Archived news release from 2007

The pioneering project successfully ran for three years and annually enabled 20 foster carers and voluntary sector independent residential workers from across the four local authorities to take part.  All have achieved NVQ level III certificate in Caring for Children and Young People.

 

The celebration to mark the end of the project will take place at Saltwells Education Centre in Netherton on December 18 from 12.30 to 3 pm.  Around 100 people are expected to attend and achievers will receive of presentations of their award and a gift (pen).  Lunch is provided and guest speakers and VIPs will attend including both Dudley Council’s director of children’s services, John Freeman and director of adult, community and housing services, Linda Sanders and representatives from Wolverhampton City Council, Walsall and Learning Skills.

 

Candidates have worked through the NVQ training process by collecting evidence against set targets before being assessed by qualified NVQ assessors.  The candidates used an electronic portfolio technique which has enabled them to speed up the process of assessment and therefore achieve their award in a much shorter time than using a paper-based approach.

 

The programme was jointly organised by Dudley Social Services, Black Country Partnership for Care (BCPC) and has been funded through the European Social Fund by the Learning Skills Council.

 

Councillor Liz Walker, cabinet member for children’s services, said:

"Caring 4 Kids has been a great success and I would like to congratulate all of the attendees who have achieved success on this innovative project.  Foster carers and carers within the independent sector and local authority have been able to successfully develop their level of understanding and gain qualifications.  I would also like to thank the management team and the assessor for making the project a success.”