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33 Prob. J. 1 (1986)

handle is hein.journals/probj33 and id is 1 raw text is: Cover: Louis Blom - Cooper QC (photo courtesy of Community Care) ISSN 0264-5505 EDIOR'S COMMENT The Uncertain Future for Training Cliches about unstoppable force meeting im- moveable object come to mind when fathoming the prospects for CCETSW's new-look, unified social work qualification. Implementation in 1990 means that the planning needs to be firmed up by 1988 at the latest, yet the proposals still present an extraordinary degree of vagueness. The pursuit of the broad principles seem to have proceeded without anywhere near adequate acknowledge- ment of the financial implications. The detailed working out of the Probation Service's needs and resources seem particularly imprecise, and the Home Office makes clear its substantial doubts about the viability of the proposals, in particular stating their baseline that, whatever happens, there is no more money. We thus seem set on acollision course of standards versus costs. If the funding remains constant, yetthe training period is increased, how can the total formula be juggled? Oneoption would be to reduce the intake numbers. which would be an unacceptable preference of quality over quantity. Are the extra resources then to come from Service employers within current expenditure? This might come about aspartofa more ambitious reshufflingofthe three essential new ingredients for qualification - college-based education, practice training as a student and practice training in employment. But onthe assumptionthatthe majority of trainees will still follow a two year package of college-centred learningandcollege-initiatedpracticeplacements, then the real question arises as to how to pay for the additional year. Probation Vol 3 Nor March 1986 Itis often said thatth ew 'thirdyear' is soakin totheexisting confirm'on year that we'll barely notice the adjustments the new system. How- ever, if trainees have no yet qualified, is it going to beso straightforward toenteremployee status? Their ultimate capacity to practice would not yet be established at the end of Year Two; if their traineeship or internship is to be more than just name only then that year is goingto requirecareful programming, beyond the variable packages currently offered- to first year officers; if the trainees areas yet unqualified, what work are they to undertake in that time? What is to be their pay and status in that year? It has been suggested that they might occupy a kind of ancillary role, but in that case the training element would be doubtful and the potential role boundary issues immense. How is the final year evaluation to be co- ordinated? If the trainee has spent two years on a college course, thatcourse is likely to seekto retain a stake in the student's progress and will not wish to opt out two-thirds of the way through qualifi- cation. To leave the responsibility to the employer would be unsatisfactory, exposing the trainee unduly to the perhaps parochial perspectives of the agency. On the otherhand, the employment year may taken up at considerable distance away from e originating college base. There is thus talk of forming regional consortia of agencies and colleges, offering collective appraisal of trainees' final performance. The logistics of getting colleges and agencies working together to offer coherent training and assessment to the final year are considerable and suggest a demand on both which neither are well placed to service. If the trainee completes the third year satis- factorily, what will be their employment standing? Though they may have satisfied their Focal CCETSW consortium, they may not necessarily have found favour with their employer. If, unlike the position with confirmation, theiremployment contracts have to be re-negotiated after qualifi- cation, agencies would have the opportunity to discontinue new officers' employment, thus leaving new entrants in a far more vulnerable position in terms of settling accommodation and

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