Common Core of Skills and Knowledge
The Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Children's Workforce - often referred to as 'The Common Core' - sets out the basic skills and knowledge needed by people whose work (paid or voluntary) brings them into regular contact with children, young people and families. It supports integrated working by contributing to the use of a common language.
The skills and knowledge included in the Common Core have been sub-divided into six key areas:
-
Effective
communication and engagement with children, young people and families
-
Child
and young person development
-
Safeguarding
and promoting the welfare of the child
-
Supporting
transitions
-
Multi-agency
working
- Sharing information
Common
Core of Skills and Knowledge
This pdf document contains the complete set of skills and knowledge required
for those working with children, young people and families.
Integrated Working
Factsheets - including a factsheet on the Common Core
How is it used?
The Common Core is being used locally in the development of job descriptions, in induction, and in the development of training and development provision, as well as in workforce development strategies. Examples of its use are given in paragraph 3.9 of Building Brighter Futures: Next Steps for the Children's Workforce
It is also being used to inform the review and development of National Occupational Standards (NOS) and is being embedded in all qualifications that will go onto the Integrated Qualifications Framework (IQF).
The Integrated Qualifications Framework (IQF)
The IQF will be a set of approved qualifications that enables progression, continuing professional development and mobility across the children's workforce. Qualifications are now going through the IQF processes, which include embedding the Common Core. It is intended that the framework will be populated with qualifications relevant across the workforce by the end of 2010.
For more information, go to the IQF page or to the IQF website.
The Common Core and Children and Young People
In 2008, the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) worked with six groups of children and young people to explore how the Common Core is impacting on their workers. Each group produced a range of resources which are available on the CWDC website.
Further
information on the Common Core can also be found on the CWDC
website.
This page was last updated on 18 December 2008
