- Representation
- Information
- Staff Training and Development
- Advice and Expertise
- Networking
ARC supports members in a multitude of ways. It provides privileged access to information; services and advice; training and an enormous background of collective experience and practical knowledge applicable to everyday problems.
Representation- learning disability partnership boards
- Skills for Care regional training forums
- Valuing People Implementation Task Force
- Skills for Care boards
ARC representatives on these groups are charged with the task of seeking member views on relevant issues, and providing feedback where appropriate. We also regularly seek to represent the needs of learning disability service providers to central and local government and other bodies such as the National Care Standards Commission and Learning and Skills Council.
ARC is also a member of The Learning Disability Coalition, a group of ten learning disability organisations that have come together in 2007 to form one group and one voice. They want to make sure the government provides enough public money so that people with a learning disability have the same choices and chances as everyone else.
Information
ARC has a full time information officer who is ready to answer queries on a range of topics related to providing a service to people with a learning disability, either by phone, e-mail or letter. We publish a weekly e-bulletin, The Weekly Despatch, which provides up to the minute information and links to press articles, government documents and policy updates. Members have access to a web and e-mail forum where information is shared on a variety of topics, and enables the latest news from key bodies to be shared the day it is posted. We have a wide ranging resources library, items from which can be borrowed by members.
Our projects have all been undertaken as a result of issues raised by member organisations, and seek to highlight best practice and Publications contain lots of information, contacts and ideas relating to the subject concerned.
As part of its service to members, ARC has registered as an umbrella body with the Criminal Records Bureau in both England and Wales, and Scotland. We are able to process Disclosure requests for new or existing staff, and offer this service primarily for member organisations.
Staff Training and Development
The Valuing People White Paper and the National Minimum Standards still require organisations providing services for people with learning disabilities to register new staff for the Certificates of Working with People who have Learning Disabilities, at either Level 2 or Level 3, as appropriate. All new staff should do a learning disability specific induction.
This used to be provided by Units 1-4 of the Level 2 certificate, but Skills for Care have recently reviewed the Learning Disability Award Framework (LDAF) and in the summer of 2007 have launched their new LDQ (Learning Disability Qualification) Induction. All new staff in learning disability services should now complete theis award, which also meets the common induction standards. ARC is offering a learning pack called Basic Steps - available as either distance learning or a taught course, that will give learners the LDQ induction award. Over 600 of these have already been sold, and feedback is excellent.
Since 1992, we have been operating a City and Guilds approved assessment centre for NVQ qualifications, and are able to offer support to candidates working towards both care and management awards. As part of the management suite, ARC offers the Higher Deiploma in Managing Learning Disability Services (with 120 CATS points), or a selection of units from this award, set into useful culsters. These especially helpful for people new to management, or thinking of moving into management. The ARC Training Consortium also offers a range of other training for learning disability services, in both distance learning and taught format. These include:
- Communication
- Direct Personal Care
- Handling Medication in a Social Care Setting
- Managing My Money
- Managing Risk
- Protection from Abuse
- Understanding Cultural Diversity
We also provide the opportunity for members to share information and access funding to support training and development opportunities for their staff.
For staff in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales - see the Training pages In Your Area for details of the training services appropriate to the country where you work.
Advice and Expertise
Members contact the ARC offices for advice on all sorts of issues, mostly relating to the day to day tasks involved in managing services. Our Information Officer is always ready to pass on the queries which may require more specific expertise. Our senior staff have all worked both at the coal face and in management positions, and are more than happy to lend an ear to your problem or dilemma. In some cases, you may feel that more in-depth assistance may be required, and we are now able to offer a consultancy service to member organisations who require help with specific issues eg. organisational strategies, training plans or staff recruitment.
Networking
Joining ARC puts you in contact with organisations providing services to people with a learning disability throughout the UK. Many members say that what they appreciate most is being able to meet with others in a similar position to themselves, and to know that they are not the only ones facing both they joys and the frustrations of providing services. We offer networking opportunities at local, regional and national level, through quarterly meetings of local providers, regional conferences, special interest groups, our national conference and the e-mail forum.
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