Overhauling the whole set of early years qualifications may represent an enormous task, but there is at least one area which has so far proved straightforward.
Getting professionals from different sectors such as health and social care to agree on what a new framework needs to achieve for the workforce has not been as difficult as the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) might have expected.
'When we took our roadshows around the country earlier in the year, we found that people were very much in agreement,' says CWDCchief executive Jane Haywood. 'They were saying they need a system that enables practitioners to develop their skills for their profession but in a way that they can be built on, if they choose to branch into a different area.'
The Integrated Qualifications Framework (IQF) is designed to help practitioners move from one area to another by building on what they already have.
While its remit is to bring together and simplify the range of qualifications available, its structure is designed to be more accessible to employers, so they can identify the skills needed for a particular job.
The IQF will be a unit-based framework with eight levels, up to and including higher education professional level qualifications.
An implementation plan has now been unveiled by the CWDC in conjunction with the Children's Workforce Network, employers and other stakeholders.
This plan involves establishing the following:
* A reference group of professional bodies, higher education institutions and the Quality Assurance Agency formed to advise on effective approaches, communication and common learning outcomes
* A series of national and regional workshops for higher education and professional bodies, and preliminary proposals for how the IQF will link with the Higher Education Qualifications Framework by July 2007
* An awarding body consultative forum to develop transitional arrangements for existing qualifications by the end of the year. A vocational and education reference group is made up of a mix of partner sector skills councils, CoVEs, Ofsted, learning skills councils, Ofsted and training providers
* A final specification for the inclusion of qualifications on the IQF by September 2007
* All new and revised qualifications taking account of the IQF by October 2007.
According to Jane Haywood, there will now follow a complex process of evaluation of all existing children's workforce qualifications.
She says, 'We want to avoid duplication and ensure that awarding bodies, sector skills organisations and professional bodies are all going in the same direction with the awards that we are presenting.
'Reviewing qualifications will be closely linked to reviewing occupational standards in the light of the IQF,' she adds. 'There will be a lot of new co-modules, and awarding bodies will have to take a fresh look at their existing qualifications and see if they are up to scratch.'
What is the IQF and what can it achieve?
Bridget Robb, professional officer for England, British Association of Social Workers
'For a lot of people working in social care there are barriers to progression, and it is hoped that the IQF will change this situation. It will help people to understand their options and the ongoing changes in the way that services are delivered.
'An inherent problem is that every local authority is organised differently, with different job titles. Departments are no longer clear-cut and we have seen a prevalence of short-term contracts, which doesn't help staff to feel confident about their career development. The IQF can play a part in helping the employment field to settle down, especially in relation to middle managers, who are often caught in temporary contracts.
'We are involved in working with the QCA, higher education institutions and all of the organisations in our sector to ensure the framework will create clear progression pathways. Each organisation will be working closely with its members to get feedback.
'There is a massive amount of work still to be done and high levels of co-operation are needed. But if we get it right, it will mean that nobody has to struggle to find their way through to the career move they want to make.'
Deirdre Quill, director of delivery, CWDC
'Essentially, the IQF is a credit framework which will link with the QCA framework and the Higher Education Framework, so that anyone working in areas such as childcare, teaching, health, social work or play will be able to bolt on credits which are relevant to their new area of work.
'By next September we will have agreed the specifications for the qualifications that will sit on the framework and it will be clear which transitional awards people will have to take to move into a different area.
'In order to unify the children's workforce, all qualifications will link with each other and have a basis in the common core. It's very important that employers can relate to this and understand the credentials this gives to any new staff they appoint.
'There's still a lot of work to be done on establishing the IQF and we're taking it one step at a time. We want as many people as possible in the different sectors to respond to the proposals, as this will help us to arrive at a joined-up expression of interest. Next year we will publish our research and we are working towards completion of the framework in 2008.
'When it is up and running we will have a more flexible workforce - one which is able to respond better to new and emerging roles.
'The sector will be well-placed to evaluate up-and-coming roles and work out what qualifications are needed to meet their challenges.'
Further information
* 'Clear Progression: towards an Integrated Qualifications Framework' is at www. cwdcouncil.org.uk
