Decision details

The current contract with the University of Sheffield for the provision of postgraduate certificates in leadership and management for social work expired in September 2019. The report recommends the recommissioning of that contract for a minimum of 12 students per year across the South Yorkshire Teaching Partnership for a four year period, ensuring that the Council and its partner local authorities continue to benefit from a greatly reduced price.  Sheffield City Council, as the lead authority, will act on behalf of the South Yorkshire Teaching Partnership and will recharge each local authority, so there is limited financial risk.

To:-

(a)  Agree the proposed continued arrangement under the South Yorkshire Teaching Partnership under which the Council acts as lead authority on behalf of the Partnership with regard to contractual arrangements with the University of Sheffield Management School; and

(b)  Agree to exercise delegated authority to make appropriate recommissioning arrangements for (i) contracting with the University of Sheffield; and (ii) making payments under the contract for the provision of postgraduate certificates in leadership and management for social work on behalf of the local authority members of the South Yorkshire Teaching Partnership to the University of Sheffield.

The South Yorkshire Teaching Partnership (SYTP) wish to continue their success and continue to embed learning and high quality standards into social work practice and become sustainable for the future.  This is high profile work to be carried out on behalf of the Government and will have significant status in the changing face of social work education. Collaborative regional partnership working is cost effective, provides better value for money and consistency.

Performance and standards in Senior Leadership in social work will be raised and will support the Ofsted inspection.

The price of the programme per capita is heavily discounted as a result of the SYTP’s relationship with the University of Sheffield Management School and their desire to give value back to the community.

The course to multi-agency partners is offered at a discounted price, thereby improving Continuous Professional Development (CPD) in our partner organisations, where they would not necessarily be able to access courses at this high level and low cost.

The Partnership believes that this is the way forward for future training and retention of Managers and Leaders, providing lifelong continuous professional career development. SYTP’s relationships with local Universities is commendable and, as each year passes, new initiatives are embarked upon, which make SYTP national trailblazers.

There is an option not to have this bespoke accredited Post Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Management in Social Work module and spot purchase places from other institutions at a higher cost.

SYTP are classed by the DfE/DH as a Leading Social Work Teaching Partnership and carry high status nationally, with other Partnerships seeking their advice and support.  SYTP presented their sustainability and income generation plan at the recent National Teaching Partnership conference and were the only Teaching Partnership to have an income generation plan as DfE funding ceased in March 2019.

Social Work England (SWE), who is the new Social Work Regulator from December 2019, works in partnership with SYTP and the Director of Social Work from the University of Sheffield is a member of the SWE Higher Education Institute Advisory Group and a member of the Non- executive management board where the national CPD standards are discussed.  SYTP are entering into a new CPD standards framework where social workers will be expected to upload their CPD onto the Regulator’s online portal on a quarterly basis, which will be audited by the Regulator.

The University of Sheffield Management School have agreed that SYTP may offer their programme to other Public Sector employees as part of our contract at the same price.

As a region, SYTP have been able to influence national changes in social work education and has worked closely with the Chief Social Workers and other authorities to promote the benefits of partnership working. We would not wish to lose this status.