Thanks to all our members for your support throughout 2017. All the best for 2018 and we hope you enjoy the holidays!

SOSCN NEWS

STEM Creative Computing Training - New Saturday Course

Due to extra demand for the free creative computing course, in partnership with West College Scotland, see flyer linked below, SOSCN are pleased to let you know that this free training 4 session course (apart from £50 contribution towards kit bag of materials) will be running on Saturdays at our city centre offices, Floor 2, 100 Wellington Street, Glasgow G2 6DH, on the following dates and times. As this is a course, students must sign up for all sessions.

Sat 20th Jan 10.15am to 3pm
Sat 27th Jan 10.15am to 3pm
Sat 24th Feb 10.15am to 3pm
Sat 10th Mar 10.15am to 3pm

Plus, optional Tuesday 13th March evening - join the evening course students for a celebration event at West College Scotland.

Course Flyer: download the course flyer

We can only run this extra course with a minimum of 8 students and maximum 12. We expect places to fill up quickly. Once the first 12 places are confirmed any others will go on a waiting list.

It will be first come, first served, however we require services and students to commit to, as mandatory, attending every session and conducting a specific number of evaluations with children as part of the project; more information will be given before the course begins.

The SOSCN offices are close to Central Station and ten minutes from Queen Street station, therefore, places are open to students from across the country.

We realise everyone is gearing up for the holidays now but we will confirm places as they are booked by Thursday 21st December. After that our offices will be closed until Mon 8th January. No new applications or queries will be processed until we are back on the 8th January, and none will be accepted after 5pm on the 12th January. Do not put it off applying until then (for both other courses, places were filled within the first few days of advertising). We will reconfirm bookings and send materials & arrangements information by the 12th January for those who have a place.

BOOK NOW if you are interested and willing to make a commitment to work on this project.

Course Flyer: download the course flyer

Appilcation Form: download an application form

Please send completed form to recruitment@soscn.org

NOTE: Please do not book a place if you already have a member of staff on either of the current courses running at West College Scotland or Glasgow Clyde College as this request will be declined. If you request two or more places we will confirm only one per service to be fair to others.

Case Studies for national Out of School Care Policy

We are grateful to all the services hosting case study visits and sending in parent and child survey results as this work builds up over the autumn. We have a number of interesting examples of good practice and different models of out of school care from across the country. Our plan is to compile all of this information in a series of SOSCN reports which can then be referred to in the national policy.

CARE INSPECTORATE AND SSSC UPDATES

Care Inspectorate Annual returns to open soon

Each year, the Care Inspectorate ask care service providers to complete and submit an annual return, updating the information they hold about their service.

This year, the annual return will be available to complete between 5 January and 16 February 2018, through our online eForms system. Providers can access this at http://eforms.careinspectorate.com

Find out more here: http://www.careinspectorate.com/index.php/annual-returns

SSSC Updated Social Media Guidance

The SSSC have recently updated their social media guidance for social services workers.

Find out more here: http://www.sssc.uk.com/registration/registrant-responsibilities/social-media-guidance-for-social-service-workers

TRAINING

Play and disability training at The Yard

Thirty years of working with people who experience the full depth and breadth of disabilities has given us the desire to share our knowledge and skills with others. We offer a range of training courses for parents, play practitioners, and any individuals or organisations interested in disability.

At The Yard Edinburgh, in partnership with Tailor Ed, we offer a programme of specialist training courses covering topics such as disability awareness, dealing with challenging behaviour, understanding autism and behavioural challenges, aiding better communication and inclusive play. These practical, informative and dynamic courses are suitable for parents and anyone who works or is interested in working with disabled children.

Our unique environment and available resources offer participants a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience of developing and demonstrating inclusive play opportunities that carry the stamp of The Yard's very special ethos and approach.

Our courses run at The Yard Edinburgh on Thursday mornings. Each course costs £25 per person and is open to everyone. Learn more about our courses on our website at theyardscotland.org.uk/book-on-training.

We also offer bespoke training opportunities to suit your needs. If your workplace, charity, club or community group wants to gain knowledge and skills around play and disability, we can work together to create a unique training module, delivered however works best for you.

To book your place on a training course, or to discuss bespoke training options for your team, please email info@theyardscotland.org.uk or call us on 0131 476 4506.

NATIONAL NEWS

Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards 2018

The Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards are a celebration of young people and in 2018 will be part of the national programme of celebrations for the Year of Young People 2018 (YoYP 2018).

The awards are looking for people to nominate the wonderful young people you work with and know.

To nominate visit www.youngscotawards.com

The categories for the Year of Young People 2018 are:

• Entertainment Award - sponsored by Scottish Citylink
• Sport Award -sponsored by sportscotland
• Community Award - sponsored by the Scottish Government
• Enhancing Education Award - sponsored Skills Development Scotland
• Excellence in Education - sponsored by the University of St Andrews
• Equality and Diversity - sponsored by Standard Life
• Young Hero - sponsored by Co-operative Food
• Health and Wellbeing Awards - sponsored by the Scottish Government Active Scotland Division
• Unsung Hero - sponsored by Solace Scotland
• Year of Young People 2018 Champion
• Health and Wellbeing
• Environment
• Enterprise
• The Arts

From hundreds of entries, three finalists will be chosen in each of the 13 categories, and the winners will be announced at a glittering red-carpet ceremony at the SEC Campus on St Andrews Day, 30 November 2018. The awards show will then be broadcast in a special STV show at a later date.

MEMBERSHIP FOCUS

Enterprise Childcare - Investing in Children

Enterprise Childcare's two Kidz Fun Clubs (OSC) were awarded, for the fourth year running, the 'Investors in Children' status. 'Investors in Children' acknowledges and celebrates examples of imaginative & inclusive practice. Investing in Children members are those services that can demonstrate a commitment to dialogue with children &ampl young people that leads to change.

Established in 1991, Enterprise Childcare are a registered charity that aims to improve the lives of children and their families by putting their needs at the centre of service delivery by striving for continuous improvement, using good practice models, delivering child-centered provision in partnership with parents and carers and supporting the development of its Trustees, employees and volunteers.

Here's a selection of pictures that Enterprise Childcare have kindly sent in.