OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES TRAINING SUPPORT PROGRAMME FOR THE VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY SECTOR GUIDANCE FOR FUNDING APPLICATIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS 2017/2018
OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES TRAINING SUPPORT PROGRAMME FOR THE VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY SECTOR 2017/18 Thank you for your interest in applying to the Office of Social Services, Training Support Programme (TSP) for the Voluntary and Community sector. The Programme is intended to assist with the cost of improving the knowledge, skills and qualification profile of the social care workforce in smaller, voluntary and community sector organisations in Northern Ireland. Funding allocated under the TSP is issued in accordance with Circular HSS 1/2013 and under the authority of Article 44 Health and Personal Social Services (NI) Order 1972, and Article 14 of the Health and Personal Social Services Act (NI) 2001. Eligibility to apply to the Training Support Programme The TSP is open to applications in April from small, community and voluntary sector organisations which provide social care services. Any offer of funding from the TSP will be subject to budget availability. Priority for funding in 2017/18 will be given to whole or part qualification achievements linked to the QCF/RQF Framework. Such qualifications should contribute to improving the knowledge and skills of the social care workforce, in line with existing Department of Health standards/guidance/policy or strategy. In the event of additional funding being available thereafter, applications for other training and development initiatives will be considered. Limits on Funding The TSP has access to a limited budget therefore the maximum amount that can be awarded to an eligible organisation is capped at 10,000 per year. Accountability Organisations which are successful in their applications for funding from the TSP will be expected to provide detailed, timely and accurate information to the Office of Social Services regarding the appropriate use of funding received. Details of the monitoring and accountability arrangements for TSP funding are set out in the Guidance for Funding Applications and Reporting Requirements 2017/18. Award of Funding
The payment of any funding awarded from the TSP will be made in two instalments. The first payment to successful applicant organisations will be issued on return to the Office of Social Services of the completed and signed Acceptance of Funding form, which will be included with the Letter of Award. The second payment will be issued upon receipt by the Office of Social Services of a completed Interim Report, indicating satisfactory progress in relation to planned training. Key Dates in the Application Process The following dates should be noted with regard to applications made to the TSP; 7 April 2017 Organisations which received TSP funding in 2016/17 must return a Final Accountability Report to OSS before consideration can be given to any bid for funding for 2017/18. 5 May 2017 Completed applications for funding from the TSP 2017/18 to be submitted to OSS. Please forward by email to the Office of Social Services, oss@health-ni.gov.uk or by hardcopy to; Office of Social Services Room C4.22 Castle Buildings Stormont BT4 3SQ 6 October 2017 Interim Report to be submitted to OSS. Any actual or estimated underspend of allocated funds should be identified. 22 January 2018 Notification must be made to OSS of any actual or predicted underspend of funds awarded in-year. 6 April 2018 Final Accountability Report to be submitted to OSS. If you have any questions in relation to an application to the Training Support Programme please email oss@health-ni.gov.uk
PRIORITIES FOR LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT 2017/18 Applications for funding from The Training Support Programme (TSP) for learning and development opportunities will be considered in accordance with the following priorities as identified by the Office of Social Services; Accredited Qualifications Whole or part QCF/RQF(equivalent) awards with priority given to: (i) QCF/RQF Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults) Wales and Northern Ireland; (ii) QCF/RQF Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults) Wales and Northern Ireland; (iii) QCF/RQF Level 4 Certificate in Principles of Leadership and Management for Adult Care; (iv) QCF/RQF Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care (Northern Ireland); (v) QCF/RQF Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care Services (Adults Management) Wales and Northern Ireland; (vi) QCF/RQF Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care Services (Adults Residential Management) Wales and Northern Ireland; (vii) QCF/RQF Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Children s Care, Learning and Development (Management) Wales and Northern Ireland; (viii) QCF/RQF Level 5 Diploma in Playwork for registered Managers in children s day care settings. Additional Information The TSP has access to a limited budget, however, should additional funds become available, applications for other training and development initiatives may be considered. Applications for TSP funding from Early Years organisations are limited to Managers/deputy Managers who are required to attain a QCF/RQF Level5 Diploma in order to meet Department of Health registration standards. Voluntary and community sector organisations providing Early Years services requiring registration by HSC Trusts are eligible to apply to the TSP if: a Manager/deputy Manager is in post by the 31 st March 2017, on the understanding that he/she is required to have QCF/RQF Level 5 Diploma,
and he/she will achieve the required qualification within a timeframe agreed with the HSC Trust; and, the appointment of the Manager/deputy Manager and agreed timeframe for the achievement of the required qualification has the support of the Trust Early Years Social Work Team; and the community/voluntary organisation has been unable to comply with relevant Standards in relation to the Manager s/deputy Manager s qualification requirements due to the cost, access to or availability of the required qualifications. Exclusions Managers/deputy Managers in Early Years setting who were in post at the time of the publication of the relevant Standards in 2012 and are exempted from holding a qualification listed above will not be funded from the TSP. Managers/deputy Managers in Early Years settings who hold a relevant occupational qualification, as outlined in the relevant Standards, and are exempted from holding a qualification listed above will not be funded from the TSP. The Department of Health may verify the registration details supplied by Early Years organisations with the relevant HSC Trust and/or the public register.
ACCOUNTABILITY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE APPROPRIATE USE OF TSP FUNDING Organisations in receipt of funding from the Training Support Programme are required to account for actual spend and training activity undertaken, at mid-year and end -year points. The relevant accounting forms will be issued with the Letter of Award, which provide the necessary assurance relating to; (a) expenditure to date (TSP C); and (b) candidate details and progress on qualification attainment (TSP D) Interim Report At Interim Report stage, organisations must provide a report (TSP C) which outlines how much has been spent to date in relation to the undertakings given in the Summary of Funding Request from the Training Support Programme and the Letter of Award from the Office of Social Services. The Interim Report must include; the actual amount of spend as of the 30th September 2017; a breakdown of the spend against the amounts allocated to each candidate/qualification as laid out in the Summary of Funding Request from the TSP and Letter of Award; the anticipated spend for the remainder of the year (up to 31st March 2018) in relation to each candidate/qualification as set out in the Summary of Funding Request from the Training Support Programme and Letter of Award. Failure to complete the Interim Report within the agreed timeframe will result in a delay in second payments being made, or a suspension of payment until the above information is received in full by the Office of Social Services. Final Accountability Report Organisations which receive funding from the Training Support Programme must submit a Final Accountability Report on actual spend and qualification achievement at the end of the financial year.
Identification of Underspend Organisations in receipt of funding from the TSP must report any actual or potential underspend at the earliest opportunity and, in any case, at the Interim Report point. In the second half of the financial year the latest date by which any projected underspend is to be notified to the Office of Social Services is 22 January 2018. Verification of Expenditure Proof of expenditure on all activities arising from funding received from the Training Support Programme must be retained by the applicant organisation. In order to comply with the Department s audit requirements, the Office of Social Services may, from time to time, request proof of expenditure in line with the agreed training and development activities. This may include evidence of the full training schedule offered by the applicant organisation. The Office of Social Services may, with the assistance of the Department of Health Verification Team, also make site visits to organisations in receipt of funding from the Training Support Programme. If you have any questions in relation to the Reporting and Accountability arrangements for the Training Support Programme please email the Office of Social Services, Department of Health; oss@health-ni.gov.uk