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What is the Common Core?

The Common Core of Skills and Knowledge forthe childrens workforce sets out the basic skillsand knowledge needed by all people (includingvolunteers) whose work brings them into regularcontact with children and young people.

Who is the Common Core for?

The Common Core provides everyone who workswith children and young people in a part-time,full-time or voluntary capacity with the essentialskills and knowledge they need.

What are the Common Core skills?

There are six key areas of skills and knowledgein the Common Core. The definitions below

were identified by children and young people:

1. Effective communication and engagement

Good communication is central to workingwith children, young people and their families.It involves listening, questioning, understandingand responding to children, young people andthose caring for them.

2. Child and young person development

Children and young people grow up anddevelop at different speeds, emotionally,socially, physically and intellectually. It isimportant to understand how developmentalchanges can impact on a child or youngpersons behaviour.

3. Safeguarding and promoting the welfareof the child

Anyone who works with children and youngpeople has a duty to safeguard and protect theirwelfare. This is a big responsibility and requiresspecial care and attention to ensure positive

outcomes for children and young people.

4. Supporting transitions

Children and young people pass througha number of stages as they grow up anddevelop. Often they are expected to copewith huge changes such as moving fromprimary to secondary school or from childrento adults services. These changes are referredto as transitions. The Common Core helps

practitioners to support children and youngpeople during these transition periods.

5. Multi-agency working

Multi-agency working is about differentservices working in partnership in order toprevent problems from occurring in the firstplace. It is most effective when agencieswork together with shared aims and goals.

6. Sharing information

Sharing information in a timely and accurateway is an essential part of helping to deliverbetter services. Sometimes it helps save lives.It is important to understand and respect issuesand legislation surrounding the control andconfidentiality of information.

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The Common Core joins up these six areas ofskills and knowledge and provides a commonplatform of understanding across the childrensworkforce. It reflects a set of common values forpractitioners that promotes equality, respectsdiversity and challenges stereotypes. TheCommon Core also acknowledges the rightsof children, young people and the role parents,

carers and families play in helping children andyoung people. Further information about thesix areas of the Common Core is available onthe Childrens Workforce Development Council(CWDC)website atwww.cwdcouncil.org.uk/common-core

How is the Common Core being used?

The Common Core underpins a number ofworkforce development activities. Local

areas have reported embedding theCommon Core within:

multi-agency training, providing common skillsacross different practitioners.

recruitment, selection, induction andperformance management.

workforce development strategies

training needs analyses.

How does the Common Core link toqualifications in the childrens workforce?

The Integrated Qualifications Framework (IQF)will be a set of approved qualifications thatenables progression, continuing professionaldevelopment and mobility across the childrenand young peoples workforce.

The Common Core will be reflected in allqualifications on the IQF. This will ensure theCommon Core is embedded comprehensivelyinto the training and continuing professionaldevelopment of the workforce.

This work is part of the governments strategyto build a world-class childrens workforce and

is a vital tool to support integrated working.Find out more atwww.iqf.org.uk

Common Core and children and young people

In 2008, CWDC worked with six groups ofchildren and young people to explore how theCommon Core is impacting on their workers.Each group produced a range of resourceswhich are available to download atwww.cwdcouncil.org.uk/common-core/

different-people-same-skills

Next steps

In 2008-09 CWDC will be undertaking furtherwork to help raise awareness of the CommonCore and its importance across the childrensworkforce as part of a campaign to promoteintegrated working.

This factsheet is one of a series ofintegrated working factsheets. For moreinformation on integrated working and theCommon Core visitwww.cwdcouncil.org.uk/common-core www.ecm.gov.uk/commoncore

This publication is the copyright of the Childrens Workforce Development Council 2008.

We like our communications to have an impact on you but not on the environment which is why this document is printed on 100% recycled paper. IW52/1108