Page last updated: Monday 11 May, 2009 4:43 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disappointed...?

You never quite know what you'll get when you float an idea do you? We asked for your requests on the type of training you'd like to receive however, while some of you proudly pointed us in the direction(s) we had expected others took the opportunity to let us know what their training budget is for the coming year.

Continual Professional Development for Rehabilitation Specialists is an endangered species!

 

With the world in economic problems and an estimated debt for every man, woman and child in the UK at a staggering £23,000 each you would think that government would be looking to squeeze as much as it possibly can from it's existing workforce. Rather than employ more people, additional training given to staff expands their potential to meet customer need - well...that's how my economics teacher always taught it.

I'm not sure he ever met with anyone in Local Authority (if he had things may have been different) but they seem to operate in a 'bubble' that clearly ignores the above. Instead of increasing training budgets most of you are having yours 'slashed' to virtually nil - that's nothing, zilch, the big zero!

People have been e-mailing with tales of woe. One says that there are 9 people in the team and the training budget for the year is £200.00. Some have claimed that they can only go on courses that are 'free' - really? how many of those are about? Others state they can only go on courses where there is no travel element - are they serious? Is someone going to walk in and start delivering a quality training programme in the office?

This could, of course, all be a big scam to stop people getting additional qualifications that would mean the LA having to pay higher salaries - I doubt it though.

It'll be interesting to see whether Social Workers will also have their training budgets reduced - if not, then Rehabilitation Specialist(s) may feel they are being completely ignored. Couple this with 'job evaluation' processes whereby Rehabilitation Assistants, Rehabilitation Workers and the like are having their current salaries reduced and the picture looks bleak.

The fact of the matter remains that Sight Loss, nee sensory loss, is not considered important by the powers that be. This has to be THE festering sore on the bottom of the RNIB; over the years they have systematically and operationally failed to raise the profile and its importance within goverment circles, as such, we have seen services and CPD decline year on year.

Given the global crisis, this is a problem that is likely to be with us for some time.

 

Let us know what's happening in your area by e-mailing info@rehabworker.co.uk

 

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