- Conference
- 2006 Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 21 December 2005
- Decision
- Carried
With the implementation of the NHS Knowledge & Skills Framework, Conference expects a rapid expansion of learning activities among NHS staff, keen to take advantage of the learning and development opportunities offered by the KSF. Conference notes UNISON’s continuing success in its work to create a culture of lifelong learning in health branches, carried out with support from Union Learning Funded projects across the union. Over the past four years, more than 850 union learning representatives have been trained and are now active in over 185 branches. Pilot branches in each region have successfully trialled training materials to ensure that union learning reps are engaged fully in the roll out of the Knowledge and Skills Framework, and that this work is integrated into the recruitment and organising activity of their branches.
Conference notes that there is a strong link between developing robust branch structures such as branch education teams, and increases in recruitment of new members and activists. The learning agenda is therefore a crucial building block in every branch’s recruitment and organising strategy, and one which must continue to be encouraged. In order to take full advantage of the recruitment and organising opportunities afforded by the KSF, Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to continue its work with the wider union to ensure that:
i.organising and recruitment around KSF and the learning agenda becomes a standing item for branch, regional and national health committees;
ii.branches are fully equipped and trained to be able to maximise the opportunities for both members and the union presented by the introduction of the Knowledge and Skills Framework;
iii.progress in recruiting union learning reps continues to be reviewed and monitored;
iv.the role of union learning reps to support members through the KSF process is publicised as widely as possible in order to attract and recruit new members.