URL: https://councillors.knowsley.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=8122

Decision Maker: Director Corporate Support (Justin Thompson)

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: The purpose of this report is to propose the establishment of a PVI Workforce Development Officer role to ensure that Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) sector organisations maintain access to e-learning via the HCM system. The establishment of this role will ensure these duties are funded as currently they are an unfunded pressure and PVI organisations will be able to continue to access learning via HCM as part of their contractual arrangements through the Council.  

Content: The purpose of this report is to propose the establishment of a PVI Workforce Development Officer role to ensure that Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) sector organisations maintain access to e-learning via the HCM system. The establishment of this role will ensure these duties are funded as currently they are an unfunded pressure and PVI organisations will be able to continue to access learning via HCM as part of their contractual arrangements through the Council.   That the Director of Corporate Support in consultation with the Executive Director (Health and Social Care) and the Executive Director (Resources and Partnerships) agree to the establishment of 1 FTE PVI Workforce Development Officer – (Grade F) post as part of the Human Resources staffing structure. Initially this will be established on an initial 12-month fixed term basis and then reviewed at 9 months with potential extension following evaluation of the impact of post and model of training delivery to PVIs.   The alternative option of not introducing this role presents a risk that PVI organisations will not be able to access learning for people within their organisations and risk us not fulfilling our duties outlined in contracts with PVI organisations. It could also lead to PVIs sourcing their own learning, potentially impacting quality of learning as well as potential increased costs of contracts as PVIs add the cost of sourcing this learning to their contracted prices.  The approach of introducing this role for 12 months will enable us to review this role and approach to learning across PVIs and decide between Adult Social Care and HR longer term plans.   Provide within Service Considerations have also been sought whereby to place the role in Adult Social Care, however, due to the HCM system set up arrangements, it’s felt best this role sits within HR.   Transfer Responsibility to PVIs This option was considered and rejected as there would be a cost to PVI providers and that there would be an expectation for the Council to fund these costs via Adult Socia Care Fee Rates.  The payment by the hour/bed rate within Adult Social Care is not considered an efficient way to fund providers to access statutory eLearning training in relation to safeguarding.  

Date of Decision: March 19, 2026