Welcome to development work

A short induction for staff new to development work

Skild provides support, training and information to people undertaking the development role. There is
more information available at our website www.skild.org.uk. We would recommend you take the time to
visit this website and perhaps download some of the other useful information sheets.

Starting a new role can be a confusing The types of organisation they work for
and stressful time as you learn about the include:
organisation you work for, but also about • A local infrastructure group such
the environment, practice and jargon of as:
the field you are working in. o a CVS or Voluntary
Action,
The development work role is as o a funding support
complex as any, which is why we hope organisation,
this short document might be helpful as o a local area partnership.
you start your new role.
• the public sector( local councils
or PCT)
Development work involves giving
hands-on support to voluntary and • a private sector organisation
community groups. This might be (social enterprise or CIC).
offering general development support to
groups, or specialist help such as The role of a development
funding advice or training. The term worker is:
development worker is used as a • To help people understand
catch-all for people who give hands-on the roles and
support to groups. responsibilities they have
in groups or organisations.
Development workers have many job • To help in the
titles, some of which include: development of a thriving
third sector.
• Small Groups Adviser
• To help groups succeed by
• Development Officer
being effective and
• Volunteer Development Worker efficient.
• Training Officer • To make groups aware of
• Funding Advice Worker any legal compliance
• Social Field Worker issues.
• Legal Consultant • To strengthen the
leadership of communities

SKiLD, NAVCA, The Tower, 2 Furnival Square, Sheffield S1 4QL ● 0114 289 3953 ● www.skild.org.uk
 through leadership of • To be a facilitator between
organisations. the often chaotic realities
• Passing on skills and of communities and
knowledge that leads to voluntary organisations
sustainability of groups and the distant, highly
and organisations. structured and politicised
world of local and national
organisation/government.

SKiLD, NAVCA, The Tower, 2 Furnival Square, Sheffield S1 4QL ● 0114 289 3953 ● www.skild.org.uk
 Already some acronyms which you can download
Professional practice and jargon you may not the Skild
fromSkills website.
and knowledge
be familiar with have
been used. To help you
we have produced a
Use reflective practice to jargon information sheet
develop and improve Help improve governance by ensuring
practice which will ensure a
professional practice and clear understanding of roles and
Development workers need
responsibilities andsuccessful outcome.
by promoting use of
skills
to have a range of skillsof
codes and
governance.
abilities that enable them to: Development workers
• understand the are often catalysts*
issues affecting the for change
Advise on legalwithin
compliance in
Have an exit strategy from day third sector areas such as employment,
groups.
one that will ensure the
How to help •
adevelop and equality, health and safety,
organisation becomes third sector maintain finance and governance.
*A substance, which when added
independent, problem solving,
sustainable and stronger
organisation relationships with to a reaction, changes the rate of
become healthy, groups and attainment of equilibrium without

efficient and organisations itself undergoing a permanent

• deliver a wide range change
effective of services
Support aspiration to become
Be a critical and • keep up to date with a diverse organisation that
challenging the ever-changing reflects its community.
friend context in which
the third sector
operates.
Encourage useSome
of a quality system
of the areas which
The development worker in action. such as PQASSO to demonstrate good
The diagram opposite you may need to support
practice and quality assurance to
Key skills and knowledge used when shows the skills and funders, stakeholders
groups etc.
and organisations
Help achieve outcomes
working with organisations and the knowledge that a with include:
through monitoring and
cycle of professional practice evaluation development worker will use • governance
to support an organisation • funding
and a cycle of professional
• legal requirements
 • HR • record evidence of Resources • define the
• volunteer what you can do to difference
management and plan action to SkiLD offers a between
recruitment improve your skills community and
series of one-day
• policies and and knowledge development
courses that are
procedures • print off a record to work
designed to help
• long term planning take into supervision development • identify the
and suitability and appraisal workers who are personal and
sessions. new to this area of professional
• staff training and
work through to qualities of a
development
more development
There is often some experienced worker
confusion between the roles development • access the
of community development workers who want to SkiLD
workers and development develop new skills competency
workers. Community and perspectives framework to
development workers work and possible evaluate your
alongside the people and progress into personal skills
groups they are supporting; management. We • effectively
development workers will would recommend communicate
The Skild Framework
work at more of a distance the course below for with groups and
extensively lists the skills
from the organisation that people new to the organisations to
and competencies that
they are supporting. development role: establish roles,
development workers need.
You can use the framework responsibilities
Being a development and boundaries
to:
worker
• assess your work and understand
Good luck in your new A one day course for
against each core what activities a
development work role people who are new to
competency development
and please do take supporting groups, or
worker would
• assess your work revisiting the job after
advantage of the Skild undertake with
against the key time away.
support and training. them
areas of work that fit
your job • evaluate the
The topics covered will
impact of ethical
include how to:
 dilemmas that you can find there
development and may be helpful are:
workers may • Jargon
encounter in • Networks and
their work websites
• access the • Skild’s top 7
support and networking tips
resources
• Development
available to
workers’
development
networks
workers. When John
• Reflective
Kennedy bumped
practice
To book onto this into a janitor at
course or find details NASA and asked
Skildbites is an e-
of other training him what he did, the
bulletin that is sent out
please go to man replied ‘helping
every six weeks, with
www.skild.org.uk/trai to put a man on the
the latest up to date
ning moon.’
information on Skild
activities and training
opportunities. The
latest copy is on the
website but you can
The Skild framework receive a copy directly
www.skildframework.or by sending your contact
g.uk has a details to
resources section skildbites@navca.org.u
which will have useful k.
documents and links.

Other skild
information sheets