cpd25 Meeting of the Career Development Task Group
4^th March 2007, 2.30pm, University of Westminster

In attendance: David Gee (Chair), Diana Herman, Antony Loveland, Coral Black, Kelly Travers, Vivien Robertson, Suzy Ball (Administrator)

Apologies: Liz Annetts

David Gee officially welcomed Coral Black to the group and outlined the aims of this meeting. A brainstorming meeting had been called, following the November 2007 Task group meeting, in order to debate the remit of the group and to examine the training programme delivered, with particular reference to the Chartership Series. In addition the group discussed their work in light of a series of questions put forward by cpd25 Chair, Mary Nixon.

1. Discussion of Remit
The current remit is as follows:
“The Career Development Task Group is responsible for cpd25's CILIP Chartership Workshops. The task group will cover areas such as career pathways, interview skills, training for "non-trained" staff (links to NVQ and other schemes), and training for Staff Development Officers.”

Presently the ‘career pathways’ element is met by the Development Day and Applying to LIS events and the SDO’s are the focus of a morning event each year that is linked to the cpd25 Review Afternoon. Fellowship, revalidation and mentoring workshops have been held in the past and may be reintroduced on a bi-annual basis. The group discussed the current remit, in terms of its three identifiable strands and whether the wording remained accurate.

1.1              This year the chartership workshops were advertised as being suitable for non-chartership candidates. This led to an increase in bookings and VR suggested that being less exclusive about the audience for this series and other events could help increase attendance. It was agreed that ACLIP and chartership candidates should be targeted in future years for the series of workshops. The wording for the series advertisements will need to be revised. The cyclical nature of the chartership candidate audience means that lower attendance levels for one year may not be replicated in the following years.

1.2              AL suggested the group could address the SDO audience with other events. This year’s SDO morning may highlight training needs and allow the group to devise a mini-series of events.

1.3              The group feel that their audience is largely restricted to those at the early stages of their career, with the exception of the SDO’s. This should be outlined in their remit and also be evidenced by future events addressing CV writing and interview skills.

Action: Chair to redraft remit, circulate for comment and present to Steering Group.

2. Discussion Paper
David will collate the comments of the group and present the comments of the group to the Steering Group on the 13^th March.

3. Work Exchange Scheme
David and Judith Cattermole will be speaking at the forthcoming Chartership Forum about the existing scheme. The lack of interest thus far is disappointing and they hope to get feedback from the delegates about ways of making the scheme more attractive. The scheme may be revamped to act as a placement scheme with cpd25 supplying a list of contacts rather than having an intermediary role.

4. Chartership Programme
The five sessions run so far have had very positive feedback and the bookings have increased as the series has progressed. The details of the remaining workshops are confirmed

5. Seminars & Visits
The Applying to LIS event went well, as noted in the previous minutes. The Library Assistants Development day ran as an all day event in November. It was well attended and received positive feedback. Only 3 people took advantage of the half day option but these new arrangements worked well and will continue next year.

The SDO morning will take place on 17^th April. Task group members will help AL with the facilitation of the session. As outlined above the discussions taking place in the morning may be used to inform the 08/09 programme of events.

AL is arranging a visit to the MOD. This needs to be confirmed but should take place in late April.

VR has now had confirmation from RIBA and the first, of two possible visits, will go ahead on the 14^th April. A £5 fee per person has been imposed by the institution which will be passed on to the delegates.

DG has organised a visit to the Warburg Institute for the 9^th May.

Next Meeting: TBA