Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 14:05:34 +0000 (GMT Standard Time)
From: Dean Bartlett <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: QLP-Youth
Sender: [log in to unmask]

 Reply-To: Dean Bartlett <[log in to unmask]>
 Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]>

 Dear Sir/Madam,

Please find attached details of a development scheme for  which we are
currently recruiting. The scheme aims to develop library and information
services to young  people.  Those who participate in this six-month part of
the scheme will be considered for substantial implementation funding in
order to develop services for young people (subject to final agreement from
our funders).

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you require  further information.

 Yours sincerely,

-----------------
 Dr. Dean Bartlett
 Deputy Director,
 Management Research Centre,
 London Metropolitan University,
 Department of Management and Professional Development.
 Tel. +44 (0)20 7423 0000 Ext.3215



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 Quality Leaders Project Update and Call for New Participants.


 The Quality Leaders Project (QLP) for Library and Information Workers is a
well-established approach to combating social exclusion within the library
and information services sector. The QLP approach is one of management
development through service development as it aims to tackle the dual
challenges of providing value for socially excluded communities and also
equal employment opportunities, both within a coherent Best Value framework.
The QLP-Youth programme is focussed upon services to young people, with a
special emphasis upon refugees and asylum seekers. The programme aims to
develop services for BME and/or refugee/asylum seeker communities and, in
this sense, is a positive action programme. We do, however, accept
applications from non-BME staff who wish to participate in the scheme. Where
authorities put forward a white Quality Leader, there are two conditions
which must be fulfilled. Firstly, the service development proposals must be
aimed at BME communities and, secondly, the Quality Leader must work with an
ethnically mixed Development Team.

 The QLP Youth scheme develops Quality Leaders who are 'seconded' on to the
scheme, but remain in their own organisations whilst engaged in a six-month,
part-time or full-time program of work-based learning, structured around a
development project. During this period, the learners develop a range of
leadership and managerial skills and, at the end of the project, devise a
service development proposal based upon original research into the needs of
the targetted local communities. The costs of participation are minimal (a
small budget to cover the costs of consultation materials plus the release
of time for the Quality Leader to work on their service deveolopment
proposal). Details of the QLP can be found on our sponsors website at:
http://www.resource.gov.uk/documents/culturalqlp.pdf .

 Aims of the QLP-Youth Project
 * To refocus public library service so that services to young people are
mainstreamed in accordance with the real needs of young people.
 * To provide new skills to library workers so that they can develop and
deliver new and innovative services needed by young people.
 * Develop, plan and implement new services for young people in partnership
with the youth themselves, and with other stakeholders.
 * To increase social cohesion by encouraging inter-generational work and by
encouraging different communities to work together.

 Outcomes of the Project
 * An innovative model of providing services to young people in a
partnership approach which empowers young people.
 * Staff development: the development of new skills and expertise by Quality
Leaders and Quality teams from participating authorities.
 * Service development/improvement:  new services to meet new or unmet needs
of young people, especially from excluded communities and potential users
who may not have been reached by their  authorities.
 * The development of a QLP Training Manual for use by other public service
providers in the development of new QLP projects.
 * Establishing a link between Best Value performance processes and social
exclusion performance targets within the participating organisations and at
the same time meet relevant requirements of the Equality Standards and EU
legislation on equalities.
 * A new partnership approach bringing together various organisations
currently working in isolation.
 Who will benefit from the Project
 * Young people, especially young refugees and asylum seekers, in the
participating authorities.
 * The local communities as a whole because as the public library develops
new services using new approaches to meeting local needs which have not been
met before, it will enhance social cohesion and enable a significant sector
of the community to be empowered.
 * The participating local authorities which will be able to improve
services and also meet many of its legal requirements while satisfying other
criteria such as Best Value, Equalities Standard for Local Authorities,
Annual Library Plan and the Public Library Standard requirements.
 * The library service as a whole as the Project will act as an engine of
change to meet local and national requirements.
 * Personal and professional development for Quality Leaders (QLs) who will
acquire new skills and experiences.
 * Development opportunities for the QLP Teams who come from all
communities.

 If you are interested in finding out more about the QLP, or to register
your authority's interest in taking part please contact (by 9th January
2003):

 * Dr. Dean Bartlett
 Deputy Director
 Management Research Centre
 London Metropolitan University (North Campus)
 Stapleton House,
 227-281, Holloway Road
 London N7 8HN.

 Tel: 020  7973 4825
 Fax: 020 7753 5051

 E-mail:  [log in to unmask]