OPEN UNIVERSITY AND UNISON LEARNING PARTNERSHIP

Early day motion 1555, tabled 1 February 2006 by Laura Moffatt (Labour). Signed by 68 members.

That this House congratulates the Open University and UNISON on their ground breaking pilot Learning Partnership project which has been developed as a collaborative initiative to help hardworking social care workers further their careers and achieve a qualification; recognises that the project delivers high quality learning to UNISON members working in a social care setting allowing them to develop and build on the wealth of knowledge and experience they have and to become fully qualified social workers at a time when over 70 per cent. of local authorities are experiencing recruitment difficulties in this sector; notes the project's unique ability to enable experienced lower paid social care staff to access a career path through education without the need to give up paid work; and looks forward to a roll-out of the programme across the UK.

Signatures by party: Labour 45, Liberal Democrat 12, Conservative 4, DUP 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Respect 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.