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Professional Capability Grant (PCG)

Background

The Professional Capability Grant (PCG) supports social service-related scholarships, awards, short-term local training courses/conferences and higher education programmes. 

Intent

PCG provides training grants that the Social Service Agencies (SSAs) can tap on, to build their manpower and organisation’s capability, that will better equip the social service professionals in meeting the needs of the sector.

General Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicant must be a staff of NCSS-member agencies and/or MSF-funded agencies.
  • Courses must be social service related and relevant to the job scope of the SSA’s applicant.
  • Funding will not be extended to courses that have already commence.


For more details on the Professional Capability Grant, please refer to the schemes selection below.


icon Local Training Grant (Short Courses, Accredited Certificate Courses)

Overview

The Professional Capability Grant (PCG) provides training subsidy fo Social Service Agencies (SSAs) to build their manpower and organisation’s capability through training that will better equip the professionals in meeting the needs of the social service sector. The PCG supports social service-related scholarships, awards, short-term local training courses/conferences and higher education programmes. The pre-approval funding supports short-term social service-related courses and conferences.

Eligibility Criteria

  1. Staff of NCSS member Social Service Agencies (SSAs) and/or MSF-funded agencies are eligible to tap on the training grant, that are related to their scope of work.
  2. Volunteers of NCSS member SSAs and/or MSF-funded agencies are only eligible for Professional Skill-based training, that are related to their scope of volunteering in the SSAs.
  3. SSA applicants who are on their respective Work Passes must have Work Pass validity of 1 year or more, at the point of application.
  4. Applicants who are Employment Pass/S Pass/Work Permit holders must have at least one year of remaining EP/SP/Work Permit validity at the point of application.
  5. The pre-approved course must be attended by participants from more than one SSA.
  6. Funding will not be extended to courses that:
    • Have already commenced
    • Are receiving other sources of Government funding, unless specially allowed
    • Can tap on grants administered by other Government agencies such as the SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), Workforce Singapore (WSG) and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC)

Funding Quantum

LT- Funding

Application

The Fund Application System (FAS) will be decommissioned on 31 March 2023. NCSS will no longer be accepting any course enrolment in the FAS after 31 March 2023.

For Pre-Approved Courses

With effect from 27 March 2023, the Local Training Preapproved Course Grant will be onboarded to the Training Partners Gateway (TPG). Social Service Agencies (SSA) are no longer required to submit  applications in the new system to utilise training places. The SSAs will register their enrolment for courses through the respective Training Provider. The Training Providers will then enrol the course participants in TPGateway before the course commencement.

For Non-Pre-Approved Courses

With effect from 1 April 2023, the SSAs can apply for non-pre-approved courses.

Submission Timeline

Please refer to the submission timeline for Local Training Grant.

Contact

For more information, please email& Ms Farah Atikah at farah_atikah@ncss.gov.sg.

icon Local Training Grant (for Training Providers)

Overview

The Professional Capability Grant (PCG) provides training subsidy to the Social Service Agencies (SSAs) to build their manpower and organisation’s capability, that will better equip the professionals in meeting the needs of the social service sector. The PCG supports social service-related scholarships, awards, short-term local training courses/conferences and higher education programmes. The pre-approval funding supports short-term social service-related courses and conference.

Eligibility Criteria for Training Providers

  1. The training courses should align to the Technical Skill Competency Framework for Social Service. For courses that are not aligned to the framework may be considered on case-by-case basis at a lower funding quantum. Refer to the Skills Framework for Social Service.
  2. Other criteria for funding consideration could include (but is not limited to):
    • Relevance and importance of the training to the social service sector (e.g. targeted at MSF/NCSS funded services/help social service professionals advance their professional skills/technique and/or knowledge)
    • Training helps to level up the strategic organisation capabilities of the SSAs
    • Training providers are expected to demonstrate prudence and transparency in the cost computations of the courses submitted for pre-approval.
  3. Funding will not be extended to courses that:
    • Have already commenced
    • Are receiving other sources of Government funding, unless specifically allowed
    • Can tap on grants administered by other Government agencies such as the SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), Workforce Singapore (WSG) and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC).

Application

The Fund Application System (FAS) has decommissioned on 31 March 2023.  NCSS will no longer be accepting any course enrolment in the FAS after 31 March 2023. 

The Training Providers can submit their training courses to be pre-approved via the Training Partners Gateway (TPGateway). Training Provider can login to TPGateway using their Organisation CorpPass.

Please submit the following supporting document for assessment: -

  • Course / conference content and session outline, which include course fee, course duration, projected number of training places, target audience and sector.
  • Local and overseas research that support the course to be pre-approved
  • Mapping the skills that will be acquired from the courses to the Technical Skill Competency Framework for Social Service.
  • CV/ Resume of Trainers

Submission Timeline

Please refer to the submission timeline for Local Training Grant.

Contact

For more information, please email Ms Farah Atikahat farah_atikah@ncss.gov.sg

icon Professional Development Sponsorship (Degree in Social Work, Masters in Psychology and other Higher Education Courses)

Overview

The Professional Development Sponsorship provides funding for in-service Social Service Agency's staff to acquire their first recognised social work and psychology qualifications to become registered Social Workers and Psychologist. It also provides training subsidy for other social service-related graduate and post-graduate studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  1. All permanent staff (Singaporeans/PRs only) of NCSS member Social Service Agencies and/or MSF-funded social service agencies, who:
    • Are not receiving other government funding (except for the subsidy from Ministry of Education) for Graduate Diploma/Degree studies, unless specifically allowed
    • Do not qualify for other schemes such as Career Conversion Programme (CCP) for social workers.
    • Have been accepted into an approved Bachelor/Graduate Diploma/ Masters programme
  2. Funding will not be extended to courses that have already commenced.
  3. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
  4. Please note that approval of the applications is on a first come, first served basis, subject to budget availability.
  5. Please refer to the list of approved programmes for Masters in Psychology.

Funding Quantum

PDS- Funding

Bond Requirement

PDS - bond requirement

Upon approval of the grant, recipients and the supporting agency are required to sign a NCSS funding agreement and fulfil their bond duration with the supporting agency upon completion of the course.

Liquidated Damages

Grant awardee is liable for Liquidated Damages (LD) in the event of non-compliance to the grant’s obligation. LD shall be the total disbursed amount, together with 10% compounded interest per annum on the disbursements made each year, compounded at end of the year. Payment should be made to NCSS in one lump sum within three months via cheque or cash.

Application

The Fund Application System (FAS) has decommissioned on 31 March 2023. NCSS will no longer be accepting any course enrolment in the FAS after 31 March 2023. 

To apply for this grant, the SSAs can email the supplementary form and its supporting document to PCG_Enquiries@ncss.gov.sg.

Please submit the following supporting documents :

  1. Download the Supplementary Form.
  2. Official Letter of Offer by the University
  3. Course Brochure
  4. Course Fee Details
  5. Course Schedule

Submission Timeline

Please refer to the submission timeline for Professional Development Sponsorship.

Contact

For more information, please email Ms Ang Hui Zhen at Ang_Hui_Zhen@ncss.gov.sg.

icon Overseas Training Grant

Overview

The Overseas Training Grant supports overseas training programmes that are not readily available in Singapore, i.e.:

  • Short-term conferences and seminars
  • Specialised certification courses, and
  • Study trips.

Eligibility Criteria

  1. All permanent staff (who are Singaporeans or PRs) of NCSS member social service agencies (SSAs) and/or Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF)-funded social service agencies can apply for the Professional Capability Grant (Overseas Training).
  2. Volunteers, Board Members, non-permanent staff, and holders of the Work Permit, S-Pass and Employment Pass are not eligible.
  3. Applicants must have been employed by the social service agency for at least one year at the point of application.
  4. For SSAs with multiple programmes, each programme can apply for one staff once in every two years. To qualify, the agency and staff must not receive the grant in the last 2-year.
  5. The training must be directly relevant to the job scope of applicants and of direct social service nature.
  6. Applicants must attend all sessions of the courses and pass all examinations (if applicable).
  7. Applicants must be prepared to share their learning with other social service agencies at platforms identified by NCSS upon return from their trips.
  8. Funding will not be extended to courses that:
    • Have already commenced
    • Include political or religious proselytization
    • Are receiving other sources of Government funding, unless specifically allowed
    • Can tap on grants administered by other Government agencies such as the SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), Workforce Singapore (WSG) and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC)
  9. Incomplete applications and late applications which are submitted less than 3 months before the course commencement date will NOT be processed.
  10. Please note that approval of the applications is on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to budget availability.

Funding Quantum

OTG funding

Application

The Fund Application System (FAS) has  decommissioned on 31 March 2023. NCSS will no longer be accepting any course enrolment in the FAS after 31 March 2023. 

To apply for this grant, the SSAs can email the supplementary form and its supporting document to PCG_Enquiries@ncss.gov.sg.

Please submit the following supporting documents in FAS:

  1. Download the Supplementary Form
  2. Overseas Training / Conference Brochure
  3. Training / Conference Fee Details
  4. Training / Conference Daily Schedule

Submission Timeline

The application must be submitted to NCSS at least 3 months before the course commencement date.

Please refer to the submission timeline for Overseas Training Grant.

Contact

For more information, please email Ms Farah Atikah at farah_atikah@ncss.gov.sg

icon Open Grant

Overview

The Open Grant supports SSA-initiated and centrally driven initiatives that will raise the professional capability of the Social Service Sector, including initiatives/ projects and clinical supervision efforts.

Open Grant supports social service agencies in engaging external consultants for clinical supervision for staff to enhance their professional skills, usually in the areas of casework and counselling. The grant supports the capability building of professional staff such as social workers, case workers, counsellors and psychologists over two years.

The clinical supervision usually includes individual supervision and group supervision to improve professional skills of staff, plus a Supervision of Supervisors (SOS) component to develop the supervisory competencies of the social service agency’s internal clinical supervisors.

Eligibility Criteria

For Open Grant Projects

  1. Must be NCSS member social service agencies and/or MSF-funded social service agencies that are not receiving other sources of government funding,
  2. Funding will not be extended to projects that have already commenced.
  3. Late applications will not be processed and will not be automatically moved to the next window.
  4. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
  5. Please note that approval of applications is on a first come, first served basis, subject to budget availability.

For Clinical Supervision

  1. All NCSS member social service agencies or MSF-funded social service agencies only.
  2. The projects must be one-off and non-recurring in nature.
  3. Projects can only commence upon PCG Secretariat’s approval.
  4. Funding will not be extended to projects that:
    • Have already commenced, or
    • Are receiving other sources of government funding, unless specifically allowed
  5. The appointed Clinical Supervisor,
  6. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
  7. Please note that approval of the applications is on a first come, first served basis, subject to budget availability.


Funding Quantum

Open Grant - Funding

Clinical Supervision

 

Application

The Fund Application System (FAS) has decommissioned on 31 March 2023. NCSS will no longer be accepting any course enrolment in the FAS after 31 March 2023. 

To apply for this grant, the SSAs can email the supplementary form and its supporting document to PCG_Enquiries@ncss.gov.sg.

Please submit the following supporting documents:

For Open Grant Projects

  • Project Proposal, which include the following:
    • Objective of the Project
    • How will the project be implemented
    • Fund Request and detailed cost breakdown of the project, quotations of the cost items
    • Project Outcomes/ KPI and its measures
    • Project Implementation timeline


For Clinical Supervision

  • Download the Supplementary and Declaration Form.
  • Three comparable quotations/proposals (i.e. quotations/proposals should cover the same work scope) and the CVs of the External Supervisor must be uploaded for projects that are above $6,000. Wherever possible, the social service agency should choose the choice that has the best value and provide justification if it is not the lowest.

Submission Timeline

Please refer to the submission timeline for Open Grant.

Contact

For more information, please email to Ms Farah Atikah at farah_atikah@ncss.gov.sg.

icon Sabbatical Leave Scheme

Overview

The Sabbatical Leave Scheme (SLS) aims to provide social service professionals the opportunity to recharge and refresh themselves, through 10 weeks of paid leave with salary support of up to $15,000. It is open to Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech therapists, Psychologists, Counsellors and EIPIC teachers.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the SLS, you must be one of the following:

  • Social Workers registered with the Social Work Accreditation and Advisory Board
  • Occupational therapists, Physiotherapists and Speech therapists with full/restricted registration with the Allied Health Professions Council
  • Psychologists with Bachelor or Master Degree in Psychology
  • Counsellors with qualifications recognised by the Singapore Association for Counselling
  • EIPIC Teachers with Advanced Diploma in Early Childhood Intervention (Special Needs)

You must also meet the following criteria:

  • possess at least five years of direct work experience in your respective professional field within the sector at the point of application
  • working in a NCSS member organisation or Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF)-funded organisation
  • not serving any bond currently


Requirement

You may be called upon to act as a mentor to junior social service professionals in their respective fields once you complete your sabbatical. You must also conduct a sharing session within your organisation and submit a written report to your employer and the National Council of Social Service.

Important Note:

  • Incomplete applications will NOT be processed.
  • Please note that approval of applications is on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to budget availability. 


Application

The Fund Application System (FAS) has decommissioned on 31 March 2023.  NCSS will no longer be accepting any course enrolment in the FAS after 31 March 2023.

To apply for this grant, the SSAs can download the application form and email with supporting documents to PCG_Enquiries@ncss.gov.sg.

Before applying, you are advised to discuss your proposed sabbatical plans with your current employer.

Please refer to the FAQ for more information on the Sabbatical Leave Scheme.

Submission Timeline

Please refer to the submission timeline below:

SLS submission dates

Contact

For more information, please contact Ms Ang Hui Zhen at Ang_Hui_Zhen@ncss.gov.sg.

icon Foundational Leadership

Overview

The Foundational Leadership aims to support first time/junior managers in enhancing their managerial and functional skills in the areas of:

  1. People development
  2. Strategy Planning
  3. Resource Management

This programme is ideal for individuals transitioning from individual contributor roles to people managers. Agencies are encouraged to send first-time managers in groups of 5-8pax as the programme has group-coaching segments. Learners from the same organisation who wish to work on a similar challenge may inform the facilitator at the start of the session, to be placed in the same group.

Through the Foundational Leadership, participants will embark on a learning journey that will cover:

  • Critical practices to excel in today’s challenging environment
  • Frameworks that would help to facilitate organizational alignment and manage resources
  • Methodology to execute team strategies
  • Weekly group coaching sessions

The programme is delivered in collaboration with FranklinCovey, and there are two modules learners can attend (either one or both):


Eligibility Criteria

The applicant must be:

  • First time managers
  • 3 years of sector experience
  • Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident
  • Registered with the relevant professional bodies and/or possess the necessary professional qualifications
  • Currently working in a NCSS- member agencies

Participation is strictly by nomination of your organisation’s senior management


Funding Quantum

Course fees subsidised up to 70% by SSG.


Application

Please sign up via the links below:


Submission Timeline

This programme is open for application between October to December every year.


Contact

For more information, please email Leadership_development_programme@ncss.gov.sg.

icon Intermediate Leadership (For Heads of Department and Senior Specialists)

Overview

The Intermediate Leadership aims to support Heads of Departments and Senior Specialists in deepening their professional competencies through post-graduate programme (locally or overseas).

Agencies have the flexibility to propose the type of post-graduate programmes and/or trainings that lead to certification. Post-graduate programmes may include but are not limited to:

Intermediate leadership 14 oct

Apart from the course fees, participants may draw down on the funds for other expenses during the duration of the course, e.g. salary support, course materials.

Participants are required to attend Leadership Milestone Programme offered by the Social Service Institute (SSI) as part of their management training. This programme is offered at three different levels and caters to social service professionals with varying levels of experience and development needs.

All approved training courses have to be completed within 3 years.

Eligibility Criteria

The applicant must be:

  • Heads of Departments/Senior Specialists
  • 5 years of sector experience
  • Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • Registered with the relevant professional bodies and/or possess the necessary professional qualifications
  • Not be serving any current bond
  • Currently working in a NCSS-member agency
  • Nominated by SSAs in order to participate in the Intermediate Leadership
  • Shows potential in assuming leadership roles and/or higher responsibilities

Funding Quantum

Course fees subsidised up to $200,000

Application

Please download the Intermediate Leadership Nomination Form and upload the endorsed document via the online Intermediate Leadership Application Form (FormSG).

Submission Timeline

This programme is open for application between October to December every year.

Contact

For more information, please email to Leadership_development_programme@ncss.gov.sg.

icon Advanced Leadership (For Heads of Agencies and Senior Leaders)

Overview

The Advanced Leadership aims to broaden the perspectives and enhance leadership competencies of Heads of Agencies and Senior Leaders through executive development programmes.

Agencies have the flexibility to propose the type of executive development programmes and/or trainings that lead to certification. Programmes may include but are not limited to:

  1. Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management by Harvard University
  2. Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership by Duke University (USA
  3. INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship (ISEP)
  4. Developing Leaders Programme for Nonprofit Professional by Columbia University (USA)
  5. Executive Programme for Nonprofit Leaders by Stanford University

All approved training courses have to be completed within 1 year

Eligibility Criteria

The applicant must be:

  • Head of Agencies (i.e. CEO, ED) or a senior leader (e.g. Deputy CEO, Senior Director)
  • 10 years of sector experience
  • Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident
  • Registered with the relevant professional bodies and/or possess the necessary professional qualifications
  • Not be serving any current bond
  • Currently working in a NCSS member
  • Nominated by SSAs’ Board (for Head of Agencies) or employers (for Senior Leaders) in order to participate in the Advanced Leadership

Funding Quantum

Course fees subsidised up to $25k.

Application
Please download the Advanced Leadership Nomination Form and upload the endorsed document via the online Advanced Leadership Application Form (FormSG).

This programme is open for application between October to December every year.

Contact

For more information, please email to Leadership_development_programme@ncss.gov.sg.

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Last Updated 19 April 2023