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| Q. |
Where is SSTI located? How do I get to SSTI? |
| A. |
SSTI is located within the NCSS Centre which is annexed to the Ulu Pandan Community Club. Our address is:
NCSS Centre
170 Ghim Moh Road Level 4
Singapore 279621
SSTI’s training rooms are located on the 2nd level of the NCSS Centre, as well as the 4th Level at the NTUC Learning Hub (opposite to NCSS). The SSTI Resource Centre is located on the 3rd level of the NCSS Centre.
Depending on your mode of transport, your may get to SSTI in the following ways:
a) By MRT
Alight at the Buona Vista MRT Station, cross the underpass leading to the Ghim Moh estate, and walk along the perimeter of the housing blocks until you see the Ulu Pandan Community CLUB (UPCC) building, which is easily distinguished by a clock tower facade. The NCSS centre is annexed behind the UPCC building.
b) By BUS
Buses 100 and 111 take you to the Ghim Moh Bus Terminal, located just next to the UPCC building, in front of the NCSS Centre. For buses 105, 106 and 147, you can alight at the bus-stop along Commonwealth Avenue West (outside the Buona Vista MRT station) and walk towards Block 14, in the direction of Ghim Moh Bus Terminal.
c) By Private Transport
If you drive, you can come into Ghim Moh road via Commonwealth Avenue West or from Holland Road via Holland Grove Road and Mount Sinai Road. As the car park at the NCSS Centre is for private use only, you can park at the public car parks in the Ghim Moh Estate, Block 9, 10, 11 and 12, instead. There is a park and ride scheme at the Block 12 car park. Parking via the scheme costs $3 and is from 8am - 8pm. Please note that car park coupons must have the same start time. |
| Q. |
What grants or subsidies can I get for SSTI’s training courses? |
| A. |
Funding Principle
Pre-approved courses under SSTI will be funded by the VWO Capability Fund (VCF). The eligible applicant has to apply for VCF training grant at VWO Corner found on the website www.ncss.org.sg before course commences. Eligible participant need pay only the non-VCF funded portion of the course fee. Please refer to the section "Course Fee" in each course write-up for more details. Participants will need to complete the course to be eligible for the VCF subsidy and will have to pay the full course fees to SSTI if they fail to meet at least 75% attendance.
For courses where VCF also covers the assessment/ examination portion, participants need to complete the assessment/ sit for the examination. Those who do not complete the assessment/ sit for the examination may not be entitled to VCF and will be requested by SSTI to pay full course fees.
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| Q. |
How do I register for courses and pay for the course fees? |
| A. |
Payment can be made in the form of cash or cheque. Please make cheque payable to "Social Service Training Institute". Cheque payment should reach us at least 3 days before course commences. Please indicate your name, course title and course date at the back of the cheque.
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| Q. |
How will I know that the course and my registration is confirmed? |
| A. |
SSTI will send a email confirmation 1-2 weeks before the commencement of any confirmed course. (Note: SSTI reserves the right to change the course programme, dates, time and venues, or cancel a course due to unforeseen circumstances. Every effort, however, will be made to inform participants as soon as possible of the change. For cancellation of courses by SSTI, fees received will be refunded in full).
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| Q. |
Can I withdraw my registration and get a refund if I cannot attend the course? |
| A. |
For withdrawals, the following conditions apply (except if participant's withdrawal is due to medical reasons supported by medical certification):
Before confirmation of course by SSTI - Full refund of amount paid.
After confirmation of course by SSTI - No refund; participants will be required to pay the full course fees to SSTI.
* SSTI will normally confirm a course 1-2 weeks before course commencement date through email notification.
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| Q. |
If I cannot attend the course I registered for, can I send a replacement? |
| A. |
SSTI does accept requests for replacements. The VWO is to submit the request at least 2 weeks prior to course commencement. Each request is approved on a case-by-case basis.
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| Q. |
How will my participation of SSTI courses be acknowledged? |
| A. |
A Certificate of Achievement from SSTI will be awarded to participants who achieve at least 75% of the course. For certain courses, professional certification from recognised bodies may be awarded. This will be indicated in the course information. A medical certificate will be required as verification for absence due to illness. However, if absence is more than 25% of the course, the Certificate of Achievement will not be issued.
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| Q. |
How is SSTI affiliated to the National Council of Social Service (NCSS)? |
| A. |
SSTI is the academy of NCSS. SSTI takes on the strategic and leadership role in driving training efforts for the social service sector.
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| Q. |
When should my Board consider SSTI's Board Governance (BG) consultancy services? |
| A. |
When you would like to work with a neutral party with the relevant expertise to :
| a. |
Transfer your knowledge on effective non-profit governance practices, tools and frameworks into practical methodology, structures and processes so as to enable your VWO to realise its social mission and desired outcomes. |
| b. |
Find possible solutions to challenges and issues that may hinder effective governance within your VWO. |
You may also wish to use our governance checklist for a quick indication of your needs. If you have responded "No" to any of the following questions, you can certainly benefit from SSTI's BG consultancy services:
| a. |
Do you have a Board Policy Manual to orientate and facilitate your Board's governance roles and functions? |
| b. |
Do you have a systematic assessment of your Board's performance for discussion of future improvements? |
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Do you have a tool to facilitate board succession planning and to enhance board diversity? |
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Does your Board have a common understanding and knowledge of pertinent non-profit governance practices? |
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| Q. |
What is Non-Profit Governance? |
| A. |
Non-profit governance refers to the structures and processes by which the Board ensures effective performance and operations of its voluntary welfare organisation (VWO) in achieving its social mission and social outcomes.
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| Q. |
Why is Non-Profit Governance increasingly important? |
| A. |
Being a volunteer organisation providing services for the good of the public and having public funds as its major source of income for its operations, VWOs assume significant responsibility to ensure accountable and legitimate use of their resources. Moreover, there is increasing expectations from the public for VWOs to be transparent in their operations to maintain public trust and confidence. A VWO with good governance will earn donor confidence and continue to receive strong support.
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| Q. |
How can my VWO benefit from SSTI's BG consultancy services? |
| A. |
Your VWO stands to:
- Enhance its capabilities to achieve your organisation's social mission and outcomes;
- Achieve higher adoption level of the Code of Governance & Management.
Moreover, by putting in place these structures and processes, VWOs stand to realise their objectives of operational effectiveness, efficiency as well as public expectations' of accountability and transparency.
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| Q. |
How will I be charged for SSTI's BG consultancy services? |
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Registered Charities and IPCs can also apply for the VCF Consultancy Grant which co-funds up to 80% of consultancy project fees
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| Q. |
Can the public access the SSTI Resource Centre (RC)? |
| A. |
The public can view the online catalogue, but only RC members can borrow, reserve or renew resource materials.
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| Q. |
How do I become a member of the RC? |
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If you wish to sign up as a RC member, please email us at ncss_resource_centre@ncss.gov.sg. You can also call 6210 2697 for enquiries.
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| Q. |
Can I make reservations for the materials I want? |
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Yes, you can make reservations online. You may be placed on a waiting list for the item(s) you wish to borrow. The number of items you can reserve at one time is equivalent to the number of items you are allowed to borrow.
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| Q. |
What is the loan period? |
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Resource materials can be borrowed for up to 3 weeks.
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| Q. |
Can I extend the loan period? How? |
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Renewals are allowed for one-time only, and can only be effected if the items have not been reserved by other members. You can also renew your loan items online.
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| Q. |
Do I have to go to NCSS Centre to obtain the resource materials? |
| A. |
Yes, you can collect the items personally or ask someone to collect on your behalf. However, the RC Membership Card that the items are reserved with must be produced for verification. The RC also provides a delivery service at a minimal cost.
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| Q. |
Do I have to go to NCSS Centre to return the resource materials? |
| A. |
Yes, you can return the items personally or ask someone to return on your behalf.
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