Skills for Care sets out new three-year strategy to modernise adult social care

Skills for Care has announced the launch a new vision which sets out their strategic aims for adult social care over the next three years.

The new strategy sets out their aim of supporting everyone who works across social care while creating a fair and just society where people can access the advice, care, and support they need to live lives they want.

Over the next three years, the focus will be on four strategic areas designed to shape the skills and knowledge of the social care workforce, support reform of the sector, and ensure that social care is seen as a valued and worthwhile career.

These four strategic areas are: 

  • Increasing workforce capacity to make sure there are the right number of people, with the right values and behaviours, working in social care now and in the future.
  • Supporting workforce capabilities to ensure staff have the right skills, knowledge, competencies, values and behaviours to meet current and future needs in our communities.
  • Supporting culture and diversity to ensure the workforce is treated equally, feels included and valued, and is supported to stay well and pursue their careers in social care.
  • Improving the social care system to ensure it’s well funded, supports people to live the lives that they choose and attracts the right people to the workforce.

Skills For Care insist it is only by achieving success in each strategic area that can we expect a social care system that’s fit for the future and delivers on their vision.

Ultimately, the goal is to make sure people have access to the care they want, at the point of need and, wherever possible, people are supported to live independently, in their own communities, surrounded by the people they love.

Commenting on the launch,  Skills for Care CEO Oonagh Smyth (pictured), said:”We are delighted to launch our new strategy and excited about the impact it will have on people drawing on care and support and working in social care over the next three years.

“This new strategy was created in recognition that the way social care is delivered in England is changing so it won’t be a static strategy but will evolve based on feedback and changes in social care.

“Skills for Care believes that social care needs to adapt to these changes so that everyone has access to care and support that is focussed on their unique needs and aspirations, now, and in the years to come.

“Equally, people who work in social care have to be recognised as carrying out a vital role in society. We want social care to be seen by the public as a professional and skilled career that has real value for people in our communities who draw on services, supported by our committed and skilled workforce.”

Click here to access the Skills for Care strategy 2021-24