Major Social Care Conference Will Explore The Value Of Partnership

Social care and the vital need for partnership to deliver the goals of the Department of Health’s White Paper, “Our Health, Our Care, Our Say” will be the focus at the annual Skills for Care national two day conference in Nottingham next week.

Keynote speakers at the event which will be launched on Tuesday (February 27th) at the East Midlands Conference Centre include: Ivan Lewis MP, Minister for Social Care and David Behan, Director General of Social Care, the Department of Health.
Donald Hoodless, Chair of Skills for Care will also be on the platform along with Dame Tanni Grey Thompson, Britain’s most successful Paralympic athlete.

A series of keynote addresses, discussion sessions and interactive workshops will take a close up look at the benefits of social care partnerships, including access to extra resources such as funding and knowledge, and outcomes for people who use social care services.

Skills for Care is the national workforce development body for adult social care and develops standards and qualifications for social workers and care workers. Today its Chief Executive Officer Andrea Rowe emphasised the value of successful partnerships in the industry.

She said: “It is only through building effective partnerships that together we can deliver a joined up and united workforce delivering the person-centred care people want.”

Those taking part include social care employers, employees, training providers and people who use care services – and a contingent from the South African Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority who are making a reciprocal visit to learn more about Skills for Care initiatives.

The two organisations have been developing links to share experiences and expertise, and Andrea Rowe says there are opportunities afoot for joint working in certain areas of work.