Care Cadet Scheme Wins National Award

A scheme in Central Lancashire which prepares youngsters for a career in social care has won a national award.

The Social Care Cadet initiative is a three year programme which aims to widen access to health care careers and promotes the NHS and social services as an employer.

It won a 2008 National Training Award which the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills claims is the most prestigious available for excellence in training and people development.

The cadet scheme is run jointly by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Central Lancashire and Lancashire County Council Adult and Community Services Directorate, who all collaborated with Preston and Runshaw Colleges.Jayne McGurran, Training Manager at NHS Central Lancashire, said: “We are proud to be part of this unique scheme.”

“The Cadet scheme is essential to encourage young people to have a career within the NHS or Social Services,” she added.

Meanwhile, according to a report from the Commission for Social Care Inspection, the assessment process to discover eligibility for publicly-funded social care is “flawed”.