Skills for Care launch workforce development strategy
Skills for Care has launched a Workforce Development Strategy to help create a capable, confident and skilled adult social care workforce across England.
The strategy, developed in partnership with employers, key partners and the Department of Health recognises that the 1.6 million people who work in the sector are one of the most valuable assets in social care.
The Government’s Vision for Adult Social Care: Capable Communities and Active Citizens emphasised that people have an important part to play in taking forward the reform programme, people with the right skills working in the right places. The Workforce Development Strategy supports employers in developing a workforce that is equipped to achieve greater personalisation.
The strategy also offers clear deliverables to support workforce commissioning, planning and development to meet the new vision and priorities for adult social care.
The implementation of this strategy to meet the vision will be led by those working in the sector, their employers and employer-led organisations by people who use services, carers and by those wider assets in neighbourhoods and communities which contribute to make it a reality.
Speaking at the launch Care Services Minister, Paul Burstow MP, said:
“Within social care, the workforce is our most valuable asset and we have much to be proud of, with 1.6 million dedicated workers providing services that transform lives.’
“This Workforce Development Strategy will help support employers to develop a workforce that is equipped to achieve more personalised services.
“Recruiting and retaining a high quality workforce that is skilled, flexible and innovative is the essential foundation on which excellent social care rests”
Skills for Care Chair Professor David Croisdale-Appleby announced the creation of a Workforce Development Fund to help frontline employers train their staff to meet the deliverables in the strategy.
“The Workforce Development Fund is a clear indication of the Department of Health’s and our support for frontline employers to create a capable, confident and skilled workforce which will be absolutely critical if we are to offer high quality support to people who use services and carers in our communities” says Professor Croisdale-Appleby.
National Care Association CEO Sheila Scott OBE, launched the ‘Adult Social Care Workforce – Recruitment and Retention Strategy’ developed by employers for employers and endorsed by the Care Providers Alliance. Sheila chaired the Department of Health’s Recruitment & Retention working group and the strategy aims to tackle one of the biggest obstacles to effective workforce development across all part of the sector.
The Workforce Development Strategy can be downloaded at www.skillsforcare.org.uk/wds
and the Recruitment and Retention Strategy can be downloaded at www.skillsforcare.org.uk/recruitmentandretentionstrategy
