£1 million investment in social care training

Voluntary organisations across Scotland’s social care sector are to benefit from a £1 million investment in staff training from the Scottish Government.

Minister for Children and Young People Aileen Campbell announced a total of 63 organisations will receive a share of the funding from the Voluntary Sector Development Fund (VSDF). The money will be used to develop staff and continue raising standards across the sector. Recipients of the 2011/12 fund deliver services such as care home support for adults, guidance with housing issues and care at home assistance for vulnerable people.

Ms Campbell said:

“The voluntary sector plays a huge part in the delivery of high quality social care and this funding will make a real difference to the organisations receiving it.

“The Scottish Government’s ambition is for Scotland to have the very best in social services and for that to happen we need confident, competent and valued staff. This funding will support ongoing workforce development across the sector and ensure we consistently provide the best of care to those who need it.”

Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said:

“This funding will really help people working in voluntary sector organisations to get the qualifications they need for their registration with the Scottish Social Services Council. A skilled and trained workforce promotes trust and confidence that they can do the job and is a key step towards the ongoing drive to provide people who use social services and their carers and families with the quality of service and care that they need.”

For a full list of the organisation receiving funding from the VSDF 2011/12 go to: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/01/16100656