Social care management training scheme celebrates its graduates

The National Skills Academy for Social Care’s latest Graduate Management Training Scheme came to an end this week, with a glittering graduation event to celebrate the achievements of all of its trainees.

This pioneering scheme grows much needed talent for the sector by taking individual graduates interested in a career in adult social care through an extensive learning programme, including study towards the Institute of Leadership and Management Level 4 qualification, and a placement with a host organisation in the sector. Hosts this year have included providers, umbrella bodies, and local authorities.

All 22 trainees that joined the scheme one year ago were welcomed to a champagne reception and dinner event in London, joined by their Placement Supervisors, mentors and key people from the adult social care sector.

Despite the inevitable pressures for everyone working in adult social care in the past twelve months, the trainees have thrived in their respective organisations. And many have been asked to stay on in permanent roles, which illustrates the high level of talent present in this latest cohort of trainees.

Congratulating the graduates on their successful completion of the programme, Jo Cleary, Chair of the National Skills Academy, said in her keynote speech at the event:

“We are grateful to all the employers and placement supervisors who helped make this scheme such a success.”

As our graduates enter the world of work, it will be all about the relationships they make with others, and I urge them to ask for help when they need it, apologise when things go wrong, keep learning, and make time for themselves. Above all, keep having fun, and laugh!”

It is so important that we keep talent coming into social care, and to sustain this excellent management training scheme.”

Andy Williamson, Graduate Training Scheme Manager, also added his praise to the graduates:

“It is amazing to compare the graduates we recruited a year ago to those leaving the Scheme now.

They have grown so much in their skills, knowledge and confidence and, as they look back on the year, each of them can be really proud of the substantial impact they have made within their host organisations.”

Debbie Sorkin, National Skills Academy Chief Executive, also said:

“I am delighted that all 22 of the graduate trainees that started this scheme with us have graduated. It is testament to the high quality of the programme, coupled with the excellence of the placements which our hosts provided for them.

This programme illustrates the need for an avenue by which talent can be spotted and cultivated, to ensure that the social care sector has the right people with the right skills and qualities to lead at all levels.

We look forward to staying in touch with and supporting our graduates as they embark on leadership careers in social care.”

www.nsasocialcare.co.uk/programmes/graduate-scheme-internship-programme