Social care skills organisations complete merger

Skills for Care, and the National Skills Academy for Social Care (the Skills Academy), have completed their merger joining forces this week.

The merger of the sector skills council for the adult social care workforce in England and the membership organisation dedicated to developing leadership at all levels means 17,000 adult social care employers will now have one stop to access support to develop the skills and knowledge of their workers from day one of induction through to senior management roles.

The merged organisation will combine the expertise of both teams to create a stronger offer for employers in the sector covering the leadership, learning and development needs of the sector’s 1.5 million workers at all levels, from front line staff to senior leaders.  Both brands will remain, and existing Members of the National Skills Academy will retain their membership within the new organisation.

The Chief Executive will be Sharon Allen, currently Chief Executive of Skills for Care, with a Chair of the merged organisation set to be appointed in November 2014.

Sharon Allen said: “We are delighted that the merger which employers have been very keen to see has been completed successfully, and I am looking forward to moving forward with an exciting new joint work programme.

“There is no doubt given the level of expertise we have in these two employer-led organisations that we will be stronger together – bringing a cohesive offer to the social care sector, and those that work in it.”

“The combination of the leadership expertise brought by the National Skills Academy’s programmes and research with Skills for Care’s focus on the workforce development needs of the wider social care workforce will create an organisation that will become the go-to team on sector workforce and leadership issues.”

Glen Mason, Director of Social Care Leadership and Performance at the Department of Health, who has supported the merger said: “This merger has come at a crucial time as the quality of the workforce, their skills and knowledge, backed by quality leadership, are all central to the success of social care reform.”

“Together, the National Skills Academy for Social Care and Skills for Care will be able to combine their strengths to support employers to deliver more for the sector and people who need care and support.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the merged organisation in the coming months and years to deliver the Care Act 2014 learning and development agenda.”