"Talk to any employer, or person who draws on care and support, and they will tell you that the people who work in social care are undoubtedly the sector’s biggest asset".
As an important new call for evidence launches, Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care and Oonagh Smyth, Chief Executive of Skills for Care, set out their united view of an amazing workforce and its future potential in their latest blog.
Making the most of our people
We are a people focused service, so establishing and maintaining strong relationships with care workers and supporting them in the attainment of high skill levels will always be the foundation of outstanding care.
These personal and professional relationships also have to work both ways, where people working in care can achieve their full potential, and, just as importantly, feel valued as they deliver high-quality care in our communities.
So that’s why we are asking employers, people who draw on care and support and anyone interested in supporting that process to submit evidence to the Department of Health and Social Care’s call for evidence for a ‘care workforce pathway’ for adult social care careers.
The insights we gather will help us develop that pathway and establish what’s needed to embed it, so it becomes a recognised benchmark for career development across social care.
It will help us think about the essential knowledge, skills, values and behaviours needed for someone to work effectively in adult social care. It will also look at how we can better signpost career opportunities and progression routes across the system.
Help us build on our learning so far
We already know access to career-long learning and development opportunities improves quality of care offered, access to other care roles and boosts workforce retention. Adding your voice to this call for evidence will help us enhance all these things.
A clear workforce pathway, based on feedback from across the care sector, can only empower people working in care to develop themselves and their careers in a positive learning environment. The pathway will support them to gain new skills, access learning and development that meets their needs at different points in their working lives and progress careers in a way that meets their aspirations, whatever they may be.
We believe a social care workforce pathway can set out universal definitions of roles that employers, and those working in the sector, can recognise and map their own roles onto.
The first priority is to focus on the care worker role and make sure it offers a clear career pathway with the necessary training and support for progression to new or more senior roles. This, we believe, will help to increase recognition of social care as a viable and rewarding profession.
It's so important this pathway builds on what works and draws on the experiences of all those working in care to enhance the experiences of all those we support.
We really encourage all of you involved in delivering or accessing social care to make sure your voices are heard as we begin to develop the training and career progression of tomorrow. It’s your chance to influence the future of social care in a really direct way and help us meet the hopes and dreams of all the people who work in this amazing profession.
Government sets out next steps to support social care
Building on the People at the Heart of Care white paper, the Government has set out plans to further digitise the social care sector and bolster the workforce in its latest policy paper, Next steps to put People at the Heart of Care.
Alongside the plan, the Better Care Fund framework will ensure at least £16.8 billion is spent to make sure people receive the right care in the right place at the right time.
Plans will support the Prime Minister’s ambition to cut waiting lists by reducing pressure on urgent and emergency care and freeing up beds for those who need them.
People who receive care, staff and providers will benefit from a refreshed plan to bolster the adult social care workforce, speed up discharge from hospital and accelerate the use of technology in the care sector over the next two years.
The update builds on commitments outlined in the People at the Heart of Care white paper, published in December 2021, to support career progression in the sector and make sure those who receive care get it in the right place at the right time. Find out more.
2 comments
Comment by Anthony rainford posted on
We keep on having papers regarding social care. We know there are a lot of social workers on part time. It is obvious that until the pay of social carers is improved dramatically the shortage of carers will continue and not change over night.
Comment by Michael Cook posted on
Also on the same day:
Frail and vulnerable people will go without the care they need, council chiefs are warning, after ministers in England set out funding plans for care.
A decision to hold back half of £500m promised to help plug staff shortages has been criticised by adult social care directors.