"In difficult and uncertain times, it’s important to be thankful for the constancy of institutions and organisations supporting us through good times and bad", says Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, Deborah Sturdy in a special blog to mark the 75th anniversary of the NHS and the creation of the social care system.
This week is Carers Week (5-11 June) when Carers UK and others are seeking to raise awareness of the UK’s estimated 5.7 million unpaid carers looking after older, disabled or ill relatives or friends. We're delighted to welcome back unpaid carer representative and dedicated champion of their cause, Fatima Khan-Shah, with this personal take on Carers Week.
Building on the success of the NHS's volunteering initiative in healthcare settings, the Government has now expanded the scheme into social care - forming a joint NHS and Care Volunteer Responders Programme. Care providers can now ask volunteers to help people in their local areas...
It’s Carers Week (5-11 June), an opportunity to not only ‘recognise and support unpaid carers in the community’ (this year’s theme), but also reflect on our personal and professional relationships to caring.
"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 a 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...
After 30 years working in social care, ill health pushed Jim Thomas, former Head of Workforce Capacity at Skills for Care, into early retirement. While he recovers, he's using the time to gather and share people's stories of care - and also ponder how careers in care could become even more attractive propositions...
Young Carers Action Day aims to shine a light on the pressures and challenges young carers up to the age of 25 face on a daily basis. The UK-wide campaign is designed to raise public awareness of the incredible contribution they make to society. A mix of local and national initiatives are taking place across the country to help their voices be heard, as Carers Trust's Andy McGowan explains...
International Women’s Day is one of the most important awareness raising events of the year for Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, not least because around 80 percent of people working in the social care profession are women...
With the winter upon us, it’s more important than ever to protect ourselves and those we care for against COVID-19 and flu and get vaccinated. But how do we increase take-up among unpaid carers, a critical and highly valued group of people? Emily Holzhausen OBE, Carers UK, considers what more we can all do.
Looking for a meaningful career where you’ll be able to make a real difference to people’s lives every single day? Whether you’re new to care or you’ve got years of experience, this blog from a care home manager of homes specialising in dementia care is an inspiration.