Jim Thomas is unconvinced AI and robotics will result in a smaller social care workforce. "Horse manure has convinced me AI and robotics will help the social care workforce get bigger, more skillful and better paid." Intrigued? Read on!
It's Learning Disability Week (19-25 June). This year, the aim is to show the world the incredible things people with learning disabilities can achieve, smashing misconceptions and shining a light on the stigma and misunderstanding many still face everyday.
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.
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...
Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, Deborah Sturdy, and Skills for Care CEO, Oonagh Smyth, look at the progress being made to create a national voluntary framework to support the safe and effective delegation of healthcare interventions to the social care workforce.
Being an unpaid carer during a global pandemic takes its toll, as does its aftermath. The impact is not just physical and emotional, it’s financial too. From speaking with her networks of unpaid carers, Fatima Khan-Shah knows these issues are front and centre of their minds during this year’s Carers Week.
One of the reasons, if not the main inspiration, Deborah Sturdy accepted the post of Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care had been her desire to honour, support and encourage this country's amazing care profession through some very challenging times. Read her latest blog, marking a day of reflection and remembrance for social care.
"I believe social care exists to support people to live healthy, meaningful lives. This requires government commitment for the long term and sustained investment in the future we are wanting to build.", explains Think Local Act Personal's Clenton Farquharson MBE in his latest blog on social care reform.
Racism and micro-aggression have no place in the workplace, yet many minority ethnic nurses and healthcare professionals report experiences of discrimination. Care colleague, Irene Ibanda, has made it her mission to promote diversity and inclusion across the field so that future generations can get on with the important job of caring, without fears about prejudice.
Posting a blog about the social care workplace race equality standard (WRES) during Black History Month gives this endeavour particular resonance. Four weeks of recognition, celebration and awareness raising of black culture helps us appreciate its incredible contribution to the cultural richness of our world. Our workplaces have benefited too, but not always at the individual level.