A new competency framework has been launched to support behaviour change practice in the adult social care sector. Skills for Care partnered with the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) and people working across care to develop the new Behaviour Change Competencies Framework for the Adult Social Care Workforce. The workforce development charity says...
Report reveals adult social care vacancy rate at lowest level in a decade
The latest report from Skills for Care reveals that the adult social care vacancy rate in England is at its lowest level in a decade as the workforce grows. Skills for Care published their latest Size and structure of the adult social care sector and workforce in England report last month. The annual report...
LeDeR 2024: Over 1 in 2 adults with a learning disability die before 65
The latest LeDeR reveals that more than 50% of adults with a learning disability die before they reach the age of 65. The annual Learning from Lives and Deaths – people with a learning disability and autistic people report (LeDeR) was published in July 2026 and reviewed deaths recorded between 2021 and 2024. It...
Almost a third of individuals experience mental health issues
A multi-country mental health survey has revealed that wellbeing continues to decline despite increasing public awareness. The 2026 AXA Mind Health Report found that more than 3 in 10 individuals have at least one mental health issue, while only 4 in 10 workplaces have mental health policies in place, highlighting the gap between individual...
HSE reveals 126 employees died at work last year
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published the latest annual work-related fatalities for Great Britain. The latest statistics show that 126 people died while at work in 2025-26. In conjunction with the annual release of their statistics for work-related fatalities, the HSE has also published new analysis comparing the level and trend of...
Parents warned over AI child sexual abuse fears
Parents in the UK have been warned against putting images of their children on public display online amid growing fears about AI child sexual abuse. The National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) issued an alert and guidance for parents and carers earlier this month to make them aware of the...
Record number of children receiving support for SEND
The latest figures reveal that the number of children receiving support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England has reached a new record high. Records show that, between January 2025 and January 2026, the number of children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP) rose sharply – by 12.5%. This is...
NSPCC warns about leaving children home alone ahead of summer holidays
The NSPCC says it has seen an increase in reports about children being left home alone. The national children’s charity says that contacts to its Helpline from adults concerned about children being left home alone or unsupervised increased by 11% over the last financial year, with concerns peaking during the school summer holidays. The...
10% rise in child protection concerns in sport
The NSPCC has reported a 10% rise in child protection concerns in sports. The national children’s charity said its confidential Helpline dealt with nearly 700 contacts from adults who had child protection concerns relating to children and young people taking part in sporting activities in 2025-26. This represented a 10% increase on the previous...
FRT delivers Oliver’s Training to over 100,000 learners
A leading national training provider has reached a major milestone in their delivery of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism. First Response Training (FRT), which was one of the first training providers in the UK to gain approval to rollout this mandatory programme, has now successfully delivered Oliver’s Training to...
Working lives study reveals ‘widely distributed issues and harms’
The landmark Working lives research study has revealed “widely distributed issues and harms” affecting the national workforce. The independent research project was first commissioned in 2022 by the former Office of the Director of Labour Market Enforcement (ODLME) to review labour market compliance in relation to minimum wage enforcement, employment agency standards, gangmaster licensing...
First Response Training staff walk over 1 million steps for autism
First Response Training (FRT) have raised over £1,400 and clocked up over 1 million steps to raise awareness of autism and fund vital research and support. The leading national training provider, which delivers a range of training on autism, neurodiversity and learning disabilities, supported the annual Walk for Autism fundraising challenge which encourages participants...
First Response Training returns to deliver ‘engaging and accessible’ training for local community group
National training provider First Response Training has delivered another “enjoyable, engaging and accessible” first aid training session for The Monday Night Club. The leading provider first delivered a free first aid training session for members of the Worcester-based social club run by and for adults with a learning disability and autistic people in May...
New Health Bill promises ‘safer and faster care’
The government has pledged that its new Health Bill will deliver ‘safer, quicker and more accurate healthcare’. A press release from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England explains that the NHS Modernisation Bill will introduce two major changes to join up fragmented health information and cut bureaucracy. The first...
Skills for Care refreshes Leadership Qualities Framework
Skills for Care have published a refreshed version of their Leadership Qualities Framework (LQF) to support great leadership in the adult social care sector. The updated framework defines the behaviours, skills and mindsets that define great leadership in adult social care. Importantly, it is aligned to the Care Workforce Pathway and so is designed...