The Care Minister has reiterated a government pledge to establish a fair pay agreement for care professionals as he reached out to services regarding “operational resilience” this winter. The Minister of State for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Stephen Kinnock, wrote a letter this week to local authorities and adult social...
New whitepaper outlines ‘first steps to fixing social care’
A new social care whitepaper has been published which sets out the “blueprint” for addressing the “severe challenges” faced by the sector. Released yesterday (17th September 2024), the whitepaper has been published by homecare technology specialist Birdie and includes insights from social care leaders and experts from across the sector. Entitled ‘Ready to Care:...
Skills for Care is driving change with their new workforce strategy campaign
Skills for Care’s latest campaign focuses on encouraging the care sector to implement its new workforce strategy. The new ‘Driving change in social care’ campaign is running throughout September to promote the ‘Workforce Strategy for Adult Social Care’, which was launched in July 2024 to improve working conditions in care and help create a...
How to Support World Alzheimer’s Month
September is World Alzheimer’s Month, a global campaign aimed at raising awareness, challenging the stigma, and addressing the issues surrounding dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. With dementia affecting nearly one million people in the UK alone, this month provides a crucial opportunity to show support for those living with the condition, their families, and caregivers....
The Benefits and Costs of eLearning
Methods for staff training have evolved significantly in recent years. Many assume new is always better, and a more digital approach to training certainly offers numerous benefits. However, this also comes with its own set of challenges. Before you make any decisions about how to train your staff, let’s look at both the advantages...
What’s Changing with the Care Certificate?
Here’s how the DHSC changes will affect the Care Certificate and how to train your new recruits....
Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training: Quick Guide
First Response Training is one of the first training providers in the country to offer the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism....
Statutory and Mandatory Care Training Guide
Skills for Care recently published their Statutory and mandatory training guide for adult social care employers. Here’s our brief summary of what employers need to know:...
World Alzheimer’s Month amplifies voices
September is World Alzheimer’s Month, an international awareness campaign that takes place every year, with 21st September designated as World Alzheimer’s Day. Led by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), the annual campaign was devised to bring everyone together to raise awareness of dementia and to try to breakdown the stigma and tackle the discrimination that...
Health and safety law turns 50
The UK’s landmark health and safety law – the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 – turned 50 this summer. The world-leading health and safety law received Royal Assent on 31st July 1974 – which is now just over half a century ago. A former Chief Executive and Senior Inspector from the...
IOSH calls for focus on ‘looking after people at work’
Responding to the King’s Speech last month, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) welcomed plans to strengthen workers’ rights and urged a “greater focus more generally on looking after people at work.” IOSH’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Ruth Wilkinson, penned a blog post following the King’s Speech in the House...
Care workforce supply and demand remains ‘key issue’
Skills for Care published their latest data on The size and structure of the adult social care workforce in England in July. The annual report forms a key chapter in ‘The state of the adult social care sector and workforce in England’ report, which is published in October each year, and demonstrates workforce supply...
Statutory and Mandatory Training: Skills for Care’s new guide
Skills for Care have published a new guide on statutory and mandatory training, which are both key aspects of any care worker induction. Statutory training is training that is required by law or by a statutory body, such as the Care Quality Commission (CQC) or Ofsted, in order to ensure care providers and their...
New Workforce Strategy for adult social care a ‘call to action’
The new national Workforce Strategy for adult social care in England has been described as a “call to action” which provides a “long-term vision” for the sector. The sector-led Workforce Strategy has been developed by Skills for Care in collaboration with other social care bodies and stakeholders, including the Care Quality Commission (CQC), care...
Reforming Mental Health Act a ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity’
A leading mental health charity has called the new government’s pledge to reform the Mental Health Act a “once-in-a-generation opportunity.” Responding to the King’s Speech, national charity Mind said that plans announced within it to modernise the Mental Health Act 1983 were “a welcome first step in tackling the nation’s mental health crisis.” The...