Skills for Care’s learning campaign returns for 2024

Skills for Care’s successful learning campaign is returning for 2024 to inspire social care workers to ‘Keep learning for success.’ The campaign first ran in January – March 2023 to highlight how ongoing learning and development is “absolutely vital” for social care staff at all levels, and is being repeated this January and February....

Training key to retaining care staff

Skills for Care has published its annual report into the state of the adult social care sector, and it reveals key factors for retaining care staff, including access to training and development. The annual State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England report covers the period from April 2022 to March...

Stress linked to third of social care sick days

New research has found that just under a third of sickness absences among social care workers are linked to stress and poor wellbeing. Data collated by the British Psychological Society (BPS) reveals that 30% of the 500,021 sick days taken by social workers were due to mental health issues such as stress and work-related...

Skills for Care campaign supports social care recruitment

The latest campaign from Skills for Care is aimed at supporting and diversifying social care recruitment. The workforce development charity wants to support employers in the adult social care sector to #RecruitRight with their latest campaign, after data they published in July revealed that vacancy rates across the sector remain high. Skills for Care’s...

Annual report shows social care workforce is growing again

Skills for Care have published their annual report into the state of the adult social care workforce in England, and it reveals that it has started growing again but will continue to face challenges posed by an ageing population. The Size and Structure of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England report...

Good Care Month celebrates valuable work of care sector

July is Good Care Month in the UK, designed to raise the profile of the social care sector, celebrate its workforce and highlight career and development opportunities. Spearheaded by the Hertfordshire Care Providers Association (HCPA), the annual awareness campaign puts the spotlight on the good care provided by social care workers every day throughout...

Developing a positive workplace culture in social care

A new campaign from Skills for Care will support teams in the social care sector to develop a positive workplace culture. Running throughout June and July, the campaign will see the national workforce development charity provide information and resources explaining what exactly is meant by workplace culture, and how to create a positive one....

Skills for Care are #CelebratingSocialCare this April

This month, we’re joining Skills for Care in Celebrating Social Care and recognising the vital work carried out by the sector. The national workforce development charity is celebrating the remarkable people who work in social care and is encouraging others to join in their celebrations throughout April. They want to shine the spotlight on...

New framework for supporting LGBTQ+ people in later life

Skills for Care have released a new learning framework to help care workers support LGBTQ+ people in later life. Commissioned and funded by Skills for Care, the new framework has been developed by the “innovative partnership” of Dr Trish Hafford-Letchfield of the University of Strathclyde and the Pride in Ageing programme at the LGBT...

Annual social care report reveals impact of pandemic

The latest report into adult social care serves as a “stark reminder” that sector bosses face “significant recruitment challenges” with vacancy rates steadily rising since the pandemic. Skills for Care have published their annual report on ‘The State of the adult social care sector and workforce in England.’ The report, which is based on...

Skills for Care launch Day of Remembrance and Reflection

Skills for Care have joined with 20 other social care bodies in England to launch the new Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection. Supported by the Department of Health and Social Care and the Minister of State for Social Care, Helen Whately, the memorial day will honour the work of the adult social...

Social care reforms to be announced

The Prime Minister is set to announce long-awaited reforms to the social care system in England today (Tuesday 7th September 2021). Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to present his plans to reform social care in England to MPs and will also announce extra funds to help the NHS deal with the Covid-19 pandemic....

Self-isolation exemption for care staff poses ‘significant risks’

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) has warned that a new exemption from self-isolation rules for double-jabbed care staff poses “very significant risks.” In a press release, the directors’ body said the policy shift, which means that frontline adult social care staff who have received two doses of a coronavirus vaccine...

Skills for Care launch new strategy for ‘widescale change’

Skills for Care have launched their new three-year strategy today (Wednesday 4th August 2021), which sets out their future direction as they support the social care sector to “drive forward widescale change,” and establish a national career pathway. The independent workforce development charity has developed the new strategy to help it work towards its...

New awards for outstanding practice in adult social care

New awards are being launched to recognise outstanding contributions in adult social care. The Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, Professor Deborah Sturdy, has announced new gold and silver awards to acknowledge the exceptional efforts of the social care workforce in England and their range of skills, expertise and compassion. The awards are the...