Skills for Care have published a new webpage, specification and FAQ guide to the new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification. The new Social Care Certificate qualification, which is due to launch in June of this year, is based on the existing Care Certificate standards. The specification for it has been developed by...
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...
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...
Care providers face ‘catastrophic shortages’ as jab deadline looms
Union leaders warn that care providers could face “catastrophic” staff shortages if the government refuses to scrap its deadline of 11th November for all care workers in England to be double-jabbed. The current deadline means that any care home workers or volunteers who have not yet taken up the vaccine must receive their first...
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...
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 offers guidance on vaccination for care workers
Skills for Care is providing resources to help employers in the care sector to engage with their workers and provide guidance about wellbeing and Covid-19 vaccinations. It comes as the government announced that they are planning to bring forward regulations that will make Covid-19 vaccination a condition of employment for those working in CQC-regulated...
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...
Skills for Care helps develop new leading centre for social care
Skills for Care have announced that they will be partnering with the University of Birmingham to develop a new centre for adult social care. The aim of the new IMPACT (Improving Adult Care Together) centre, which will be the first of its kind in the UK, is to put evidence into practice in order...
Call to care campaign launches
The public are being urged to consider and apply for both short and long-term work opportunities in the adult social care sector as well as volunteer roles. The Department of Health and Social Care have launched the next phase in their national recruitment campaign for the sector, which features television, digital and radio advertising...
Funding boost to support social care sector
The adult social care sector is set to receive a £269 million funding boost to help protect and support staff and those receiving care. The funds will be split, with a new £120 million fund to enable local authorities to boost workforce capacity and a £149 million grant system to support lateral flow device...
Skills for Care investigates key issues affecting BAME workers
A recent survey from Skills for Care has found that adult social care workers from black, Aisan and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds face significant challenges with racism, progression, representation and health. People from BAME backgrounds account for 1 in 5 of the adult social care workforce in England, but despite playing a crucial role...
Adult social care workforce grows by 9%, new report shows
A new report from Skills for Care has shown that the number of adult social care jobs in England has increased by 9% since 2013. The annual ‘Size and structure of the adult social care workforce in England’ report found that there were 130,000 (or 9%) more jobs in the sector in the year...