Skills for Care Newsletter
Throughout October we’ve been highlighting how access to accurate data about the adult social care sector has the power to drive positive change. You can continue to find information about the campaign on our website, including the benefits of using the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS). Why not follow us on our dedicated X channel (formerly Twitter), for regular insights about the adult social care sector and workforce.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Adult Social Care Workforce Survey which has now closed. There was an excellent response and the Department of Health and Social Care intend to publish findings from the first wave of the survey in early 2024. The findings will be used by Government to support evidence-based decisions on policies to support care employers and commissioners to develop the adult social care workforce and build its capacity.
An NHS and Care Volunteer Responders webinar for domiciliary care providers is taking place at 11:00-12:00 on Thursday 2 November. On the webinar, you’ll hear about the programme and what volunteer support is available to domiciliary care providers, find out about the new volunteer roles being piloted and how to make a referral. You will also be able to ask any questions. The webinars are hosted by Royal Voluntary Service, the charity delivering the Volunteer Responders programme. Sign up to the Domiciliary Care Providers webinar.
International recruitment: Managing sponsor duties
Thursday 2 November 2023 I 10:00 - 11:00
Skills for Care has partnered with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to deliver a series of webinars on international recruitment for organisations of all sizes, who are looking to expand their workforce internationally. This session will focus on the sponsorship licence process, providing clarity on the eligibility requirements and how to apply for a licence.
Top tips for retention
Once you’ve recruited a strong workforce it’s important to keep them. Our top tips include ideas, case studies and resources to help you reduce turnover.
You can improve retention in a variety of ways including personal and professional development, leading in a supportive and compassionate way and ensuring your workplace is a positive environment to work in.
DBS bite-sized videos
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are an essential tool when recruiting safely and fairly. We’ve published a series of short videos, delivered by the DBS outreach team, to guide employers through how the process works and what to do if a DBS check takes longer than expected.
LGBTQ+ learning framework
Our learning framework for working with LGBTQ+ people in later life is intended to be used by social care employers, employees, training providers and others to build their own knowledge of LGBTQ+ issues.
Created in partnership with the University of Strathclyde and the LGBT Foundation, the framework supports colleagues’ understanding and can be used to create learning programmes which will allow teams to better support LGBTQ+ people in later life.
⇨ Find out more about the framework
Funding available to support learning and development
The Workforce Development Fund (WDF) 2023-24 is open to adult social care employers in England to support the development of staff and encourage retention. The fund allows you to claim back money towards the costs of paid staff completing a broad range of adult social care qualifications, learning programmes and digital learning modules. Sign up by 29 February 2024 to take advantage of the funding.
Ask for money for training - individual employer funding
People who employ personal assistants can ask for money to pay for training to develop the knowledge and skills of their personal assistants and themselves as an employer. This opportunity is open to people who are in receipt of a social care direct payment and those that use their own money to employ personal assistants. You can apply any time between now and 17:00 on 15 March 2024.
Support for leaders and managers
The Managers Conference 2024 – Tickets on sale now!
Come join us at The Managers Conference 2024 to share, learn and find solutions to the challenges you face on a daily basis, and help you and your teams provide the highest quality care. Topics include team working, diversity and inclusion, delivering outstanding care and digital social care.
A limited number of early bird tickets are available at £265 +VAT per ticket – this includes a networking evening with dinner and accommodation on the night of Monday 11 March, followed by breakfast and entry to the interactive conference, with lunch and refreshments on Tuesday 12 March
Preparing for the winter pressures ahead
Watch our previously recorded webinar for top tips on how to contingency plan for winter. With many of the same challenges remaining, including staffing and protecting people from outbreaks, the recommendations and practical resources that accompany this webinar will help you to crosscheck if you’re ready.
Wellbeing resource finder
It’s important to support the wellbeing of yourself and your colleagues to ensure a happy and healthy workplace. Our wellbeing resource finder is an easy way to find resources from trusted sources, covering subjects such as grief, mental health, physical wellbeing and resilience.
Enjoy benefits when you share your workforce data
Did you know that when you sign up to our Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) you gain access to our Benefits Bundle? Currently this includes offers such as 10% off Skills for Care’s eLearning modules, a year’s free access to the White’s Training eLearning platform and free courses with Caredemy. These are just some of the many benefits included as part of the Bundle.
⇨ Find out why else you should create your account today
Commission us to produce bespoke reports for your organisation
We recently published our annual ‘State of the adult social care sector and workforce in England’ report, which included a wide range of insights we produce from the data we gather from the sector. As well as producing publicly available reports, we can also help you to interpret adult social care data for your organisation.
Regulated professional workforce
Identifying placements for occupational therapy learners
Our popular ‘Optimising occupational therapy placements across social care’ guide explores the benefits, opportunities and practicalities of occupational therapy practice-based learning in social care settings.
If you’re an occupational therapy practitioner or a practice educator, it will help you to identify placement opportunities within the organisation and demonstrate how you and your team can plan, implement and sustain practice placement opportunities to support our future workforce
⇨ Find out more and download the guide
Nursing Live
Friday 10 - Saturday 11 November 2023 | 09:30 – 17:00 | Exhibition Centre Liverpool
Skills for Care will be at the upcoming Nursing Live event to represent nursing in social care. The event will bring thousands of nurses together to take part in peer-to-peer collaboration, interactive activities, observe demonstrations and masterclasses and more. You’ll have access to a wide range of self-care guidance and lifestyle resources designed specifically for nurses so you’ll get the chance to enhance your career, and boost your personal wellbeing, all under one roof.
⇨ Find out more and book your ticket
Winter wellbeing - help your team to thrive, not just survive this winter
Thursday 16 November | 13:00 – 14:00 | Zoom
This free event with The Outstanding Society will explore and evidence key strategies and wellbeing outcomes to help retain your team and satisfy the Care Quality Commission (CQC). It will also show you how wellness improves performance, job satisfaction and retention. The event is open to all regulated services regardless of rating.
National event for nominated individuals
Wednesday 29 November 2023 | 11:00 – 12:30 | Zoom
This event will focus on digital leadership and digital transformation. It will support you to develop your own digital strategies and help you identify ways to develop the digital capabilities and skills for your workforce. You’ll also discover more about our support and resources and our nominated individual networks in regional break-out discussions.
Being prepared for CQC inspection seminar
Tuesday 12 December | 10:00 – 15:30 | Zoom
With new inspection changes commencing later this year, this seminar brings together frontline managers to learn about the step-by-step ways to be ready to evidence that your service meets Care Quality Commission (CQC) expectations to achieve a Good or Outstanding rating. Discover practical ways to prepare for inspection and evidence the quality care you’re providing.
Registered manager webinars
I’m a technophobe, get me out of here – taking the fear out of digital for social care managers
Wednesday 8 November | 14:00 – 15:00 | Zoom
This webinar will provide registered managers with support and practical information that can help get them started on their digital journey. Our aim is to help everyone embrace technology and plan their digital journey, one step at a time. We’ll be joined by a panel of registered managers who will discuss their experiences and share their top tips.
⇨ Find out more and book your place
Medicines from the regulatory perspective
Tuesday 21 November 2023 | 10:00 – 11:00 | Zoom
This webinar, delivered in partnership with the CQC, will explore the regulations, best practice, advice and practical tools around medicines optimisation in all care settings. You’ll have an opportunity to shape the content of the webinar during registration, by identifying your priority topics from a list of common areas of concern in relation to medicine administration and management.