Information and support from Skills for Care
It gives us great pleasure to announce that for the 4th year running, Care and Support West has been successful in our application to Skills for Care, to support Adult Social Care organisations in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire areas through the Workforce Development Fund Partnership.
If you have not yet registered to freely join the WDF Partnership and for information on how to claim from the fund, please contact Karen Holley email: karen.holley@careandsupportwest.com
Over the last few years, the WDF fund has helped support the training budget of many organisations and this year once again we have been allocated £70,000.00 to disperse.
This week we're pleased to announce that the 2023-24 Workforce Development Fund (WDF) is now open for applications.
The WDF supports the provision of high-quality care and the continuing professional development of staff across the adult social care sector by providing a contribution towards the costs of vocational learning. The fund allows employers to claim back money towards the costs of workers completing a broad range of adult social care qualifications, learning programmes and digital learning modules. You’ll find more information below.
To claim funding, you’ll need to meet criteria for adding your data to our Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS). We’ve included a useful checker within the ASC-WDS service to help you see if you’ve met the criteria. If you haven’t already, find out about the benefits of ASC-WDS and create your account today.
Additional webinar dates have been added for you to find out more about the Volunteer Responders programme and the volunteer support available to adult social care providers. The webinars are hosted by the Department of Health and Social Care and Royal Voluntary Service. You’ll hear about the programme, how to make a referral and have the opportunity to ask any questions. Various times and dates are available for the webinars.
Widen your talent pool
We have resources to help you employ people from a diverse range of backgrounds, including men, young people aged 16-17, people with disabilities and people with criminal records.
To find out more about employing and supporting people with disabilities, book your place at one of our Disability confident in action workshops. The free workshop explores the benefits of recruiting a diverse workforce, what inclusive recruitment practice looks like and how to put this in to action, specifically regarding disabilities.
Finding and keeping frontline staff
Join us for a live episode of ‘The care exchange’ podcast on Thursday 28 September to hear from Neil Eastwood, CEO and founder of Care Friends and author of Saving Social Care. He’ll be sharing lots of practical tips and advice on how you can find more of the best frontline care staff and how to keep the ones you have.
The 2023-24 Workforce Development Fund is now open
The Workforce Development Fund (WDF) 2023-24 is now open to adult social care employers in England to support the development of their staff at all levels.
This year the WDF will continue to provide additional support to registered managers and frontline managers as this is key to providing quality care and supporting the workforce. Enhanced funding will continue to be available for the completion of leadership and management qualifications, learning programmes and digital learning modules.
Money for training – individual employer funding is open
People who employ personal assistants can ask for money to pay for training to develop the knowledge and skills of their personal assistants. Money can also be requested to pay for training as an employer of personal assistants.
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. Applications can be submitted from now to 17:00 on 15 March 2023.
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism
A powerful animation about this training has been co-developed with autistic people and people with a learning disability to help people across health and social care understand why it’s important.
The consultation on the draft Oliver McGowan code of practice, which outlines how health and care providers who are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) can meet the legislative requirement introduced by the Health and Care Act 2022, closes on Tuesday 19 September 2023
Support for leaders and managers
Digital leadership programme 2023
This four-day virtual programme for registered managers and deputy managers of adult social care services is designed to build digital confidence and ability. It will help develop managers into digital leaders and will equip them with the insight to identify and embed digital technology in the delivery of care and support. The programme is delivered by Skills for Care in partnership with the National Care Forum.
⇨ Find out more and book your place
Get ready for the CQC Single Assessment Framework
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has announced they will commence the roll out of the Single Assessment Framework from November 2023 for adult social care providers. Ensure your service is prepared by exploring recommendations, practical examples and resources covering the 34 new Quality Statements in our inspection toolkit.
Updates to the Manager Induction Standards
We’ve reviewed and updated the Manager Induction Standards to better prepare new and aspiring managers to perform well in their role. They can be used as a tool to assess development and provide information on what areas a potential or new manager needs to develop further. They’ve been developed with a range of organisations to ensure they’re fit for purpose.
Individual employers and personal assistants workforce intelligence report 2022/23
We’ve updated our report and visualisation showing data from adult social care direct payments, personal health budget holders and other funding sources. The report has been updated to match this year’s Size and Structure report. It includes key figures about the size and profile of the personal assistant (PA) workforce, turnover rates, pay rates and other workforce information.
Our latest data shows that there were an estimated 130,000 PA filled posts and around 69,000 direct payment recipients employing their own staff.
ASC-WDS local authority (LA) return 2023
Every year, local authorities are required to complete a mandatory data return via the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS). We’re commissioned by DHSC to collect this data as part of the mandatory single data list for local government.
The submission window for this year is from 11 September to 13 October 2023. We strongly recommend that you start preparations for your return as soon as you can.
⇨ Watch a virtual support session for help
Regulated professional workforce
Celebrating nursing in social care – Eastern region
Wednesday 18 October | 10:00-14:30
We've been running a series of face-to-face events across England which are specifically for registered nurses and nursing associates. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with other nurses and nursing associates in your region, share good practice and contribute to professional discussion and debate, as well as taking the time to recognise the contribution you make. The events will be attended by Deborah Sturdy, the Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, who is keen to hear your views.
⇨ Book your place
Nursing associate and student nursing associate national community of practice
Are you a nursing associate or a student nursing associate based in social care? We’re looking for you to be part of our national community of practice network which will support you to connect with peers, learn and share good practice and develop skills for reflective discussion and leadership. Come along to our next virtual meeting on Wednesday 6 September 2023 to find out more.
The power of registered manager networks
Thursday 14 September 2023 | 10:30-12:00 | Zoom
This event is aimed at managers from adult social care services who don’t already attend a local network. You’ll learn about how the networks are run, the benefits of attending, and how we continue to raise the profile of registered managers. The event will also include taster sessions where we will talk about topics, issues and challenges that matter to you.
Being prepared for CQC inspection seminar
Wednesday 20 September | 10:00 – 15:30 | Zoom
With new inspection changes upon us shortly, 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 your service is providing.
Registered manager webinars
Involving people in care planning
Thursday 21 September 2023 | 10:00 – 11:00
This webinar is delivered in partnership with The Outstanding Society and will provide insight into how other adult social care services involve people in different parts of the care planning process, ensuring that people’s needs continue to be met through regular reviews and support. We will also explore how Outstanding rated services directly involve individuals to ensure a service delivers outcomes focused person-centred care.
Reflections on the mental health workforce
Kathy Roberts, CEO of the Association of Mental Health Providers, shares an update on their project mapping the mental health workforce.
Settling international employees into your organisation
We spoke with care providers about how they help to settle staff recruited from abroad into their workplace and their new home, as part of supporting a positive workplace culture.
How can reward and recognition support a positive workplace culture
Neil Eastwood, Founder of Care Friends, explores the opportunity to show more gratitude in the workplace and what options are available to employers to improve in this area.
What data can tell you about developing a positive workplace culture
Monitoring workforce and sector data can provide useful insights about developing a positive workplace culture. Find out more about how you can use data to help develop a positive culture in your organisation.
In our latest #GoodNewsFriday story, we say well done to Julie Shield, Registered Manager, Abbeyvale Care Centre part of the National Care Group, who received an MBE earlier this year for her services to social care.