Information and support from Skills for Care
Throughout September, we’re focusing on ‘Driving change in social care’ and looking at how the recently launched ‘Workforce Strategy for Adult Social Care’ can help to build a sustainable, skilled and motivated workforce capable of providing high-quality care into the future.
The campaign will run across our website, social media and other communications channels. We’ll share insight and resources to increase understanding on how the Strategy can help organisations looking to recruit and retain more staff, improve their training and development opportunities and collaborate to support the transformational change needed across the sector.
Find out more on our campaign landing page. You can also stay connected with the campaign on social media using #ASCWorkforceStrategy
Recruitment support
International recruitment resources
Recruiting from overseas is one way to widen your talent pool and find skilled staff. International recruitment must always be carried out in an ethical and legal manner, which is why we’ve created a range of resources to help employers navigate the regulatory requirements whilst providing a supportive welcome to new starters from abroad.
Developing your workforce
Funding scheme for adult social care learning and development launched
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched the learning and development support programme for the financial year 2024 to 2025.
Eligible adult social care employers in England can claim staff training costs from the Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS). The LDSS is available for non-regulated care staff, including deputy and Care Quality Commission-registered managers and agency staff, within the adult social care workforce.
Information on the scheme which includes guidance on eligibility, the course list and the process can be found on the DHSC website.
The Workforce Development Fund 2024-25
The Workforce Development Fund (WDF) is open to organisations that provide adult social care services and directly employ care staff within England. The fund is being scaled down in 2024-25 and it will only be possible to claim WDF for qualifications and apprenticeships which started on or before 31 March 2024 and which will complete by 31 March 2025. This year, WDF will be distributed exclusively by Skills for Care.
Help us develop new digital self-assessment tools
We’re developing two digital self-assessment tools for adult social care, to support people in identifying what learning, training and resources they need when using technology in the delivery of care:
Digital Skills Framework self-assessment for individuals
Digital ‘What Good Looks Like’ self-assessment for organisation
We’re holding interactive user groups in October and November for people working in adult social care to come together and help review and develop our self-assessments.
⇨ Find out more and get involved
Support for leaders and managers
Digital leadership programme
The Digital Leadership Programme empowers social care managers to integrate digital technology into their services and improve care quality. The four-day online course covers everything leaders need to know to advance in the digital age. With September’s cohort sold out, the November cohort is now open for booking.
⇨ Find out more and book your place
Watch our webinars
Our registered manager webinars cover a range of topics to support managers and their services. You can join live or watch a recording whenever is convenient for you. They are 30-60 minutes long and are supported with bite-size resources and additional information. Our recent webinars include leading effective teams, providing evidence to the CQC, maximising recruitment and retention, digitising social care, plus many more.
⇨ Take a look at our recorded and upcoming webinars
Workforce intelligence
Flagship workforce data report launch event
Thursday 10 October 2024 | 09:30 - 11:30 | Zoom
Join us as we mark the launch of our ‘The state of the adult social care sector and workforce in England, 2024’ report. We’ll share this year’s headline findings and an update on the progress of the Workforce Strategy for adult social care that we launched in July. You’ll also hear from a range of voices from across the sector.
⇨ Register for the launch event
Help us measure take up of new Care Certificate qualification
We're helping the Department of Health and Social Care to measure take up of the new Level 2 Care Certificate qualification. A new question is now live on the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) when providing information about your members of staff. It allows you to confirm if they have completed, started or not begun the qualification.
⇨ Login or create an ASC-WDS account
Continued access to funding for training through ASC-WDS
The Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) now gives access to two training funds this year; the Workforce Development Fund (WDF) and the new Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS). An eligibility checker is built into ASC-WDS and lets you know exactly what you need to update in order to meet requirements.
⇨ Login to ASC-WDS to find the eligibility checker
Regulated professional workforce
Exploring dilemmas and solutions to strengthen the ASYE
Tuesday 15 October 2024 | 10:30-15:00 | Online
At this virtual event we’ll explore some of the complexities and dilemmas of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) journey that newly qualified social workers (NQSWs), assessors and ASYE teams may experience. We’ll be looking at scenarios and working on solutions to strengthen the ASYE.
Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Catherine Emmer De Albuquerque Green, Director of Research and Head of Engagement, Institute of Ethics in AI at University of Oxford. Catherine will talk about the ethical use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) within social work and ASYE.
Events
Providing impactful feedback in your CQC assessment
Tuesday 24 September | 14:00 – 15:00 | Zoom
Providing impactful feedback in your CQC assessment has never been more important as this now directly impacts your CQC rating. Join us for a conversation with Louie Werth, Director of Care Research, who will share practical advice on how to enhance your current feedback approaches, how to gather good feedback from the people you support, family, staff and partners and how to prepare your staff for interviews with CQC inspectors, plus much more.
Registered manager webinar: Digital social care records
Thursday 26 September | 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom
This webinar co-hosted with Digital Care Hub, offers registered and frontline managers insights into digital social care records (DSCRs), their benefits, and key considerations. It also covers the NHS-TD ‘Clock is ticking’ campaign and provides information on available funding for digital transformation this financial year.
⇨ Find out more and book your place
Successful workforce planning seminar
Wednesday 16 October 2024 | 09:30 - 15:00 | Zoom
Join our seminar for managers of adult social care services getting started with workforce planning or looking to develop the plans they already have in place. By joining the seminar, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge, tools and resources to develop a plan, and leave with at least 20% of your plan complete.
Improving your CQC rating seminar
Tuesday 22 October | 10:00 – 15:30 | Zoom
This interactive seminar is for services who have fallen below CQC standards and are looking for practical ways to recover and achieve a Good rating. Explore the benefits of making improvements, how to overcome barriers, how to action and evidence improvements and how to involve others in helping you to improve.
Being prepared for CQC assessment seminar
Wednesday 11 December | 10:00 – 15:30 | Zoom
With the changes to CQC assessment, this seminar brings together frontline managers to learn about the step-by-step ways to be ready to evidence that your service meets CQC expectations to achieve a Good or Outstanding rating. Discover practical ways to prepare for assessment and evidence the quality care you’re providing.