Information and support from Skills for Care
This week sees the launch of our latest campaign, ‘Driving change in social care’. It looks 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 include resources and information on how you can support the implementation of the Strategy, with blogs and articles from sector experts about the Strategy’s major themes and recommendations and why they matter. It will be running across our website, social media and other comms channels throughout September using the hashtag #ASCWorkforceStrategy
Recruitment support
Induction toolkit
A good induction can help new employees feel happy and settled in their role and promote a sense of belonging to your service and to working in the care sector. Our induction toolkit for social care managers will help you offer a robust induction to fully support new starters and ensure you create the right first impression.
There are checklists at each stage that provide lists of activities to consider, with signposts to resources and templates that you can tailor. The toolkit draws heavily on what providers across health and social care tell us works for them.
Developing your workforce
Get involved in the development of new digital self-assessment tools
Skills for Care is working in partnership with the Digital Care Hub, Partners in Care and Health, and Oxford Brookes to develop 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. The tools being developed are:
We’re holding a series of 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.
If you’d be interested in taking part, please follow the links above to find out more and register your interest.
Digital Skills eLearning modules
We’ve developed a suite of free-to-access ‘bitesize’ digital skills eLearning modules, in line with the Digital Skills Framework. The modules are designed to support people working in adult social care to gain knowledge and understanding on how digital, data and technology is used in the sector. The titles and themes of these seven modules are:
using technology to support person-centred care
technical skills in using technology
communicating through technology
using and managing data
being safe and secure online
ethical use of technology
digital learning, development and wellbeing.
Support for leaders and managers
Dedicated networks to support you as a leader or manager
We know the importance of making connections outside your own organisation, the power of peer support and the value of providing a safe space where you can be open and support each other’s challenges. That is why Skills for Care facilitates different networks, for leaders and managers at all levels. These include our local networks for registered managers, our regional deputy manager networks, and our regional networks for CEOs and nominated individuals.
The care exchange live podcast - in conversation with James Bullion
Thursday 19 September | 10:00 – 11:00 | Online
To launch our fifth series of ‘The care exchange’ podcast, join us for a special live episode with James Bullion. Listen to James talking about his role as Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care at the CQC and tips on how to prepare for your CQC assessment.
Workforce Intelligence
Take a virtual tour of the ASC-WDS
We've added new dates for our webinar designed to give you a practical demonstration of the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS). You’ll hear about the features of the service already being used by over 20,000 care providers. You’ll also find out about accessing funding for training, managing your training records, benchmarking against similar workplaces and more.
Register for the following events:
Events
Delegated healthcare activities: Practical ways to apply guiding principles in your service
Tuesday 10 September I 10:30 - 11:30 I Online
This webinar for frontline managers of adult social care services will deepen understanding of the guiding principles and resources to support person-centred, safe and effective delegation of healthcare activities. You’ll hear from a panel of care providers who will share their experiences focusing on how to introduce and embed the principles into practice.
CQC Single Assessment Framework: Key learnings from the first six months and beyond
Wednesday 18 September I 14:00 - 15:00 I Online
Presented in partnership with The Outstanding Society, this webinar will explore what is being celebrated as Good and Outstanding care from some of the newer areas of assessment focus, what is causing providers to fall below expectations, and what are your best opportunities to showcase the quality of care you provide. The webinar will highlight some of the obstacles providers have experienced and share tips and resources to overcome these.
Providing impactful feedback in your CQC assessment
Tuesday 24 September I 14:00 - 15:00 I Online
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 I 14:00 - 15:00 I Online
This webinar co-hosted by Skills for Care and 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.
Improving your CQC rating seminar
Tuesday 22 October I 10:00 – 15:30 I 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, as well as how to overcome barriers, action and evidence improvements and involve others in helping you to improve.
Blogs and articles
Empowering care through technology: The vital role of digital skills in adult social