Adult social care employers sign up to the 'Skills Pledge'

News release 24 June 2009

 

Skills for Care Yorkshire and the Humber have rewarded employers who have signed up to the 'Skills Pledge' demonstrating a clear commitment to developing the skills and knowledge of their staff.

Employers from across the region who sign the voluntary pledge have to show how their organisation understands the real value of training and investment in skills to their workers and business.

Social Care organisations, individuals who employ their own staff and training providers in the region who have signed up to the Skills Pledge were presented with certificates to reward their support at the Skills for Care Yorkshire and the Humber regional conference on Thursday 18 June.

Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber Rosie Winterton, who has championed the value of the Skills Pledge across the region, said:

"I am delighted that the adult care sector has recognised how important it is to make a commitment to this Pledge and to continue to invest in training and development. By doing so, they are sending out a strong message to staff, service users and clients, local businesses and others in the community that skills are crucial to the future workforce and our future prosperity."

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) supported this event as part of the two year celebration of the Skills Pledge. Margaret Coleman, regional director for the LSC in Yorkshire and the Humber said, "We know how hard it can be for employers to look beyond the day-to-day worries of the current economic climate but one thing that will help organisations weather the storm is to invest in training. The Skills Pledge goes to the heart and soul of a business or organisation. There are huge advantages for the employer, employees and for the region in raising skills levels and I am delighted that so many social care organisations are committing to this principle".

One of the delegates to receive their certificate was Mike Padgham from TwentyFour7 Care Services who is an enthusiastic supporter of the Skills Pledge.

"A well-trained, motivated and properly developed team of staff is central to our operation," says Mike. "Only by having that can we offer our clients a high standard of care based on continuous improvement and development."

The Skills for Care conference brought together service users, carers, training providers and adult social care employers to improve training for the adult social care workforce in Yorkshire and the Humber.

The workshops included a presentation by a service user or carer from the region to help find ways to transform training to meet the personalisation agenda. They used their personal experiences to promote service user and carer involvement in planning, delivering and assessing a qualification or training programme.

"The response to this event has been quite staggering with a huge number of employers and other professionals from across the region taking part," says Skills for Care Regional Development Manager, Sally Gretton.

"The strong support for the Skills Pledge clearly indicates a real need for the involvement of service users and carers in the design of training and qualifications for adult social care staff across Yorkshire and Humber."

 

Ends

Pictures from the event are available from alice.coates@skillsforcare.org.uk
Tel: 01904 461050 – a list of the organisations in this picture is available upon request

Media enquiries:
Alice Coates: 01904 461050 or alice.coates@skillsforcare.org.uk

Notes to editors

1. Skills for Care is the employment-led strategic body for workforce development in adult social care in England, which is licensed jointly with its UK allies by DfES to be the 'Skills for Care and Development' Sector Skills Council (SSC). The other members of the SSC are the Children's Workforce Development Council (also for England), the Scottish Social Services Council, the Care Council for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Social Care Council.

2. Skills for Care forms a strategic overview of workforce needs in adult social care, which accounts for nearly one million workers or 5 per cent of England's workforce, spread over more than 25,000 employers. Skills for Care members are drawn from groups representing public, private and voluntary sector care employers, along with representatives of staff, trainers, service users and informal carers. Social care includes residential care, domiciliary care and social work with all its specialisms.

3. Skills for Care and its SSC allies promote and develop the social care sector's National Occupational Standards which are statements of competence that describe 'best practice'.

4. Skills for Care regional committees are major brokers of funding for social care workforce development.

Learning and Skills Council (LSC)

The LSC exists to make England better skilled and more competitive. We are responsible for ensuring the availability of high-quality education and training for everyone. We have a single goal: to improve the skills of England's young people and adults to world class standards.

Our vision is that young people and adults in England have knowledge and skills matching the best in the world and are part of a truly competitive workforce. We work nationally, regionally and locally to deliver this ambition on behalf of learners and employers.

Skills Pledge

Officially launched by the Government on 14 June 2007, the aim of the Skills Pledge is to ensure all staff are skilled, competent, and able to fully contribute in the workplace.

Led by the Learning and Skills Council, the Skills Pledge is a public commitment by an employer to invest in skills. Part of its role is to improve basic skills in literacy and numeracy - as well as helping employees work towards relevant qualifications to at least Level 2 (the equivalent of five good GCSEs). To date, more than 17,000 companies nationally and over 1,700 regionally have made the Skills Pledge, ranging from FTSE companies to government departments to SMEs (small medium-sized employers).