SCIE media releases 2008

National Skills Academy for Social Care to be established

7 October 2008

John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, has today [7 October 2008] announced that the social care sector will have its own national skills academy.

The National Skills Academy for Social Care, which will be established as an independent organisation on 30 March 2009, will be the first welfare-related skills academy and will target training and development support to the 1.5 million social care workers in England. There will be a particular emphasis on small and medium sized organisations with limited training and development budgets.

The announcement follows a competitive bidding process which culminated in four skills academies being approved.
Skills Secretary John Denham said: “Now, more than ever, we need to develop innovative training that inspires and empowers a new generation to realise their ambitions, and to deliver the very best patient care. A new National Skills Academy for Social Care will help build a world-beating workforce that will improve standards and help shape rewarding careers – not just among new recruits but within the existing workforce.”

David Sherlock, chair of the steering group that led the bid on behalf of the social care sector, welcomed the announcement saying: “We are delighted that the Skills Academy for Social Care has been given national recognition. It emphasises the significance of social care and its contribution to the wider economy. We are excited at the opportunities the Skills Academy will have to offer real support to employers large and small in developing their staff and their own management and leadership skills.  People who use social care deserve no less.”

The Skills Academy will receive £1.5 million over three years from the Learning and Skills Council. Department of Health is contributing £2 million over three years, and social care employers will also make a contribution.

Glen Mason, Director for Social Care Leadership and Performance Department of Health, also welcomed the announcement saying: “By supporting effective social care, the Skills Academy will contribute to wider economic and social life of communities. Effective social care can help to people develop their confidence and skills to enable them to work – and it allows people with caring responsibilities to follow their own careers. Its contribution to social and economic capital is huge and fundamental to society’s wellbeing and Department of Health is delighted to be providing £2 million to support this work.”

Jennifer Bernard, Programme Director of the National Skills Academy for Social Care bid, is available for interview. Photographs of skills academy steering group members with the Secretary of State will be available after 7 October.

For further details visit The Skills Academy for Social Care website

Media contact

Iris Steen | Director of Communications | T: 020 7089 7122 | Mobile: 07885 736 643 | Email: iris.steen@scie.org.uk

Notes to editors

National Skills Academies

National Skills Academies are employer-led centres of excellence. They deliver the skills required by key sectors and sub-sectors of the economy, contributing to world-class competitiveness through world-class skills. National Skills Academies are a core part of the Government’s plans for improving the skills available to employers and to creating opportunities for their employees. They come in different shapes and sizes, driven by employers’ needs.

National Skills Academy for Social Care

The bid for the National Skills Academy for Social Care was led by a steering group comprising:

• David Sherlock – Chair, Director of Beyond Standards Limited
• Jennifer Bernard – Programme Director, Consulting Director for City & Guilds
• Peter Beresford OBE -  Chair of Shaping Our Lives, Professor of Social Policy and Director of the Centre for Citizen Participation at Brunel University
• Jo Cleary - Executive Director of Adults’ and Community Services for the London Borough of Lambeth
• Andrew Cozens CBE - Strategic Adviser (Children, Adults and Health Services) for the Improvement and Development Agency for local government
• Martin Green - Chief Executive of the English Community Care Association
• Julie Jones – Chief Executive of Social Care Institute for Excellence
• Des Kelly - Executive Director of the National Care Forum
• Glen Mason - Director of Leadership & Performance Department of Health
• Ian Mclintock - A member of the Skills for Health Council and chairs the National Care Forum's Training and Development Committee, Chief Executive of AgeCare
• Michael Preston-Shoot - Professor of Social Work and Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at the University of Bedfordshire, Chair of the Joint University Council Social Work Education
• Andrea Rowe -  Chief Executive of Skills for Care
• Shelia Scott - Chief Executive of the National Care Association

The Skills Academy bid was coordinated by the Social Care Institute for Excellence on behalf of the steering group.

The social care workforce

• Adult social care supports those with a physical or learning disability, people with mental health problems, and older people.
• 70% of social care staff work in the independent sector (private or voluntary).
• Care is provided by 35,000 different employers
• Most establishments employ less than 10 people
• 1.5 million people currently work in adult social care including home care workers, care home staff, social workers.
• Demographic changes including an ageing population will require a significant increase in the social care workforce. It is projected to group to 2.5 million by 2020.
• 83% of the social care workforce is female (rising to 90% in direct care)
• The majority have limited qualifications

What will the Skills Academy offer?

Membership will confer a range of benefits, including:

• access to a repository of information on funding opportunities and routes for training and development
• access to information about accredited training providers and accredited trainers
• access to e-learning networks
• access to regional learning networks
• discounts for kite-marking and quality assurance services
• a membership kite-mark for corporate branding
• the opportunity to take part in piloting and other developments of programmes and services
• the opportunity to influence the direction of the Skills Academy through the membership group.