sectionHdg-FAQs

General - Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who is Skills for Care?

    Skills for Care is an independent registered charity working with 35,000 adult social care employers to set the standards and qualifications to equip 1.5 million social care workers with the skills and knowledge needed to deliver high quality care to people who use services and carers.

    NOTE: Skills for Care is not a training provider, nor is it able to recommend or endorse any courses or training providers.
    For more information see our Who we are leaflet

     

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  • What does Skills for Care do?

    - We provide robust data about the social care workforce
    We work with employers to gather data on the social care workforce through our National Minimum Data Set for Social Care (NMDS - SC)  that provides robust evidence so that we can analyse emerging issues for the social care sector.

     - We help develop new ways of working and delivering services
    Our New Types of Worker and Workforce Development Strategy will help employers and their staff be innovative and flexible to capitalise on future business development opportunities

    - We create a flexible qualifications framework that underpins workforce development, learning and training for 1.5million social care workers
    We have been a key partner in developing the new Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) as a simpler, more flexible way of recognising and rewarding skills and knowledge in the social care workforce. Once the QCF is introduced in 2010 our common induction standards and knowledge sets will be linked into the framework.

    - We help improve the image and status of the social care workforce
    Our Accolades awards are now seen as the Oscars of the social care world rewarding the very best social care employers who deliver outstanding services. Our team of care ambassadors visit schools, colleges and job fairs to promote social care as a positive career choice. The I care.... materials and the career pathways e-tool help employers promote social care as a long-term career.

    - We are the employer voice on emerging Government policy
    Skills for Care makes sure the voice of social care employers and their workers is heard at the Department of Health and at Westminster. We work closely with Government departments, MPs and Peers to make sure that the development needs of the adult social care workforce is reflected in new policy initiatives.

     

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  • Do Skills for Care deal with childrens services?

    No, Skills for Care deal exclusively with adult social care. The Children's Workforce Development Council are responsible for children’s services.

    The two bodies liaise closely, and together are England’s part of ‘Skills for Care and Development’‚ the UK-wide sector skills council for social care, children and young people, alongside the already-existing Scottish Social Services Council, Care Council for Wales, and Northern Ireland Social Care Council.

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  • How can we help employers in the North West?

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  • Is it possible to get funding to help pay for training?

    Skills for Care receive an allocation of money from the Department of Health, to help employers fund Induction and NVQ training. This money, called the Training Strategy Implementation Fund is a contribution to the overall costs of training and is distributed by employer led partnerships in each local authority in the North West. 

    To claim this money your organisation must be part of a local partnership to apply for TSI funding.  It is also a requirement that your organisation complete the National Minimum Dataset - Social Care organisation and worker returns as well.

    Any care provider from the voluntary, private and statutory sector can apply. TSI funding has always been aimed at helping smaller, hard to reach employers but it is open to all employers in the sector. The funding amounts to £80 per NVQ unit claimed. You can apply for as many completed units as you wish during the financial year (Apr-Mar) but the earlier you apply the better as funds can run out before the end of the financial year.

    To apply visit our funding page and join your local Partnership.

     

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  • I am a Training Provider how do I include my details on your website?

    You can register your details on the Training Provider Directory.  Visit Training Provider Directory (http://www.nwtpdatabase.org.uk/) to register your details.  You will be given a log in and a password – use these to keep your details up to date.  If you lose your username or password contact catherine.wilson@skillsforcare.org.uk.

    Providers can then search this database and find suitable training providers.  They can search by course, company, town or county. 

    As a training provider you can also get involved with Skills for Care North West by joining our sub-regional .

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  • Where can I find out about local training courses?

    Try searching our Training Provider Database - www.nwtpdatabase.org.uk.   You can search for specific courses, look for companies in your local area or search for a specific company.  You do not need to register for this

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  • What are Employer-led Partners?

    Employer led partnerships are locally based partnerships of employers, who look at training, qualifications and other workforce issues. There are 22 employer led partnerships in the North West, one for each local authority area (Cheshire LRN covers both Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East). Any social care employer can join however the partnerships do have membership criteria

    Some of the work done by employer led partnerships includes:

    • Distributing funding from Skills for Care and other organisations for qualifications and training
    • Hold careers and recruitment events
    • Undertake workforce analysis
    • Work with training providers to improve quality
    • Help raise the image of social care by holding events such as award ceremonies for staff who have demonstrated excellence.

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  • What is the National Minimum Data Set-Social Care (NMDS-SC)?

    As part of a Sector Skills Council we have responsibility for the collection of workforce data. The National Minimum Dataset-Social Care (NMDS - SC) is the first attempt to gather this workforce information for the social care sector.
    The NMDS-SC is a means of gathering a minimum of information about services and staff across all groups and sectors within social care.   The information will be used, confidentially, to make policy decisions on how to support employers and staff in delivering quality services.

    For employers the NMDS-SC involves completing an organisation form giving us information about their organisation and staff.  Worker records also need completing to provide information on the individual employees working in the sector.

    NMDS-SC can now NMDS-SC online system.  If you have any questions on the online system contact the helpline on 0845 873 0129 (local rate).

    You can download NMDS-SC briefings which provide valuable date on the workforce.

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  • What are the Common Induction Standards and where can I find out more about them?

    The Common Induction Standards (CIS) are designed for people entering social care, and those changing roles or employers within adult social care. They are designed to be met within a 12-week period. The CIS forms the basis of registration of all social care staff.  In 2010 they were refreshed to ensure they are fit for purpose and reflect current policy and practice.  There will be a transition period of 12 months to move from the old standards to the new before the old standards are removed.

    Five CIS documents are available to download: 

    • the standards 2010 with a glossary
    • the standards 2010 progress log
    • guidance for new workers (2010)
    • guidance for those responsible for workers (2010
    • a certificate of successful completion. 

    You can download all of these publications from the national site.

    Skills for Care is currently producing priced publications to support the use of the Common Induction Standards that will be available in September 2010.

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  • What is a Sector Skills Agreement?

    Sector Skills Agreements (SSAs) map out what skills employers need their workforce to have and how these skills will be developed. SSAs put employers at the forefront, giving them real influence over how the skills of their workforce are developed.

    The SSA will set out how partners will work together to secure the necessary supply of learning and development to meet skills needs and will be designed to ensure that 'the skills the sector wants and needs are the skills the sector gets'.

    There is an SSA in the North West which sets out the local agreements.

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  • What are Care Ambassadors?

    Care ambassadors are care professionals with the commitment and enthusiasm to change perceptions about careers in social care by engaging with groups in the community - for example, men and women returning to work, unemployed people and migrant workers, students, teachers and parents. Care ambassadors will explain their job roles, qualification pathways and career routes and widen people's understanding and perception of the care sector as a whole.

    There are 17 Care Ambassador schemes in the North West, all at different stages of development.

    Contact Sue George (sue.george@skillsforcare.org.uk) for more information on the North West Care Ambassador schemes.

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  • How do I find out more about starting a career in care, including qualifications I will need?

    There are many ways to start your career in care and some routes do not require you to have any qualifications to begin with.

    Visit www.skillsforcare.org.uk/careerspathways to find out more, watch video clips of social care workers, plot your future career and read about the different roles.

    An apprenticeship in health and social care can be an excellent way to enter the sector. 

    To find out more visit  www.socialworkandcare.co.uk and visit the Careers section.

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