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How employers can manage skills for life in the workplace

There are a wealth of resources and funding opportunities available to address skills for life issues in the workplace, but current take-up amongst social care sector is low. This is probably due to the complexity of funding arrangements and the sheer volume of different resources on offer.

There are lots of different types of training available, from free short courses and games available online, to more structured programmes that lead to qualifications at local colleges.


What about the cost?

In recent years the amount of government funding invested in skills for life has been considerable. Despite the economic situation the coalition government has signalled that the development of literacy, language and numeracy skills will remain a priority.

However in the not too distant future it is likely that employers and individual learners will be expected to bear the costs of skills for life development and so the social care sector really does need to seize the opportunity while it is available.


Resources to help you get started

Although there are many different resources available to help you manage skills for life development, we have picked four that we think are the best to get you started:

For a practical guide to help social care employers get to grips with skills for life quickly and easily, download our free guide - skills for life - a practical guide for employers.
Learning through Work guides

Skills for Care has published Learning through Work, a series of learning modules that develop communication and number skills in the adult social care workplace. They are designed to help supervisors deliver bite-size chunks of learning wherever natural learning opportunities arise as part of day to day care work.

Each booklet is divided into segments that can be read in less than three minutes and also includes learning questions and quizzes to promote discussion. The booklets include Reporting, Writing skills, Bodily functions, Physical Health, Using numbers, Number skills and How much, how often.

The guides are available to purchase via the Social Care Association. For more information click on the link below:
Learning Through Work guides


 


Once you start exploring, you will come across links to lots of other resources and you can also check our references and resources guide for a broader list.