Skills for Care response to Francis Report

News release 6 February 2013

Skills for Care CEO Sharon Allen said: 'Robert Francis has produced a considered report that gives the adult social care and health sectors much we need to respond to.

"Skills for Care believes that our sector's response must start from day one of service so we need to make sure we recruit people with the right values into the sector. People who understand what it takes to ensure high quality service provision is a right not an option for people who need care and support, many of whom are vulnerable.

"That's exactly why we have produced a range of I Care products that give people useful information for them to help them decide if a career in adult social care is for them. We are also expanding our network of I Care..Ambassadors who are frontline workers who can tell potential recruits about the huge job satisfaction they get from working in social care.

"We are working hard with our partners to make sure all workers can access vocational qualifications that recognise the skills, knowledge and behaviours they need to do their work in the heart of our communities.

"We have worked closely with Skills for Health to develop National Minimum Training Standards and a Code of Conduct for care workers in both sectors. Critically the Training Standards and the Code of Conduct are linked to the Common Induction Standards so essential skills, knowledge and values are embedded from day one of training."

Media enquiries:

Paul Clarke: 0113 2411297/ 07977519287. paul.clarke@skillsforcare.org.uk

1. Skills for Care is the employer-led strategic body for workforce development in adult social care in England, which is licensed jointly with its UK allies by UKCES to be the 'Skills for Care and Development' Sector Skills Council (SSC). Both organisations are chaired by Professor David Croisdale-Appleby. The other members of the SSC are 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 1.68 million workers, spread over 48,300 establishments employing care staff. 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 area networks are major brokers of funding for social care workforce development.