Get involved in our work
We work with care organisations, people who need care and support and carers, and other partners to make sure our activities reflect their needs.
Whether you are part of a large care provider, a new business expanding into social care or a person who directly employs a personal assistant, there are many opportunities where you can contribute to our on-going work.
You can get involved by taking part in research, responding to consultations, providing case study examples, commenting on draft products, co-producing new policies or agreeing to be a study site.
All our consultations and research projects are promoted in our fortnightly enewsletter. Sign up to our mailing list so you don’t miss out on new opportunities.
Current opportunities to get involved
Do you employ or support lone workers? Join our task and finish group
We’re looking for adult social care employers who work with, support or have experience with lone workers to join our task and finish group.
The group will meet four times over the year (ending March 2019) to help us develop practical guidance to support employers to improve retention and productivity of lone workers. We hope that the first meeting will be in July. You might also be asked to feedback on drafts of the guidance in between meetings.
We’re also conducting some research with lone workers themselves and there’ll be an opportunity for you and your staff to get involved.
The group is open to anyone with experience of lone workers, but might be particularly suitable for, for example, domiciliary care services, community care services and individual employers/ personal assistants.
If you’re interested please email Diane.Buddery@skillsforcare.org.uk by Friday 06 July 2018.
Using artificial intelligence and robotics in social care
Skills for Care has commissioned Consilium Research and Consultancy to undertake a scoping study on the emerging use of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics in social care. The study aims to:
- examine existing international literature in the context of AI and robotics and their uses in adult social care
- explore what’s currently happening in the context of AI and robotics and their uses in adult social care, focusing on the UK but including international examples
- outline workforce issues that might arise as the use of AI and robotics in adult social care begins to grow.
The research team are keen to receive relevant literature, publications and details of projects to advance the knowledge base of the use of AI and robotics in the adult social care sector.
If you’re interested in the study and/or able to contribute relevant information, contact Andy Parkinson on andy@consiliumresearch.co.uk or 07713 357386.
Alternatively please contact Liz Burtney, Project Manager - Evidence and Impact, Skills for Care on Liz.Burtney@skillsforcare.org.uk.
Person-centred workforce examples to support people with learning disabilities and/ or autistic people
We're working with the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group to develop a series of person-centred examples of workforce development to support people with learning disabilities and/ or autistic people, and we want to know what you think about the draft versions.
We've developed 12 'worked examples' that explain what learning and development the workforce needs to support a number of 'pen pictures' of people with learning disabilities and/ or autistic people who might be involved in the transforming care programme. Read more about the worked examples and fill in the short survey here by Friday 29 June 2018.
Consultation open on new guidance around conversational assessment
We’re working with Think Local, Act Personal (TLAP) to develop guidance around conversational assessment.
The guide draws on learning from over 150 projects to explain the principles of conversational assessment to help social care and health workers use this approach in their organisation.
The draft guide is now out for consultation and we’d welcome your feedback, in particular if there’s anything missing and how you might use it in your organisation – if you’re already using conversational assessment, we’d love to know what you’re doing.
Download the draft guide here and send your comments directly to Jim.Thomas@skillsforcare.org.uk by 01 September 2018.
Becoming an associate
We’re looking for people or companies who can demonstrate:
- significant experience in the social care sector
- experience in learning and development
- experience of managing services, teams or projects
- knowledge of the role of Skills for Care
- engagement with social care employers and key stakeholders.
We’d like to work with those who have a commitment to ensuring:
- equality of opportunity within your working practice
- involvement of people who need care and support and carer participation in project work.
For further details and an application pack, please email associates@skillsforcare.org.uk or call us on 0113 241 0973.
Previous consultations
Facing the Facts, Shaping the Future - Adult Social Care Workforce Consultation
The consultation on the adult social care workforce (Facing the Facts, Shaping the Future) run by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and supported by Skills for Care has now ended. Thank you for taking part. The consultation sought views and evidence on actions that could be taken to address challenges relating to recruitment, retention, workforce development, regulation and workforce planning in adult social care. In total, over 550 individuals and organisations were involved in the consultation process through both online feedback and workshops.
The findings of the consultation will be used the findings to inform the forthcoming health and care workforce strategy and Green Paper on care and support for older people.