Leonard Cheshire

Leonard Cheshire employs over 7000 social care workers throughout the UK and is a keen promoter of caring as a career. As NI Regional Director for Leonard Cheshire I was pleased to be asked by ACOVO (the Association of Chief Officers of Voluntary Organisations) to pay a part in NISCC’s Workforce Development Committee which is responsible for developing Skills for Care and Development. The committee is made up of employers of social care workers in the statutory, private and voluntary sectors. Norman McKinley from British Red Cross and myself from Leonard Cheshire have been asked by ACOVO to contribute the voluntary sector employers perspective to this process.

I have found the process quite daunting and the early months of participation have focussed largely on trying to grasp the scale of the task involved so as to contribute effectively. It has, however, been a worthwhile exercise which has potential for all of us involved in social care. The process aims to reach agreement on the skills which a social care worker needs in order to deliver an effective service at each level of practice, together with a clearly defined career pathway. It is a source of great frustration that our social care workers are not adequately valued by our society as witnessed by the poor rates of pay for staff entering the workforce. Skills for Care and Development will not of itself improve terms and conditions for staff but will provide a framework for recognised qualifications and skills acquisition together with a pathway for career development. This has potential not only for the staff concerned but also for the end users of social care services who have a right to expect a service from a well trained, well motivated workforce.

The challenge for all of us involved will be to forge a path through the bureaucracy and turn rhetoric and good intentions into reality. As an employer I have seen at first hand how appropriate training and qualifications can bring depth and confidence to an employee’s practice. Social Care workers deserve to have their skills recognised and rewarded – Skills for Care and Development provides a framework within which this can grow.