Call to overhaul social work training in Scotland

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) believes that social care staff will need new skills to cope with new ways of working such as self-directed care and co-production.

These are among the key findings of a report, called Have we got what it takes? the 2010-11 sector skills assessment for the social services workforce in Scotland, published by the SSSC today.

The numbers receiving direct payments in Scotland increased from 207 in 2001 to over 3,600 in March 2010, 44% were employing their own personal assistants (PA’s).

The number of PA’s is set to increase, as the Scottish Government is proposing to make self-directed support the norm for adults who require social care.

PA’s roles are often much wider than personal care, but the report focused on this aspect of their work.

The report said it was unclear how many personal assistants were working in Scotland, but according to a skills audit published by the Scottish Government in 2010, just over half had received relevant training.

This was often undertaken with previous employers, prompting fears that some disabled people have difficulty in accessing training for their PA’s.

PA’s said they wanted training in food hygiene, health and safety, first aid, lifting and providing personal care with dignity – the training needs they identified were similar to others working in social services.

Disabled employers and PA’s believed they should be trained in independent living and disability rights. 

The SSSC is working to promote training opportunities to PA’s and their employers.

The report also noted that the rise of new models such as co-production, in which professionals work with individuals or communities over a long period of time, to build their confidence and skills, would also have to be reflected in training.

Demographic changes such as the ageing population mean that, despite the economic downturn, the social care workforce will continue to grow.

Over 196,000 people work in social care in Scotland, the private sector is now the biggest employer.

The numbers supporting older people living at home is set to rise, possibly at the expense of those working in care homes.

The report also highlighted the findings of recent inspection reports, which identified the need for better sensory awareness and communication for frontline workers and improved risk assessments in children’s and criminal justice services.

Anna Fowlie, chief executive of the SSSC said: “The social service workforce will look very different in the coming years as social services develop to recognise changing demographics, changing public expectations and a very different financial climate.

“Less money means tough decisions, but the overwhelming need to change and challenge, to do things differently, to encourage creativity and stimulate productivity means that having the right people with the right skills in place to do the job is a must.”

This article was published on the Community Care websiste on Wednesday, June 1, 2011.
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2011/06/01/116924/call-to-overhaul-social-care-training-in-scotland.htm