#KeepLearning campaign from Skills for Care
Learning and development are key to retention of staff across the social care sector, says charity
Staff in the social care sector need to continually learn and develop their skills and knowledge to be able to deliver the best possible care. There’s also evidence that employers who invest in staff by providing them with training opportunities benefit from higher rates of retention and a more effective workforce – which are crucial given unprecedented demand on the sector.
Photo by Nick Morrison
The latest figures for the state of the adult social care sector and workforce in England demonstrate this link between training and retention. Turnover rates were 28% among staff who received some form of training compared to 35.4% for those who did not.
The charity Skills for Care says that organisations who invest in staff training also tend to better during inspections by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
This month and next, the charity’s #KeepLearning campaign is aimed at social care workers at all levels – from care workers to registered managers, nurses, social workers, individual employers, personal assistants and beyond. It seeks to raise awareness of and encourage participation in opportunities for ongoing learning.
The campaign follows a similar, successful drive last year. This year, the campaign focuses on recent changes to the learning and development in social care, including the new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate Qualification and the ongoing development of the Care Workforce Pathway, as well on how to access funding this year through the Learning and Development Support Scheme.
A wealth of information and resources are already available on the ‘Learning and development matters’ page of the Skills for Care website. Sections included supporting others with learning, learning specialist skills, learning for leaders and managers, learning for individual employers and personal assistants, and learning for regulated professionals.
Oonagh Smyth, CEO of Skills for Care, says: ‘Learning and development are at the heart of an organisation’s success, as investing in these areas is key to retaining a capable workforce. Regular learning and development will help ensure workers can remain up to date with best practice to provide the best care and support. Ultimately, this investment translates to better quality care and support for the people who draw on social care.
‘Helping your staff develop is a core part of a pleasant and progressive working environment. It makes staff feel valued and reassured in their employer’s desire to see them become more capable and offers them opportunities to celebrate advancement in their career. This makes them more likely to remain with you in the long run.’
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