News

A radical overhaul of the training sector announced by the government could see the Training Organisation for Personal Social Services (Topss) broadening its scope to include the training needs of workers such as gardeners and caterers in residential and care homes.

Under plans unveiled by the Department for Education and Skills, the UK's 73 national training organisations will be replaced by six sector skills councils by March 2002.

Topss has submitted a bid to the DfES to become one of the six. If successful, it will receive £100,000 to become a sector skills council before the March 2002 deadline.

Andrea Rowe, chief executive of Topss, said: "Sector skills councils want to do away with cross-sector national training organisations."

Education and skills secretary Estelle Morris said the councils will be responsible for reducing gaps and shortages, increasing employment across the sector's workforce and improving training frameworks and standards. "I want to see the councils working in partnership with organisations such as trade unions, regional development agencies and the Connexions Service to improve the standards of vocational training and workforce development."

But Rowe has admitted the time needed to work on becoming a sector skills council would "slow up Topss's training strategy".

Unison national officer Owen Davies warned that lack of time could affect the organisation's progress with training. "We consider training for social care workers a key part of the government's agenda, and we don't want to see any changes introduced that could undermine the good work Topss has already done, which could happen if there is any hint that the government is rushing this through."