Workforce and training plans published

The government is to press ahead with controversial plans to
separate the training bodies for social care professionals working
with children from those working with adults.

Although a new UK-wide sector skills council for all social care
professionals will be created, a children, young people and
families council will be set up beneath this in England to ensure a
coherent approach to workforce planning for children’s social care
professionals. Social care training body Topss England will become
the adult care council.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be free to develop their
skills councils in line with their own policies.

The overarching Sector Skills Council for Social Care, Children and
Young People will be built on the sector-wide Skills for Care
Council being developed by Topss UK Partnership, which will receive
its operational licence in April.

A UK children’s workforce network linking all of the children’s
workforce is also proposed in the government’s response. This will
include those working in health, law enforcement and schools.