Government to overhaul staff training

A new UK-wide sector skills council for all social care
professionals will be set up, the government has announced
alongside its Children Bill legislation.

The Sector Skills Council for Social Care, Children and Young
People will build on the Topss UK Partnership proposals for the
Skills for Care council that cover all of the social care sector.
It will receive its operational licence this April.

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

But in England, the government proposes a split between adult and
children’s social care professionals. A children, young
people and families council would be set up to ensure a coherent
approach to workforce planning for children’s social care
professionals. While social care training body Topss England will
become the adult care council.

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