More knowledge for adults’ services staff

Workforce development body Skills for Care has introduced the first four “knowledge sets” of key learning outcomes for adult social care.

The outcomes will help employers and training providers produce standardised learning programmes. The topics are infection control, medication, dementia and knowledge for non-care workers.

The knowledge sets provide:

• Learning for essential tasks.
• Support for staff completing NVQs.
• Help with developing new skills.
• Improved staff confidence.
• Easier transition between social care settings.

Chief Executive of Skills for Care, Andrea Rowe, comments: “The knowledge sets will be hugely useful to social care employers and managers who want to ensure their staff development is focused on the real needs of their particular job, and for training providers when tailoring their work to employer demands.”

Skills for Care has also produced training materials to support practice learning for social work students. The new pack supports the two-day induction programme for assessors of social work students. The pack is being sent to social services directors, degree and practice learning co-ordinators.

• For more on the knowledge sets and practice learning pack go to www.topssengland.net/view.asp