Call for probe into qualifications gap

The government’s Options for Excellence workforce review has been asked to address the dearth of high-level qualifications in the sector below the social work degree.

The call came in government-commissioned research on qualifications and training in the children’s workforce, released last week.

The Sheffield Hallam University study found there was a significant gap between the degree and NVQ level 3, which is aimed at senior social care workers.

One consequence of this was that people could not qualify as higher level social work assistants as a step to becoming social workers, the study says.

The gap is at levels 4 and 5 of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority’s National Qualifications Framework, which covers higher education certificates and diplomas and foundation  degrees.

Jane Haywood, chief executive of the Children’s Workforce Development Council, said filling this gap had to be part of the broader strategy set for social care in Options for Excellence, and for the children’s workforce in the forthcoming integrated qualifications framework.

● Mapping Qualifications and Training for the Children and Young People’s Workforce from www.dfes.gov.uk