Skills bodies set out to boost social care leadership

Skills bodies across the UK are setting out plans to develop a new generation of social care leaders at a time of pay freezes and job cuts.

By Kirsty McGregor on February 22, 2011 in Adults, Education and training, Workforce

Skills bodies across the UK are setting out plans to develop a new generation of social care leaders at a time of pay freezes and job cuts.

The National Skills Academy for Social Care’s draft leadership strategy for adult social care in England emphasises the importance of developing strong leaders at all levels of the profession.

The Department of Health asked the academy to produce the document, which is available for consultation from today, as part of its vision for social care. Ministers pointed out that effective leadership was needed to drive through reforms to the sector.

The Welsh Assembly Government announced plans last week to accelerate the development of a “national leadership college” as part of its wider 10-year plan for social services. This would stretch existing leaders and grow the next generation, assembly members said.

And the Scottish Social Services Council has recently published an analysis of leadership activity and development needs in Scotland’s social services.

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