Worldskills UK Caring Competition Top Ten Finalists Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 22 June 2011At the National Skills Academy for Social Care it is a key aim of our role to raise the status of adult social care as a skilled career that people choose to pursue. Our WorldSkills UK Caring Competition Series is one way of achieving this aim. The competitions are run in partnership with WorldSkills UK who run competitions across a range of different sectors. Skills competitions can boost the confidence and morale of participants leading to improved outcomes, and they can help promote a sector in an innovative, inspiring way. The final brings

Leadership, management and training are the way forward

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 17 June 2011The National Skills Academy for Social Care says leadership and training are paramount in the delivery of excellent social care. The recent media reports of abuse and neglect in care facilities has exposed a worrying truth in the social care sector. This is that some people in the sector are not only unqualified, but are working with unsatisfactory training and under poor management. Adult social care is currently experiencing a major realignment of its approaches to delivering care. At a time of challenge and uncertainty it is even more essential

New Chief Executive announced for National Skills Academy for Social Care

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE27 May 2011 Diane Lawson has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the National Skills Academy for Social Care. Born in England and brought up in Australia from the age of 10, Diane combines extensive experience in both skills and social care.  One of the first graduate nurses in Australia, she has been responsible for staff development in mental health hospitals and acute units; been General Manager of the Australia Human Resources Institute; and Chief Executive of the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council, where she grew the organisation

National disability charity is 10th in the country to achieve prestigious Skills Academy Excellence Award

First UK Caring Squad announced for WorldSkills International 2011

First UK Caring Squad announced for WorldSkills International 2011Four talented care workers have been selected to be part of the Caring Squad in preparation for WorldSkills International 2011 - the biggest Skills Competition in the world, which takes place in October 2011. This is the first time that Caring has been included as a category by the UK and the National Skills Academy for Social Care have been supporting the development of the Squad to showcase the very best of UK social care talent in readiness for representation on the international stage. Barrie Roe MBE, UK Skills

Skills Academy publishes key findings and future strategy consultation

Strong Leadership and management are essential to providing good adult social care and a new report from the National Skills Academy for Social Care and the Work Foundation published today identifies the key aspects of outstanding leadership. The report comes as the Academy formally launches a sector-wide consultation on the development of a future leadership strategy.One of the Academy’s main roles is to improve care provision by focusing on leadership and management. It was tasked by the government to produce a leadership strategy – to be launched in the summer - as part of their Vision

Skills Academy for Social Care launches membership offer

JOIN US! Skills Academy for Social Care launches membership offerEveryone working to improve the delivery of adult social care is being invited to join the Academy’s Membership scheme that officially opens today. The Academy was created by employers to ensure that the sector has the skills it needs to provide excellent care. It has a specific focus on the critical areas of leadership, management and commissioning, while also endorsing excellent training. The development of a strong, mutually beneficial network through membership is a key plank of this work. It is intrinsic to its purpose,