News

Minister welcomes the announcement of a permanent Director for the National Skills Academy for Social Care

8 April 2009

Phil Hope, the Minister of State for Care Services, has today welcomed the appointment of Liz McSheehy as the new Director of the National Skills Academy for Social Care.

Liz was previously Project Director of National Voices, a national charity representing people who use health and social care services, which she was responsible for developing and launching.

Phil Hope said of the appointment: “High-quality adult social care is essential to the wider social and economic life of communities. Liz’s background in both user-focused health and social care and in business development means that she is well placed to work closely with employers and people who use care services, to ensure high quality, relevant products for this vital and growing sector. I look forward to working with Liz and the National Skills Academy for Social Care in improving the skills and raising the profile of the sector.”

The National Skills Academy for Social Care, which is currently in its business planning stage, will be the first welfare-related Skills Academy in the National Skills Academy network. It will target learning support and training practice to the 1.5 million adult social care workers in England with a particular emphasis on small and medium sized organisations with limited training and development budgets.

Liz was appointed by the employer-led Steering Group of the Skills Academy, whose members comprise organisations from across the social care sector, including representatives of residential and domiciliary care providers from private, statutory and voluntary backgrounds.

David Sherlock, Chair of the Steering Group said: “Liz’s appointment marks an important point in the development of the National Skills Academy for Social Care; she will lead the Skills Academy forward as it works with employers large and small to help build a world-class workforce.”

Liz McSheehy said: “I am thrilled to be leading the National Skills Academy for Social Care as it will provide a real opportunity to meet the skills and training challenges identified by employers’ right across the sector. It is vital that we are able to successfully respond to policy and demographic changes and provide an excellent service to people who use adult social care. This agenda is at the heart of the National Skills Academy for Social Care and with the support of employers we will succeed.”

The National Skills Academy for Social Care plans to be fully operational by autumn this year.