News

Skills Academy will build an outstanding example of social care across England, Skills Minister Kevin Brennan tells employers at launch

20 October 2009

Launching the National Skills Academy for Social Care jointly with Minister for Care Services Phil Hope, Skills Minister Kevin Brennan said that the Academy would “transform care”. He said that it was right for Government to be active in building skills, and that the Skills Academy: “Will build an outstanding example of social care across England….and help to shape the skills systems that we need and a system that responds to the economy.”

Liz McSheehy, Chief Executive of the National Skills Academy for Social Care

Speaking via a video link to the launch audience, Phil Hope said that 20 graduates had already started their year of training under the Skills Academy’s national management trainee scheme: “Leadership and management are the skills we need to develop, and the national graduate scheme aims to attract leaders of the future into the sector and raise awareness of how rewarding a career in adult social care can be.”

A coalition of employers from across the adult social care sector has provided essential support for the development of the Skills Academy. Dr Ossie Stuart, a personal employer of 26 years and representatives from the National Care Association, the National Care Forum, BUPA and NVQUK, all spoke yesterday of their involvement in the development of the Skills Academy and the clear need for a step-change in the sector that they felt the Academy would help provide.

National Skills Academy for Social Care Chief Executive Liz McSheehy, said: “This is just the start of the Skills Academy’s development in working to transform the quality and quantity of qualified workers in the sector. We recognise the value of real collaboration with the many employers, training providers and service users in the sector and we urge them all to engage with the Academy and help us to develop and grow the products and services that they need.”

Update

Videos from the Skills Academy launch now available