Care Forum Wales has responded on behalf of members to a consultation by the Welsh Government on balancing the responsibility for skills investment: proposals for co-investment in post-19 adult skills delivery.
The consultation closed on May 16.
Some of our points we made in response to to the consultation include the following points (read the full response document here):
- We support the drive to up skill and professionalise the work force in order to improve the quality of care; ensure sustainability of care provision and provide public assurance;
- Training must focus upon the key attributes and vocational skills employers need from staff in health and social care;
- Employers, FEIs and Training providers cannot be expected to have the expertise to redress the literacy and numeracy issues that have not been cemented during over a decade’s full-time education in school;
- The care sector does not need people who can write essays or work with number to ‘A’ Level standards: we need staff with enhanced verbal and non-verbal communication skills able to report in writing factually and accurately and who can measure and calculate reliably;
- There has also to be recognition that the traditional workforce includes a large number of people who left school without formal qualifications, were let down by the education system and need particular support and flexible learning even in the areas where they are competent – their caring role;
- Social care employers are not concerned about providing co-investment per se. However, we are concerned that current co-investment of releasing staff for training and provide cover for them to attend training is not taken into account, nor is the on-the-job training provided and
- The qualifications in health and social care are requirements under the National Minimum Standards. Given that employers are already regulated against these standards, it seems unlikely that paying a larger proportion of the training bill will give them any more motivation or control over the quality of training.
Read more on this consultation
Read our full response (download Word document)
Read the consultation information on the Welsh Government website