News

• Accolades winner shines during National Apprenticeship Week
  February 4, 2010
  Skills for Care Accolades award winners - Oxfordshire County Council's Apprenticeships in Social Care scheme - are throwing its weight behind this year's National Apprenticeship Week.
  
• Funding Clinic: Support for Apprentices
  February 4, 2010
  Rita Daly looks at how to get funding to cover the costs of employing adult apprentices.
  
• Contribute to new national recruitment campaign
  February 4, 2010
  The Department of Health is about to embark upon a recruitment campaign to encourage more people to work in adult social care and would like to hear your inspiring stories of people who have gone into a career in social care.
  
• NMDS-SC: updating worker information
  February 4, 2010
  Skills for Care has produced a series of helpful information sheets to assist employers to keep accurate and up to date records for the national minimum dataset for social care (NMDS-SC).
  
• Hampshire & IoW training providers forum
  February 4, 2010
  Training providers in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight areas will have another opportunity to find out how they can help to develop a more qualified social care workforce in the south east.
  
• Milton Keynes hosts monthly employers forum
  February 4, 2010
  Social care providers in the Milton Keynes, and Buckinghamshire areas are being offered a unique opportunity to better understand what funding is available to improve their business and how they can access it.
  
• Supporting workforce involvement of people who use services
  February 4, 2010
  The involvement of people who use services and carers is the focus of a special workshop in Sussex next week, hosted by the Sussex sub-group of Skills for Care south east.

JANUARY 2010

• South east expands team
  January 21, 2010
  Pippa Doran and Donna Bunce join the Skills for Care south east team this month.
  
• How does your organisation match up?
  January 21, 2010
  Staff turnover rates across England last month were not as high as a year ago according to recent data from the national minimum dataset for social care.
  
• Funding Clinic: funding for computers
  January 21, 2010
  Rita Daly looks at how organisations can get ICT funding to pay for computer equipment for people who use services.
  
• MKOB providers focus on maximising funding opportunities
  January 21, 2010
  Care providers in Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Berkshire are this week being offered a unique opportunity to better understand what funding is available to improve their business.
  
• New grant for employers to hire apprentices
  January 21, 2010
  Social care providers across the south east are being offered a £2,500 Apprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16 and 17 year olds to take on an unemployed16 or 17-year-olds.
  
• West Sussex hosts own care awards
  January 21, 2010
  The very first Accolades ceremony organised by the Care Training Consortium, for social care staff across West Sussex, commended winners in 12 categories.
  
• John Atkins - new chair for Surrey
  January 07, 2010
  The new chair of Surrey sub region of Skills for Care South East talks about how he came into the care sector and what he brings to the role.
  
• Funding Clinic: train to gain providers
  January 07, 2010
  Rita Daly looks at how training organisations offering Train to Gain courses can become providers within the Skills for Care region.
  
• New log takes legwork out of Starting & Leaving
  January 07, 2010
  Employers in the south east are being offered help to better plan and manage staff turnover using the Starters and Leavers Log.
  
• Southampton prepares for key agendas update
  January 07, 2010
  Southampton is the next venue for the roadshow of social care briefings provided by Skills for Care South East.
  
• Working together showcases in Berkshire next month!
  January 07, 2010
  Everyone working in adult social care across Berkshire will be able to benefit from a special showcase of events to take place next month.
  

DECEMBER 2009

• Oxfordshire scoops Accolade
  December 17, 2009
  Oxfordshire County Council's Apprenticeships in Social Care scheme has won the "Most Effective Employer Investment in Apprenticeships" category at the Skills for Care Accolades 2009.
  
• Funding Clinic: tips on finding management training
  December 17, 2009
  In the first of our new series of regular Funding Clinic articles, Rita Daly, looks at how to get management training for a care home worker.
  
• Dementia Care Think-Tank
  December 17, 2009
  Dementia care planning is taking a leap forward in the south east with social care and health professionals sharing their experiences through a series of think-tank meetings.
  
• Apprenticeships are a winning solution
  December 17, 2009
  Employers across the region are being encouraged to switch on to the benefits of apprenticeships schemes as the south east receives national recognition for an awarding-winning service.
  
• NMDS-SC key tool for employers and government
  December 17, 2009
  Employers across the region are helping government bodies and other national organisations to plan more effectively for social care services and provision.
  
• New guide to long term conditions
  December 17, 2009
  A new information booklet has been produced for social care professionals working with anyone with a long term condition.
  
• Hampshire social care providers glimpse plan for the future
  December 03, 2009
  Delegates at the recent "Now and Tomorrow" conference in Southampton were able to hear firsthand about government plans for a National Care Service.
  
• New FUNDING CLINIC to help you!
  December 03, 2009
  Skills for Care is launching a new service to help employers tune in to available funding via our fortnightly e-news bulletins.
  
• Employers missing out on key TSI funding
  December 03, 2009
  Providers in the south east have been amongst the most responsive in England to requests for information for the national minimum dataset for social care (NMDS-SC).
  
• Kent and Medway shaping up for the future
  December 03, 2009
  If you are involved in social care in the Kent and Medway regions, then you can help to shape the future of adult care services.
  
• Working Towards Outcomes in Surrey
  December 03, 2009
  Senior social care staff in Surrey are being invited to take part in a new pilot programme aimed at moving their service towards an outcome based approach.
  
• Training providers to benefit from QCF
  December 03, 2009
  Training providers from across the south east are expected to benefit from an increase in retention and progression rates as a result of the new Qualification and Credit Framework.

NOVEMBER 2009

• Sussex care ambassadors spread the word
  November 19, 2009
  Surrey and Sussex areas are benefiting from a new injection of enthusiasm aimed at encouraging more young people to consider adult social care as a career.
  
• NMDS-SC reveals need to grow learning disabilities workforce
  November 19, 2009
  Information on adult services provided by social care employers in the south east and across England for NMDS-SC highlights need to grow the learning disability workforce.
  
• Isle of Wight gears up to registration and self-directed support
  November 19, 2009
  Social care employers in the Isle of Wight will be able to find out more about the forthcoming key regulatory changes at a special event being hosted by Skills for Care next month.  
• SE conference encourages continuing quality
  November 19, 2009
  Social care providers line up to hear about the "Continuing to Focus on Quality Care" at this year's South East Region Care Conference.
• MK care providers to benefit from series of changes
  November 19, 2009
  Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire Care Association has made a series of major developments to provide significant additional strength to the organisation. 
• Personalisation comes to the south east
  November 19, 2009
  Skills for Care is working across the south east to help the social care workforce gear up for the new personalisation agenda.

 

A winning year

October 22, 2009
Glitz and glitter came to the south east earlier this month for the first ever Surrey Care Awards 2009 which saw activities coordinator Michael Gains (pictured) win Support Worker of the Year 2009. Read more

Accrediting your in-house training

October 22, 2009
Social care employers now have three different routes to help their staff gain qualifications on the job under the new qualification and credit framework. Read more

Information bonanza

October 22, 2009
Employers, training providers and staff are being presented with a whole host of events to help improve social care services with no less than five different activities planned for next month. Read more

Mapping the migrant workforce

October 22, 2009
The impact of migrant workers on the social care workforce is to be examined in greater detail as part of improvements to the national minimum data set for social care. Read more

Practice placements plans move forward

October 22, 2009
Plans to improve practice placement provision in the south east are expected to be realised shortly. Read more

Critical times ahead AGM hears

October 8, 2009
People involved in social care across the entire south east gathered last week to hear future plans for the sector at the Skills for Care south east annual general meeting. See full coverage

Hampshire & Isle of Wight gear up for apprenticeships

October 8, 2009
Plans to align best practice initiatives for Apprenticeships with internal practices and future plans are to be the main focus of discussion at the next meeting of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight subgroup, to be in coming weeks. Read more

Practice placements to be primary focus for partnership

October 8, 2009
The social work development partnership board has agreed a single objective for 2009-10 to raise the number of good quality practice placements for social work students. Read more

NMDS-SC to be fine tuned to highlight staff qualifications

October 8, 2009
Skills for Care has outlined a series of improvements to the information it gathers from employers in order to gain a more accurate picture of the qualifications held by the social care workforce. Read more

 

New and Old

September 24, 2009
The national minimum data set for social care is proving to be an invaluable tool to improve the quality of care for older people at Whiteley Village retirement home in Surrey. Read more

Dementia Care Centre gathers momentum in Kent & Medway

September 24, 2009
Skills for Care is to help further the integration of workforce development and planning across statutory and non-statutory dementia services in the Kent and Medway sub region. Read more

Annual conference throws spotlight on Milton Keynes services

September 24, 2009
The entire spectrum of local social care provision - from dementia care to drug and alcohol service - is to feature at the forthcoming Milton Keynes Annual Social Care Conference. Read more

Skills for Care South East AGM

September 24, 2009
Next week's annual general meeting of Skills for Care in the south east promises to be a lively event with active engagement from all attendees. Read more

Hampshire IoW training providers to get to grips with QCF

September 24, 2009
Skills for Care in the south east and Hampshire County Council have teamed up to update training providers in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight areas on the latest developments in their sector. Read more

Have you got that extra potential in Surrey & Sussex?

September 24, 2009
Are you passionate about your work in social care? And do you have a desire to inspire others to work in the sector? Read more about how you can become a Care Ambassador

South East Gets New RDM

September 10, 2009
Skills for Care in the south east has a new regional development manager. Carl Biddle (pictured) who has been confirmed in post this week. Read more

 

The National Insurance Number is key to ending social care "data desert"

September 10, 2009
Adult social care providers in the south east region have been amongst the most responsive to requests for information to address the information gap surrounding social care in England. Read more

September 29 – Skills for Care South East AGM

September 10, 2009
The Skills for Care in the South East annual general meeting offers an opportunity for care providers, employers, people who use services and their carers, and others involved in the social care sector in the south east to find out more about how the sector skills council for adult social care can work with you. Read more

Events to look forward to

September 10, 2009
Skills for Care in the south east has a packed calendar of events this Autumn to look forward to. Read more

 

Latest data on older people and dementia care services from NMDS-SC

August 27, 2009
Social care providers in the south east can now get the latest up to date information regarding services for older people. Read more

Getting to know: Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire

August 27, 2009
A keen runner, MKOB sub group chair Frances Mills, looks to the long term goal of better care for people who use social care services. Read more

Question Time at the AGM

August 27, 2009
Care providers, employers, people who use services and their carers, and others involved in the social care sector in the south east will have an opportunity to put questions to Regional Committee members and regional team. Read more

Berkshire to Stage Major Showcase Events

August 27, 2009
Social care providers in the Berkshire sub-region will have a unique opportunity to learn more about how they can take full benefit of the range of resources and skills to improve their services. Read more

Good Practice Guides and Service User Trainers for Berkshire

August 27, 2009
Skills for Care has commissioned training and consultancy charity ROCC to develop a range of Good Practice Guides aimed at improving service user participation in social care services. Read more

Don't lose your NMDS-SC account

August 13, 2009
Social care employers in the south east are leading the field in taking advantage of workforce data to plan services and improve service delivery. However David Cubey believes that employers not taking full advantage of the NMDS-SC and are missing out on the benefits of this free resource. Read more

Getting to know: Kent and Medway

August 13, 2009
Oliver Mills, chair of the Kent and Medway sub group talks about how getting to know social care employers provides a complete picture of care provision in the region, in the latest of our series. Read more

Supporting employers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

August 13, 2009
Owners and managers of social care services in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight areas are being offered the opportunity to learn more about how self-directed support is to be implemented locally. Read more

Kent & Medway agree new key priorities

August 13, 2009
Dementia care training and the qualifications framework came under the spotlight at the latest meeting of the Kent and Medway sub-regional group. Read more

Dignity in Dementia: full report

August 13, 2009
Read the highlights from the recent Dignity in Dementia event organised by Skills for Care South East and attended by more than 80 social care employers and staff.

TENDER: Project Manager for "Planning and Implementing Berkshire Showcase Events: Working Together to Put People First"

August 13, 2009
Skills for Care is seeking a Project Manager to organise and implement two showcase events taking place in Berkshire East and West in February 2010. Read more

 

South East Dignity in Dementia event described as "insightful and moving"

July 30, 2009
"A fantastic opportunity and insight into a world I knew very little about," was among the praises of delegates for the recent Dignity in Dementia event organised by Skills for Care South East. Read more

Knowledge sets vital for adult workforce

July 30, 2009
The adult social care sector must ensure it can meet the needs of people with dementia as the numbers of those affected steadily rise, Carl Biddle highlighted to delegates at a recent south east event. Read more

NMDS reveals south east employees are well paid

July 30, 2009
Care staff in the south east are paid more than the national minimum wage of £5.73 per hour, according to the latest information from the national minimum data set for social care. Read more

Getting to know: Surrey

July 30, 2009
Marion Drew, recently became chair of the Surrey sub-regional group in the south east after several years of involvement in the group. Here she shares her experiences in the latest in our series. Read more

Barbara Pointon's eight caregiving maxims

July 30, 2009
Barbara Pointon developed the following "Eight caregiving maxims for dealing with perplexing behaviours" based upon her 16 year experience of caring for Malcolm. Read more

Employers offered free help with CQC and NMDS-SC

July 16, 2009
Skills for Care South East has engaged specialist consultants to assist employers with their Care Quality Commission and national minimum data set for social care (NMDS-SC) submissions. Read more

Getting to know us in the south east

July 16, 2009
Carl Biddle regional development manager for Skills for Care South East provides an overview of how sub regional groups are working with SfC officers on setting the strategic direction on workforce planning. Read more

Getting to know: Berkshire

July 16, 2009
Marianne Davis is the longest serving sub-regional group chair in the south east. She shares her experiences as chair of the Berkshire sub-group. Read more

Getting to know: Sussex

July 16, 2009
Bob Skinner, talks about his role as chair of the Sussex sub-regional group, his interests in social care and passion for crime novels. Read more

Getting to know Hampshire & Isle of Wight

July 16, 2009
Keen cyclist Roland Bryant has seen a rise in partnership working since being involved in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight sub-regional group, which he now chairs. Read more

Carl Biddle takes on lead role

July 2, 2009
Carl Biddle is to take over as acting regional development manager for Skills for Care South East from this week. Read more

Personal assistants workforce is growing!

July 2, 2009
The personal assistants workforce is a growing one with approximately 163,000 PAs across England, the latest Skills for Care South East regional committee meeting heard this week. Read more

Changing attitudes

July 2, 2009
Lorna Cherry talks about her work as part of the Skills for Care Involvement Team providing training to social care staff from a service user perspective. Read more

New employer apprenticeship briefing

July 2, 2009
Skills for Care has launched a new briefing guide for social care employers to help them attract, retain and develop staff across the sector. Read more

SfC bids farewell to RDM

June 18, 2009
Graham Woodham, regional development manager for Skills for Care South East, is to move to an exciting new post within the sector skills council. Read more

South east has more qualified managers in social care

June 18, 2009
The South East has a greater percentage of social care managers with higher qualifications than some other regions in England, according to findings from the National Minimum Data Set for Social Care (NMDS-SC). Read more

A new Flow for older workers

June 18, 2009
A new project to help older workers remain in, and enjoy their working lives for longer, is being supported by SfC South East. Flexible Lives for Older People (Flow) is being led by Age Concern Milton Keynes to help older people remain in work. Read more

Surrey & Sussex leading the way to future services

June 18, 2009
Scores of employers, training providers, people who use services and their carers are helping to shape the future of services and support provided by Skills for Care South East. Read more

Rich source of data on key issues

June 4, 2009
Social care employees in the south east earn more than the national average, according to the latest NMDS-SC workforce data from Skills for Care. Read more 
 

Taking the student challenge

June 4, 2009
Tania Pell, manager of the Forget-Me-Not Residential Home in Slough, and chair of the Berkshire Care Association provides first-hand experience of taking on student social workers. Read more

Free event on involving people who use services

June 4, 2009
Practice educators, employers, lecturers, people who use services and their carers, and participation co-ordinators are being invited to "Involving People Who Use Services & Carers in Social Work Education" - a free event in the south east aimed at improving social care provision. Read more 
 

SMEs offered recession-beating help

June 4, 2009
Social care employers in the south east are being offered a range of help and support to financially steer them successfully through the economic downturn. Credit and Cash Flow in the Recession – a report from Business Link - provides useful advice on a range of issues affecting SMEs including social care providers. Read more
 

Keeping the south east working

June 4, 2009
Skills for Care South East is championing a new initiative, Keeping the South East Working, to ensure businesses and individuals in the south east have access to employment and skills advice and practical assistance. Read more
 

Are you engaged?

June 4, 2009
Skills for Care South East will be launching its very first online survey early next week to gather views on the kind of workshops, seminars, training and other events which best suit those engaged in the sector across the region. Read more
  

Keen interest in the new QCF

May 21, 2009
Employers in the south east are expressing a keen interest in knowing more about the workforce implications of the new Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF). Read more

 

Newly qualified social workers

May 21, 2009
In coming months the SfC regional team will be working with employers, training providers and people who use services, to implement and develop new initiatives to support newly qualified social workers in the south east. Read more

 

Meet the team: Carl Biddle

May 21, 2009
The senior regional development officer for Skills for Care South East talks of how his 20 years experience in social care is a major asset in managing the operations of the four regional development officers (RDOs). Read more 
 

QCF to feature at roadshows

May 7, 2009
Skills for Care South East's regional development team are to make presentations at the Registered Nursing Home Association 2009 Roadshow events, outlining how the new Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) will benefit employers, staff and training providers. Read more

 

Building a governance framework for adult services in Kent & Medway

May 7, 2009
Skills for Care South East has embarked on an ambitious partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University to support the sector skill council's strategic approach to workforce and service development. Read more

 

Free funding for leadership training

May 7, 2009
Social care employers in the south east who employ between five and 250 staff are being offered a unique opportunity by Train to Gain South East to apply for up to £1,000 to fund leadership training for their staff. Read more

 

Swine Flu information

May 7, 2009
The Department of Health (DH) has produced guidance and general information relating to Swine Flu. Read more

 

South East spotlight on dementia care

April 23, 2009
Barbara Pointon, who featured in Paul Watson's 2007 award-winning ITV film Malcolm and Barbara...Love's Farewell, is to deliver the keynote speech at this year's Skills for Care south east summer conference on July 15.Read more

 

Long-awaited gap year heralds new RDO

April 23, 2009
Christine Westwood-Smith on how she joined Skills for Care as the new RDO for MKOB following a gap year and what she hopes to bring to the region. Read more

 

Education and training enthusiast joins SE team

April 23, 2009
Rita Daly talks about her past experiences and shares the experiences which she hopes to draw on as new regional development officer for Hampshire & Isle of Wight. Read more

 

Supporting Me: new guides to better services

April 23, 2009
A series of easy-to-read guides on personal assistants are now available to assist people who use services better manage and determine the quality of care they receive from paid care staff or others. Read more

 

Skills for Care welcome new RDOs

April 9, 2009
The Skills for Care South East Regional Team has appointed two new Regional Development Officers this month. Christine Westwood-Smith and Rita Daly joined the team on April 1. Christine will cover the Berkshire and MKOB (Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire) sub-regions, while Rita will be responsible for the Hampshire & Isle of Wight sub-region. Read more

 

Oxfordshire employers forum gets off to bright start

April 9, 2009
Almost 130 representatives from social care organisations across the area attended the inaugural meeting of the Oxfordshire Employer's Forum on March 30 where delegates called for an annual event of a similar nature to be established. Read more

 

Handy resources for user and carer involvement

April 9, 2009
Training providers and employers keen to involve people who use services and their carers in the training and workforce development of their staff have a handy series of resources they can refer to. Read more

 

Don't miss your copy of Let's Talk Care

April 9, 2009
The new issue of Let's Talk Care will be available shortly highlighting latest news and information regarding social care training and workforce development. Read more

 

Berkshire managers to receive free leadership coaching

March 26, 2009
Social care managers in Berkshire now have an opportunity to hone their leadership and management skills through free fortnightly personal coaching sessions offered in partnership with Skills for Care South East. Read more

 

Milton Keynes employers to have independent voice

March 26, 2009
Employers in the Milton Keynes area are benefiting from a recently-formed forum which offers them an opportunity to better plan for their future workforce and training needs. Read more

 

Small is Beautiful welcomed by micro employers

March 26, 2009
The first one-day event of its kind for social care employers with less than 10 staff highlighted how Skills for Care can provide employment support and help with workforce development. Read more

South East welcomes new chair

March 12, 2009
Frances Mills introduces herself as Chair of the Regional Committee and looks at the challenges facing the adult social care sector. Read more of what Frances has to say

 

South East is setting the standard for dementia care

March 12, 2009
Skills for Care South East findings on a long-term programme to prevent admission to hospital and residential care for people with dementia chime with government dementia strategy. Read more

 

Skills for Care takes centre stage at showcase

March 12, 2009
Skills for Care South East was able to highlight to social care stakeholders the benefits of workforce development at the recent showcase. Read more

 

New employers forum for Oxfordshire

March 12, 2009
A new social care forum to provide a voice for care establishments in Oxfordshire is to be launched later this month. Read more

Meet the team: Karen Stevens

March 12, 2009
Karen Stevens, SfC South East regional development officer for Surrey & Sussex on why she is looking forward to the year ahead, in our latest profile of the regional development team. Read more

 

Micro employers to be centre stage at new workforce event

March 12, 2009
Micro employers are to benefit from Small is Beautiful – the first event of its kind specifically aimed at developing their workforce on March 24. Read more

 

Change, transformation and new opportunities

February 26, 2009
Graham Woodham, Regional Development Manager, outlines how the south east region is streamlining its operation to make the most of the opportunities in a changing care sector. Read more

 

Meet the team: David Cubey

February 26, 2009
In the first of our mini profiles on the regional development team, David Cubey, regional development officer for SfC South East, reveals how he is successfully implementing the National Minimum Data Set for Social Care in the south east to help improve social care services in the region. Read more about who's who in the team…

 

Sussex Skills for Care involvement team

February 26, 2009
The Sussex Skills for Care Involvement Team is ensuring workforce development is central in the drive to develop self-directed care across the region. Read more about how they can help your service meet the needs of people who use services, their carers and your organisation …

 

Kent & Medway care alliance

February 26, 2009
The recently formed care alliance aims to contribute to the transformation of social care services within Kent & Medway by working with statutory and independent sector partners and stakeholders. To find out more about the Alliance and their new chief executive role read more