Training is key to delivering the government’s modernising social services agenda. It calls for a better trained workforce to improve the quality of care services and the provision of user-centred services.

Up until the late 1990s, 80% of the workforce had no qualifications and training was variable. Since then the government has subsequently increased funding for social care training (due to rise again from £72 million in 2002/03 to £226 million in 2005/06). In addition, statutory national minimum standards for a number of care settings came into effect in 2002/03, outlining training requirements and stipulating qualification targets for care workers and managers by specific dates.

For example, in care homes for the elderly and adults 50% of care staff need to have an NVQ level 2 by 2005. In Children’s Homes at least 80% of care staff are required to have a relevant NVQ level 3 by 2005 and from January 2004 onwards, newly appointed care staff  are obliged to start a relevant NVQ within 3 months of taking up their job. Managers in all three settings need an NVQ level 4 in care and management by 2005.

The 2002/03 inspection reports reveal that between 48% and 63% of children’s homes, younger adult’s homes and care homes for older people had already met the standards in terms of qualifications of staff and managers. Qualitative research drawing on a panel of experts suggests that the majority believe the qualification targets for managers are achievable, but they were divided as regards the qualification targets for staff. In both cases, insufficient training capacity was seen as one main area of concern. Progress on achieving the targets for staff qualifications was thought to be more variable in the independent sector than in local authorities with funding issues, high labour turnover rates and some resistance on part of staff playing a role.

Source: NCSC 2004 and Eborall 2003a

Monitoring data indicate that in the 12 months to September 2003 around 140,000 people in England have registered for a Care NVQ and 60,000 have been awarded a certificate. Relevant care NVQs in organisations providing social care include Care (NVQ levels 2, 3 and 4), Caring for Childcare and Young People (NVQ level 3), Promoting Independence (NVQ level 3) and Special Housing Needs (NVQ level 3 and 4) with the latter three having been introduced in 1998. A more detailed survey undertaken in 2000 estimated the drop-out rate among NVQ participants to be 17%.

Social services departments in 2002/03 spent, according to the National Training Strategy, an estimated 2.4% of staff expenditure on training, but were due to spend 3%. In comparison the independent care home sector spent, in 2001, 1.5% on mandatory training. 

Source: SHCWG 2004, SCHWG 2003 and SHCWG 2002

Source: Skills for Health 2003, page 11. Compiled using data from the Employers Skills Survey 2001.