Over the next couple of weeks, our #KeepLearning campaign will feature a round up of some of the learning and development resources we have available for managers and how they can support you. Leadership in social care is crucial to maintaining and improving the quality of care across our sector so we’ll also be publishing an article by Jayne McCabe, National Leadership and Management Lead at Skills for Care, which gives more detail about our two new programmes designed to support aspiring social care directors. Visit our Learning and development matters campaign where you’ll find plenty of information on how you and your teams can #KeepLearning.

We’re proud to support LGBT+ History Month with several positive news stories planned throughout February, alongside the launch of our new LGBT Toolkit. Building on the LGBTQ+ Learning Framework, the toolkit provides additional guidance and practical learning activities to help organisations initiate or strengthen their commitment to LGBTQ+ affirmative care.  

Recruitment support

National recruitment campaign

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a new national recruitment campaign for adult social care, 'Make Care Your Career'. The campaign aim is to drive people with the right values to apply for and fill paid vacancies in the adult social care sector. They’ve produced a toolkit to help providers use the campaign to support their recruitment efforts.

⇨ Learn more about the campaign

Developing your workforce 

The Workforce Development Fund - last chance to claim

Time is running out for adult social care providers in England that directly employ care staff to sign up for the Workforce Development Fund (WDF). In 2024-25, the fund has been scaled down, and claims will only be accepted for qualifications and apprenticeships that started on or before 31 March 2024 and are completed by 31 March 2025. Don’t miss out, sign up by 28 February 2025.  

⇨ Learn more about WDF or sign up to claim

Support for leaders and managers 

Creating a positive workplace culture seminar

28 February or 27 March | 10:00-15:30 | Online | £250 +VAT  

Join our interactive seminar to create a workplace culture of inclusivity, compassion, and collaboration. This engaging and interactive seminar offers hands-on learning opportunities to help you build confidence in fostering a positive work environment.  

Key highlights include practical exercises using the Culture Iceberg model and positive culture toolkit, methods for challenging and changing workplace norms and negative cultures whilst planning constructive next steps.

⇨ Book now

Workforce intelligence 

Local authority adult social services workforce data published

We’ve updated our ‘The workforce employed by adult social services departments in England’ report and data visualisation. They include our latest findings which cover the size of the local authority social services workforce, employment overview, recruitment and retention, demographics, and pay information.

The report complies with The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) Code of Practice for Statistics standards for providing trustworthy, quality, and valued data findings.  

⇨ View the report

Regulated professional workforce 

ASYE conference 2025: The role of supervision and well-being in the retention of NQSW's

Tuesday 18 March | 10:30 – 15:00 | Online

Retention in social work is currently a ‘hot’ topic with high turnover rates, which has implications for the delivery of social work services. We’ll be exploring some of the complexities and dilemmas of the role of supervision and wellbeing in the retention of newly qualified social workers (NQSWs). We’ll share experiences, explore scenarios and work on solutions including having ‘challenging’ conversations.  

⇨ Find out more and book your place 

Events 

Navigating the requirements of consent with technology

Tuesday 18 February I 14:00 - 15:00 I Online

This event is for regulated professionals and local authority staff and focuses on navigating legal and ethical requirements of consent in adult social care, particularly in relation to technology. Attendees will gain clarity on the distinction between consent for technology use and care delivery, while exploring best practices for obtaining informed consent. The session will emphasise practical approaches for supporting adults receiving social care, especially in scenarios involving assistive technologies and digital tools, ensuring compliance with ethical standards and legal frameworks.

⇨ Book your place

Managers conference 2025

Monday 10 March - Tuesday 11 March I Wyboston Lakes Resort, Bedfordshire £355 I +VAT

Join us at The Managers Conference 2025 for a packed programme of keynote speakers, workshops and panel sessions plus a bustling exhibition. Choose the workshops you would like to attend and build your own programme based on your priorities. Tickets are priced at £355 +VAT and include a networking evening with dinner and accommodation followed by a full day conference. Last few remaining tickets

⇨ Book your place

Improving your CQC rating seminar

Wednesday 12 March I 10:00 - 15:30 I £120 +VAT

This one-day seminar is for services currently rated Requires improvement or Inadequate looking to improve before their next CQC assessment.  

Explore the benefits of making improvements, how to overcome barriers to improvement, how to action and evidence improvements and how to involve others in helping you to improve. You’ll gain an understanding of what you will be expected to evidence, successful approaches to recover from a Requires improvement or Inadequate CQC rating and how to demonstrate issues have been successfully addressed.   

⇨ Book your place

Embedding equality, diversity and inclusion in your organisation - practical ways to drive change

Thursday 13 March I 10:00 - 11:00 I Online

This webinar explores how registered managers are embedding equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) into their organisations, highlighting practical approaches and insight including:

• planning and developing clear EDI strategies with shared goals
• fostering engagement and collaboration across teams
• building a genuinely inclusive and supportive workplace culture
• workforce EDI in CQC assessments

⇨ Book your place

Celebrating independence, choice, and innovation - practical ways to meet and exceed CQC expectations

Thursday 20 March I 10:00 - 11:00 I Online

Presented in partnership with The Outstanding Society, this webinar for registered managers will look at good and best practice approaches to promoting independence, choice and innovation across adult social care services. It will look at what the CQC is celebrating in their assessment reports, and you’ll also hear from Outstanding rated providers on how they involve people, families and others in meaningful activities to enable person-centred independence.

⇨ Book your place

Being prepared for CQC assessment seminar

Thursday 20 March I 10:00 - 15:30 I Online

This one-day interactive seminar brings together frontline managers to learn about the step-by-step ways to be ready to evidence that your service meets CQC expectations to achieve a Good or Outstanding rating. Discover practical ways to prepare for assessment and evidence the quality care you’re providing.

⇨ Book your place

Blogs and articles

Skills for Care Ltd, West Gate, Grace Street, Leeds, LS1 2RP

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